2009 AAU Junior and Senior Karate National Championships
June 25th, 2009
Photos from the 2009 AAU National Championships
The 2009 Junior and Senior Karate National Championships wrapped up as another wonderful event. Fort Lauderdale’s Broward County Convention Center turned into Florida’s very own dojo for five days as athletes wowed judges and spectators alike. Teams from Illinois, Hawaii, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Arizona, Panama, and Canada all tightened their belts in this year’s championships.
By the event’s end, honors were given to the top three club winners. Jyoshiman, led by Sensei Jesus Costa, Ingram’s Pro Karate, guided by Sensei John and Sensei Cindy Ingram, and Adamson’s Karate School, directed by Sensei John Adamson, all found their way to the winners’ circle to be crowned among the country’s most astounding competitors.
The nationals’ big winners, however, were not the club division winners, but the scholarship winners. Annually, the AAU presents two Karate scholarships, one to a deserving male, and another to the matching female. Each winner will receive $1,750 thanks to the generous donation in memory of David Williams, the Ohio AAU Karate District Director and the Ohio AAU Karate Family. This year, Aaron Payne of Virginia from Eggleston’s Karate School (Sensei Mike Eggleston) and South Florida’s Ashley Jones from Shotokan (Sensei Doug Stein) took home the prestigious honors.
Congratulations to all of our competitors and especially our scholarship winners. Take a bow.
The 2009 AAU Junior and Senior Karate National Championships will be held this summer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The six day event will take place between June 16th and the 21st showcasing the best martial artists the country has to offer. Athletes will put their skill to the test competing in Fort Lauderdale’s Broward County Convention Center.
Over 1,500 athletes from across the nation will descend on southern Florida to challenge one another for the right to be called “National Champion.” While competitors come from every corner of the country, Illinois, Ohio, California, Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Texas, and Mississippi boast this years most powerful constituencies.
Registration will commence on the 16th for coaches and referees. The following day will see the athletes sign their name into contention as coaches and referees are enlightened at a informative seminar. Beginning
Thursday the 17th, the remainder of the week will be action packed with boys and girls, men and women alike competing for the championship. From children as young as 5 years old to adults as old as 35, the national championships have a place for everyone. The tournament is broken down into individual and team divisions, tiered from novice to advanced levels allowing all athletes an equal opportunity to prove themselves worthy of the title.
Be sure to arrive before the fists and feet start flying. The AAU will present its annual scholarship to one male and one female competitor at the event’s opening ceremony. With formalities out of the way, the rest of the week will be the athletes’ time to impress not only the judges but the slew of distinguished karate guests who will be present throughout the week. For a look at least year’s results Click Here. For more information please visit our website for all of your karate questions. We hope to see you all this summer to see who will take their bow as national champion!
