Pennsylvania Karate Championships return to A-K Valley
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Two years ago, the Pennsylvania Karate Championships were called off in the midst of the ongoing covid pandemic.
It stopped the event’s annual gathering of the top martial artists from throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley as well as the Pittsburgh region, the state and the country.
But the championships returned in force last year to the grand ballroom of the Quality Inn in New Kensington, its traditional location for many years in the 1970s through the early 1990s, and it again is at the Quality Inn on Saturday.
“We would be celebrating our 50th year if it wasn’t for covid,” said Frank Caliguri, tournament director and owner of Caliguri Academy of Martial Arts in Lower Burrell.
“It is history in the martial arts. We are the third-oldest consistent tournament in the United States. There’s a tournament in Chicago (AKA Warrior Cup) that is first and the Battle of Atlanta (World Karate Championship), which is second. We are proud of the tournament’s reputation with high-quality judges and people who run the show. Being experienced because we’ve done it for so long, everyone wants to show up and do their thing.”
Caliguri said there will be close to two dozen from Caliguri’s Lower Burrell academy in competition, and that group includes a few state champions who will defend their titles.
Other schools from around the region coming Saturday to compete, Caliguri said, include Allegheny Shotakan Karate in North Huntington and Kang’s Black Belt Academy in Canonsburg.
Murrysville black belt Jose Rivera will be on hand to receive his 18th consecutive masters state title and compete to start the new year toward another title.
Many martial artists from throughout Pennsylvania are set to put their skills on display as well as those from New Mexico, Indiana, Ohio, New York and other states.
Master Bruce Heilman of Reading returns to defend his grandmaster weapons title.
The tournament is an open format, so there will be representation from many styles including karate, kung fu and taekwondo.
Caliguri expects all ages will compete from the Tiny Tots (ages 5 and younger) to the Senior Divisions (50 and older).
Competition starts at 10 a.m. with the masters and grandmasters kata and weapons.
Weapons and self-defense divisions will follow as well as empty-hand forms and all under-belt forms.
Sparring and black belt divisions will highlight the afternoon sessions.
There will be eight grand champion trophies awarded in the youth and adult divisions.
“For the competitors, especially the black belts who are chasing points and going after state titles and national titles, we have the higher sanctions available,” Caliguri said.
“For the PKRA (Pennsylvania Karate Ratings Association), it is a double maximum points event. They can get more points here towards a state title. It also is sanctioned by the USAMA (United States Association of Martial Artists) and TKA (Tournament Karate Association). This is a big tournament with a lot of points available.”
Tickets will be available at the gate.
For more information, email mastercaliguri@aol.com, call 724-335-9300 or visit academyofmartialarts.org.