Karate club wins awards

SPARTA — Sparta Karate Academy recently held its annual spring Shiai at Mount Olive HS along with member schools of the American Budo Kai Association. The day’s activities included a sparring competition as well as student demonstrations of basic karate techniques, empty hand kata and traditional Okinawan weapons kata, along with student rank promotions based on attendance, attitude and ability.
Several students at Sparta Karate, both from Sparta and surrounding towns, won trophies in the sparring tournament in their age and rank divisions. First place winners included James Petrin, Samantha Buendia, Peter Ryan and David Kerr. Second place winners included Jason Hatzelis, Daniel Sabol and Luka Gray. Taking third place were Christopher Cioffi, Melissa Woortman, Steven Andrewlavage and David Sabol. Finishing in fourth place were Wyeth Dominguez, Dylan Rezza and Maci Gramp.
Sparta Karate Academy is a family oriented martial arts school located at 253 Newton Sparta Road in the Gazebo Plaza, offering professional instruction in traditional Okinawan karate and self-defense for children ages 5 and up as well as teens and adults of all physical abilities. For further information, call 973-940-8864.