As many of you are aware, I compete in elite, traditional karate.  I have been practicing Shotokan Karate for 9.5 years and I've had my black belt for 6.5 years.  I started competing almost right after joining karate and I fell in love with it!  I've honestly been competing for about as long as I've been training!  I compete at many different types of tournaments, both big and small.

However, this fundraiser is to help me with the costs of the two biggest tournaments I've competed at to date.  The first one is the Ozawa Cup International held in Las Vegas, NV every Easter weekend.  This will be my 8th year competing!  I absolutely love competing here and I've met many friends here world-wide!  In the 2013 competition, around 35 countries competed!

The second tournament I'm asking for help with is relatively new to me.  Around this time last year, I decided that I wanted to enter the world of WKF Karate.  WKF Karate is a much different environment and a much different difficulty than I'm used to.  I can honestly say that this past year competing under the WKF (World Karate Federation) and the USANKF (US National Karate Federation).  Both federations are recognized under the IOC (International Olympic Comittee).  In April, I competed at a tournament that went to qualify me to compete at Nationals.  USANKF Nationals has a dual purpose: a National competition and Team Trials (for a selected few).  I competed on both sides of this competition.  In the Team Trials division, I ranked 9th.  Unfortunately, this wasn't good enough to place me on the National Team, but it was a big step for me into the world of WKF and elite karate!  It was also nice to know that I made impressions on some of the judges because they were able to recognize me from months and even years before!  I then competed in fighting where I placed 6th overall.  This division wasn't a Team Trials division and I wouldn't have been placed on the team either way.

Karate is something that I love and have sacrificed SO much for.  I'm really glad that I have friends and family who care and are kind enough to help in any way they can!