About 60 Summit Academy students from Akron, Canton, Lorain, Parma, Toledo, Warren and Youngstown are expected to compete at the Summit Academy Martial Arts Tournament, Saturday, April 25 at the Navarre Towpath Trail YMCA. Doors open to the public at 8 a.m.
Summit Academy students in grades K-12 with belts ranging from white to brown will perform both individual and team empty-hand kata and weapons kata. Coordinated by Shihan Dave Chance, Ph.D., 8th Dan, the tournament will be refereed by nationally and internationally ranked officials from the USA Karate Federation.
“This tournament gives Summit Academy students a chance to compete and show us who they are in a safe, controlled environment,” says Shihan Chuck Rickard, who coordinates Summit Academy’s Therapeutic Martial Arts program. He adds that the tournament serves as a showcase for students to breakthrough their own barriers and expectations by performing kata in front of judges and spectators.
“Trying is succeeding. You don’t know the outcome until you try,” says Shihan Chance, who teaches therapeutic martial arts at Summit Academy Community School – Parma. “Win or lose, your efforts in training will be seen in competition. Although winning or placing is a great accomplishment, success is determined by what you put into it and didn’t quit.”
Shihan Chance adds that he hopes students learn to forge forward, no matter their pace. “We must continue to progress and learn from our mistakes and never stop trying,” he says.
In addition to lessons in competition and life overall, the tournament provides students from Summit Academy Schools throughout the state a chance to meet and get to know each other. Now in its second year, the popular event may be expanded to occur biannually.
A spectator fee of $5 will be collected at the door. The Navarre Towpath Trail YMCA is located at 1266 Market St. N.E., Navarre. For more details, contact Shihan Rickard at 330-670-8470 or Charles.Rickard@summitacademies.org.