Local Dojo Students Place at Tournament for Diabetes

Several students from the Okinawan Isshin Ryu Karate Dojo of Lanoka Harbor placed at the 27^th Annual Tournament for Diabetes in Hackettstown, NJ.

Nicky Genardi took first place in his division and Peter Vanderworf took second place in the same division. Neil Shapiro took first place in the Executive Adult Division and Steve Letizia took second in his division. 

“The Kata or forms that were performed by the students were graded as perfect scores, which very rarely happens at a tournament, especially at their ages,” Shihan Dan Patten said.

Patten explained that the tournament was the students first time competing and they were called up first and second to perform. Because of the way tournaments are scored, that makes it difficult to even place.

“I am very proud and honored to have been there with our students who attended to support the cause of diabetes and to see our students do so well with the odds they were up against,” he said. “Our students went up against all higher ranking belts than they were and really shined through.”