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MARCH 2009

Karate News
by Wanda Alvarez

CENTRAL MASS OPEN

The Excel Martial Arts School families would like to congratulate the following students who competed in an out of state IPPONE tournament this month.  The tournaments take place almost every month and are attended faithfully by the Excel Travel Team.  When the tournaments are held closer to home, other students at times attend and compete at the tournaments. 

Emmelina Russo competed in the Girl’s Intermediate division and she won 3^rd in forms and 4^th in sparring.

John Calabrese competed in the 13-14 year old Boy’s Advanced division and he won 3^rd in sparring, 1^st in forms and 1^st in weapons. 

Matthew Terwilliger competed in the 9-10 year old Boy's Intermediate division even though he is a beginner and received a medal for participation. 

Jen Denski and Master D’Amato competed in the black belts division and both won Grand Champions in their divisions. 

Jen won for sparring.

Master D’Amato won Grand Champion for weapons, forms and sparring.    Good Job!

TWO OF OUR BLACK BELT CANDIDATES

Andrew Poinatale is part of the Excel Travel Team and will be testing for his black belt this May.  His parents Rich and Mary Ann Poinatale were very proud when they received the announcement.  They wanted to share their thoughts with readers.  “After six years of hard work and dedication our, son Andrew has been invited to grade for the rank of Sho Dan Black Belt in the Art of Tang Soo Do.

"Andrew is an eleven year old honor student of Eli Terry Jr. Middle School.  He has been studying Tang Soo Do since the age of five and is a full time student of D’Amato’s Excel Martial Arts here in Terryville, where Andrew enjoys helping Master D’Amato instruct the local Parks and Recreation Karate Program on Wednesday evenings.  Andrew really enjoys working with the younger students and looks forward to every class. 

"Andrew has traveled all over New England competing in numerous karate tournaments, since the age of seven.  One of the highlights of his young martial arts career was when Master D’Amato invited him to be a part of Team Excel, Excel Martial Arts elite traveling karate team at the age of eight.  It has been a very long road with lots of sweat and tears to be able to reach this point in his career to be able to test for his black belt.  Our family cannot express our gratitude enough to Master Andrew D’Amato for his hard work, dedication and patience with our son over the past six years, he is a really great instructor, friend, and part of the family.  Congratulations and good luck Andrew, and all the other students participating in the grading on May 29^th.  We think we speak for all the parents who have children testing that we are extremely proud and you’ve all earned it.”

John and Macrina Hopko’s son, Thomas will also be grading for his Black Belt and they wrote; “Thomas has been active at Excel Martial Arts since 7^th grade. He has worked his way through the degrees of belts and will test for his black belt this May.

Participating in martial arts training has contributed to giving Thomas the strength, confidence and self-control needed to achieve not only the rank of black belt, but also to make progress and mature in his life outside of martial arts.  Thomas has volunteered during his High school years at Terryville Public Library, where during the school year he helps with the chess club for the elementary children in town. At school, Thomas has been a member of Environmental Club, a group which helped stock fish in the local rivers and, also, took elementary school children for nature hikes on local trails.

Thomas has also traveled broadly. He has been to Canada numerous times. He has been to England, where he was born and has relatives, on several occasions. This past summer Thomas travelled to Greece and Turkey with his uncle and cousin to visit another uncle who lives in Greece.  Thomas is also involved with his church; he helps serve at the services and also reads and sings in the choir. In his high school sophomore year Thomas went with a neighboring church youth group and their mission team to Mexico. There the group lived at an orphanage for a week and from there went into the community to build a house. It was a very moving experience for Thomas. 

Thomas’s decision in 7^th grade to participate in martial arts has helped him grow into the person he is today. He plans to attend college in the fall to study pharmacy and to continue his martial arts training into the foreseeable future.

The families at Excel Martial Arts would like to thank the parents with their comments for this month’s article and congratulate the upcoming Black Belts and all the winners at the IPPONE Tournament.  You are all winners in my Book.