Karate N Motion students take on Battle of Baltimore and earn 21 awards – including 7 ‘World Championship’ title belts

When the karate kids from Westfield’s Karate N Motion (KNM) participated in 31st Annual Battle of Baltimore martial arts tournament on Oct. 20, they were confident that their training and preparation would pay off. It did, in a huge way – with seven first-place national championship title belts awarded.

“I’m very proud of the hard work, dedication, focus, training and teamwork that KNM’s kids are demonstrating,” said Head Master Alan Simms, owner of KNM since 2000. “It’s amazing to watch them get better. As they put more time into their training, they are clearly advancing their martial arts techniques. Competing in these kinds of high-level tournaments gives them confidence, milestones to shoot for and previous ‘personal bests’ to shatter.”

Last year, KNM sent six competitors who earned two first-place national championship title belts and nine total awards at The Battle of Baltimore. This year, 15 students earned seven first-place title belts, and a total of 21 trophies. The following is a summary of the KNM competitors’ results at The Battle of Baltimore:

·         Maddy Covington, 12, a 7th grader at Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield, and beginner student, took two first place championship belts in the "Novice" category at The Battle of Baltimore – in weapons and kata. Maddy’s “three peat” achievement earns her the title of the first female Goshi Shun Yellow Belt (novice), “National Champion” within the KNM dojo – as she had also won first place titles at The Twin Towers Classic in New York City and grand-championship title at Mercer County Nationals in Lawrenceville, N.J., held earlier this year. .

·         Sean Canavan, 11, a 6th grader at Edison Middle School in Westfield, won first place in the “Intermediate” category of kumite, or sparring. His first-place finish in Baltimore gives Sean three national-level sparring championships since August, including wins at The Capital Classics in Washington, D.C., and The Diamond Nationals in Minneapolis, Minn. This “three peat” achievement earns Sean the Goshi Shun “National Champion” title, and he has the distinction of being the youngest student to accomplish this feat in sparring within the KNM dojo. In Baltimore, Sean also took second place in kata and third place in weapons.distinguishes Sean as the youngest

·         Nicole Kenny, 11, a 6th grader at the Park Middle School in Scotch Plains, also won a first place "Intermediate" championship title belt in the kata category. This is Nicole’s second national title in two months, where she also took first place at The Twin Towers Classic in New York in September. Only one more national win for Nicole before she too earns “National Champion” status. Nicole also took second place in weapons and third place in sparring. 

·         Joseph Rettinger, 10, a 5th grader from Wilson Elementary in Westfield, won a first place championship title belt in the "Novice" category in empty hand kata. This was also Joseph’s second major win recently, having also won at The Twin Towers Classic in New York in September also in the Novice Kata category. Joseph is also just one win away from the coveted “three peat” achievement needed to earn a “National Champion” title within the KNM dojo.

·         Jonah Plawker, 9, a 4th grader from Franklin Elementary in Westfield, won a first place championship title belt in the "Novice" category in weapons. This win marks Jonah's second national title in weapons recently, as he also took first place at The Twin Towers in New York in September. Jonah, too, is one win away from being named a Goshi Shun “National Champion” within the KNM dojo.  Jonah also finished second in kata and third in sparring.

·         Amanda Rosenthall, 8, a 4th grader from Jefferson Elementary in Westfield, won her first championship title belt in the sparring division.

·         Julia Plawker, 12, a 7th grader from Roosevelt Intermediate School, finished second in kata and third in weapons. 

·         Merri Rosenthal, 12, a 6th grader from Edison Intermediate School in Westfield, finished second in sparring.

·         Trent Paulovits, 13, a 8th grader from Park Middle School in Scotch Plains, finished with two third place awards in kata and weapons

·         C'arra Holder, 9, a 4th grader from the Greenbrook Elementary School in Watchung, finished second in sparring.

·         KnM's adult competitors, Brett Malak of Westfield, and Jacqui Brandon of West Orange, finished third in their Brown and Green Belt Executive Adult sparring divisions.

·         Honorable mentions were awarded to Cas Malak, 11, of Edison Intermediate School in Westfield, Chris Holder, 11, from Green Brook Middle School in Watchung, Catherine Rosanas, 10, of Fanwood, and Alonzo Brandon, 10, of West Orange.

Many of KNM’s karate students train five or six days a week with national karate champions as their instructors. Several of the KNM students are very experienced at competing in national-level tournaments, while others are just beginning.

“At KNM, our instructors teach that excellence is the result of deciding to do your best,” says Sensei Alan. “Through their training, our karate kids are learning skills that help them be prepared and confident in life. Winning at these kinds of tournaments isn’t about the trophies – it’s about validating their hard work, preparation, determination and teamwork, while they grow and develop into respectful and competent young adults.”

“Excellence by Decision & Winning by Design” continues at Karate N Motion.

“Sensei Alan” as he’s known to his students, a member of both the World and International Black Belt Halls of Fame, is a frequent guest lecturer and presenter on many martial arts related topics. He holds the Ju-Dan rank, 10th degree black belt in American Goshi Shun karate and Honshi Dan, 10th degree, from the Japan Aiki-Bujutsu Federation. Sensei Alan has owned Karate N Motion since 2000. 

For more information, email Sensei Alan:  senseial@aol.com or visit www.karatenmotion.com.