Shihan Kai Leung's 15th
Traditional Karate Invitational Championship
第十五回梁紹楷空手道選手権大会
New York City – May 2009
Championship Poster
Shihan Kai Leung hosted the 15th Traditional Karate-Do Invitational Championships on Sunday May 17, 2009 at Queens College/CUNY.
Tournament Awards
The tournament is still one of the most well attended in the Tri-State area, considering the combine economic crisis of 2009 and the New York Swine Flu epidemic.
Twin Lion Dance
Kara Shishi Mai • Chinese Lion Dance
Teasing the Lion
The Tournament started off with a performance of Kara Shishi Mai, performed by Professional Lion Dancers from Mainland China. The Kata and Kumite matches were fill with a lot of action and below are just a few photographs taken during the Competition.
Ura Mawashi Geri
Unsu
Enpi
Tobi Mawashi Geri
Youth Competitors
Jodan Gyaku Zuki
Niseishi
Jodan Mawashi Geri
Gojushiho-Dai
Gojushiho-Sho
Seipai
UnsuGojushiho-Sho
Aleksandra Prenkiewicz from Shotojuku Dojo
Adult Competitors
Alejandro Vetancourt and Edi Chacon from Venezuela Shotokai
Black Belt division Winners
Shihan Leung with Shihan Garrido, Doctor Gettinger, and Sensei D’Alleva
Sensei Caron Keppler and Sensei Elena Kaminskaia
The adult Black Belt divisions were large and started right after Kobudo. The Grand Champion for Kata was won by Shihan Victor Garrido of Venezuela and the Grand Champion for Kumite was won by Billy Finnegan of New York.
Kata Grand Champion Victor Garrido and his Daughter
Kumite Grand Champions Billy Finnegan
Billy Finnegan won the Kumite Grand Championship in 2003 and now again in 2009. Only Steve Tank, Ahmed Farg and now Billy Finnegan have won more than once at the Traditional Karate Invitational.
We congratulate them for winning the Grand Championship and they will forever be listed as Champions of the Traditional Karate Invitational.
Celebration Dinner Party
Once again the Championship was a huge success, because of the support from the top dojos in the New York Tri-State area. We would also like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to the many instructors, competitors, officials, spectators and staff members for supporting and contributing to our event.
We would also like to thank Stace Sanchez of Kickpics, Billy Bly of American Samurai Magazine and Sensei Elena Kaminskaia of Shotojuku for spending the time taking photographs of our event.
The 16th Traditional Karate Invitational Championships will return to Queens College on Sunday May 16, 2010.
We look forward to seeing you again in 2010!