PHOTOS: These Kids Kick Butt!

Discipline, control, and power were all on display Saturday as more than 60 competitors, ages five to 50, took part in the Twinsburg Karate Institute’s Winter Points Tournament.

Participants from the Twinsburg, Cleveland, and Munson Karate Institutes competed for medals and trophies in Kumite (sparring), Kata (forms), Weapons Kata, and Chanbara Sparring (padded weapons).  The Katas are scored on an Olympic point system. The first competitor to score three hits wins a sparring match.

A crowd of more than 100 watched as many of the students faced the pressure of their first tournament. Twinsburg Karate Institute owner, Sensei Reggie Brown, said the tournaments help the students develop.  “The competitions build skills development by requiring the kids to perform their best even under difficult circumstances,” he said.

Twinsburg High School senior Brad Harvey placed first in the Brown Belt Sparring Division. Harvey said, “Winning is all about who wants it most.” He added that he joined karate to improve his fitness, but now he concentrates on learning to defend himself in case he ever needs to.

Dodge student Kyle Kirtley said his favorite part was performing his Pinan II kata. “That’s my favorite kata. It’s got lots of good techniques, blocks, punches, and kicks,” he said.

The Spring KI Points Tournament will be held April 14 at the Cleveland KI. The Twinsburg Karate Institute is located at 9224 Darrow Rd. in Twinsburg. For more information visit  www.twinsburgki.com or call (330) 963-3069.