My name is Tavia, and I’ve been training in Shotokan Karate on and off for 27 years. This year has truly become a full-circle, “never give up” moment in my journey.

Earlier this year, I competed in a Team USA qualifier tournament in Newton, Kansas—something I hadn’t done since I was 12 years old. Back then, I qualified but wasn’t able to attend the international competition in Ireland. This time, I refused to let that opportunity pass me by.

At the qualifier, I placed:

1st in Continuous Sparring

1st in Kata

4th in Point Sparring

Because of this, I earned the honor of representing Team USA internationally.

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BIG UPDATE

On Saturday, March 21, I traveled to Russellville, Arkansas, where I competed again—and officially qualified for the ICO (International Combat Organization) Team USA World Championships in France.

This means my journey has grown even bigger than I imagined.

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Team USA International Competitions

I will now be representing Team USA at TWO international events in 2026:

Lithuania | June 10–15, 2026

France (ICO World Championships) | October 14–18, 2026

I am incredibly honored to represent not only myself, but also Oklahoma and the United States on the world stage—twice in one year.

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Why I’m Fundraising

While portions of the trips are covered, I am responsible for:

• Team USA membership fees

• International flights (Lithuania & France)

• Travel-related expenses

Because I’ve now qualified for both Lithuania and France, I’ve updated my fundraising goal to reflect the full cost of this journey.

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Why This Means So Much

This is more than just a competition for me.

It’s a second chance at a dream I wasn’t able to fulfill as a kid.

It’s 27 years of dedication, discipline, and perseverance coming full circle.

And it’s proof that it’s never too late to chase something you love.

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How You Can Help

• Any donation—big or small—makes a difference

• Sharing this page helps more than you know

Even something as simple as $10 or a share can help push me closer to representing Team USA on the world stage.

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Thank you for being part of this journey and helping me represent Team USA internationally.

OSS!