Send the AJKA-I US Team to Berlin
Help send Bucks County locals Keegan Tawa, Seamus Belisle, Ryan Shapiro and Lee Brenden to Berlin!
On September 23rd, Bucks County locals Keegan Tawa, Seamus Belisle, Ryan Shapiro and Lee Brenden will travel to Berlin to compete as members of the AJKA-I U.S. Karate team at the Ippon Cup, one of the world's most competetive Shotokan karate tournaments.
The Ippon Cup is a traditional Japanese karate tournament which draws competitors from across the world. This year, 18 nations will be represented at the tournament. Locals Tawa, Belisle, Shapiro and Brenden will join an invitational U.S. team comprised of select martial artists from across the country.
The tournament consists of both Kumite (full contact sparring) and Kata (traditional, choreographed solo performance).
Tawa, Belisle, Shapiro and Brenden are lifelong Shotokan practicioners and are trained by Rob DeAngelis and Ed Rumick at the Solebury Club, the AJKA-I East Coast Headquarters.
Two years ago, Tawa and Belisle returned from Berlin with numerous gold medals in Team Sparring and Team Rotational Sparring. The US Team as a whole placed in every category in which it competed.
We seek donations to assist with the cost of airfare and travel to Berlin, for both our competitors and our coaches. We believe that $4000 dollars will cover the majority of our costs!
Thank you for your generosity!
Photography by Olivia Brosky
