2015 Purple Dragon World Karate Championship in Trinidad

August 11 2015 – Tequesta, FL - Purple Dragon Karate Dojo (PD) in Tequesta, FL recently competed at the 2015 Purple Dragon World Karate Championships in Trinidad where they took 3rd place overall with four Gold, six Silver and five Bronze medals. 

The World Karate Championship hosted dozens of Dojos from around the globe representing the following countries: USA, Cayman Islands, Antigua, Tortola, Canada, Venezuela, Spain, China, Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada. Teams gathered in Trinidad July 17-18 to pit their best students against each other in the hopes of honing skills, winning metals and building life-long friendships. 

“I am so proud of these students,” said Shihan Andrews, head instructor of PD Tequesta. “The competition was fierce, especially Team Trinidad, but their dedication to training and honing their skills paid off. The youth and adults on our team showed grace and sportsmanship in the face of intense challenges, win-or-lose.”  

Fourteen PD Tequesta students competed with the following nine bringing home metals:

• 3rd degree black belt Senpai Candia Andrews (coach) :1 Silver- self-defense; 1 Bronze-weapons; 1 Bronze sync weapons

• 

• 1st Degree black belt Dr. Lorne Stitsky: 1 Gold- Men’s weapons; 1 Bronze- synchronized weapons

• Green Belt Katelyn Murphy: 1 Bronze-forms

• Green Belt Daniel Murphy: 4th place-sparring; 4th place-forms

• Green Belt Mario Poerio: 1 Bronze-sparring

• Black belt Instructor Patrick Denison: 1 Silver-3 men’s team sparring

• Red Belt Erik Larson, Sr.: 1 Gold- sparring; 1 Silver- forms

• Red Belt Debra Larson: 1 Gold-women’s weapons; 1 Gold-women’s self-defense; 1 Silver-sparring; 1 Silver- forms

• Yellow Belt Matt Vincent; 1 Silver- forms; 1 Silver-sparring 

The 3rd Caribbean Martial Arts Hall of Fame recognized teachers, students and parents for their contribution to Purple Dragon International. 

• Shihan Albert Andrews:(coach) Lifetime Achievement Award

• Senpai Candia Andrews: Senpai of the Year

• Dr. Lorne Stitsky: Parent of the Year Male

• Holly Vincent: Parent of the Year Female.

  Honorable mention Zoe Andrews , Erik Larson Jr, Lilly-Kate Vincent, Milan Tangirala, Nicholas Vincent  who competed but did not place. 
  
  

Shihan Andrews continued, “It is with deepest gratitude that we thank our founder and Grand Master Professor Don Jacob and Mrs. Jacob for hosting this prestigious event. For the Purple Dragon Shihans in Trinidad for such great organization of the event, fellow team USA members from New York, Atlanta, Texas, Mississippi, and our sponsors for without their support, we would not have been able to compete: The Village of Tequesta; The Town of Jupiter; Dr. Lorne Stitsky and Personal Choice Family Practice and our awesome parents who all contributed to raise over $7,000 to help with team expenses.”

In addition to competing, Purple dragon Karate Tequesta visited the St. Dominic’s Children’s home and Orphanage where they donated $500 and all the kids gave clothes.