East Rockaway students kick out the competition in karate tournaments

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Two Centre Avenue students won gold medals in karate at the Junior International Cup and at the U.S. Karate Open on the weekend of March 30.

Emma Van Wickler, 12, and Frank Passanisi Jr., 11, beat out their competition.

Emma earned a gold medal in the girls’ Intermediate Kata Division and a Silver Medal in the girls’ age 12 to 13 Intermediate Kumite Division at the Junior International Cup in Las Vegas. She also earned a silver medal at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas for the girls’ age 12 to 13 Intermediate Division for Kumite, a bronze medal for Team Intermediate Advanced Kumite and a bronze medal for girls’ 12 to 13 Intermediate Kata. Kumite and kata are two of the three main sections of karate training, along with kihon.

“You had to stay very focused, but in the end it was very worth it going there and competing,” Emma said.

Frank earned a gold medal at the U.S. Open in the boys’ age 10 to 11 Advanced Kumite Division, a bronze medal for Team Kumite in the boys’ 10 to 11 Advanced Division and a bronze medal in the boys’ 10 to 11 Advanced Division at the Junior International Cup.

“It was fun how you got to face people who come from different countries,” he said.

Both competitors are honor roll students at Centre Avenue School in East Rockaway, and spend six days per week training at Ultimate Martial Arts and Fitness in Lynbrook. Emma said she has been practicing karate for about 2 ½ years, and Frank noted that he has been practicing for about six years.

During the training, Frank said, they run drills and practice with their teammates. Emma said she likes to do karate because “it just helps me a lot and it creates discipline.”

Emma’s mother, Melissa, agreed. “They’re both so focused,” she wrote in an email to the Herald. “We know they’ll achieve whatever they set their minds to.”