LOCALS WIN AT KARATE TOURNAMENT Hackettstown, NJ: Glenn Finke, owner and head instructor at the Traditional Karate-Do Center in Warwick, and several of his students competed at the 21st Annual Isshinryu School of Karate Tournament at Hackettstown High School. The tournament, where proceeds will benefit cancer research, attracted over 300 athletes from all over the Tri-State area. Brittany Vreeland, 11, competed in the Girls Age 11-13 Advanced Division. She placed second in kata (formal exercises) and second in kumite (sparring). Alexandria Degan, 10, competed in the Girls Age 9-10 Advanced Division. She placed second in kata and third in kumite. Finke, 36, competed in the Men's Black Belt Age 19-34 Division. He placed first in kumite, second in kata and third in kobudo (weapons kata). Local Karate Students Recently Recognized As Black Belts Warwick, NY: During recent promotional examinations held by the Traditional Karate-Do Center three of its members were eligible to test for the rank of Sho-Dan, or first degree black belt, in Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate. They were Brittany Vreeland, 11, Noelle Giammarino, 15, and Kyle McFarland, 11. All are residents of Warwick and have been training at the dojo (training hall) for about five years. The examination helps determine if the student's skills, effort and determination are enough to warrant promotion to the prestigious Black Belt rank. The students were examined on the practice of kata (formal exercises), self-defense techniques against unarmed and armed assailants, kumite (sparring), basic and advanced karate techniques as well as physical conditioning. Glenn Finke, owner and head instructor at the dojo (located in Warwick) stated, "All three of these young people met and exceeded the standard of what I would expect a Black Belt to be. The three of them have had their own unique jouneys during their practice of karate-overcoming many challenges and enjoying many personal achievements. I am proud to recognize them as Black Belts after years of preparation and commitment on their parts as well as their families. I am honored by their desire, dedication and discipline." The promotion ceremony took place at the Orange County Park near the Hickory Hill Golf Course-where other students of the Traditional Karate-Do Center were also recognized for promotion for various under Black Belt ranks-during the dojo's annual summer picnic. Vreeland, Giammarino and McFarland were also recognized as Green Belts in Okinawa Kobudo, a martial art that has the practice of Okinawan weapons as the major part of its curriculum. During the ceremonies the three new Black Belts demonstrated kata and self-defense against armed and unarmed assailants to show the attendees at least part of what they had to do during their promotional examinations.