By Jesse Huba

Published: Sunday, November 4, 2012, 11:59 p.m.
Updated: Monday, November 5, 2012

The Pennsylvania Karate Championships will offer a twist.

The event, scheduled at 10 a.m. Nov. 10 at Valley High School in New Kensington, will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

“The championships will start with a special ceremony honoring all the masters and grand masters who've been in the arts for 40 years or more,” event organizer Frank Caliguri said.

The championship will feature local contestants and competitors from surrounding states and Canada. There will be a wide range of age groups from the tiny tots/5-and-under division to the 35-and-older senior division.

Caliguri, whose school sponsors the event, said there will be many high-ranking martial artists.

“Angelo Marziale from Creighton will compete,” Caliguri said.

“He's the state champion six years in a row,”

The championships also will be televised by Champions Live Sports and Entertainment.

The Pennsylvania Karate Rating Association will be give out its top 10 state awards, based on a culmination of seasonlong points.

Among other local contestants competing are Lower Burrell's Angel Sullivan, a state champion brown belt in the 13-14 year old sparring advanced division, and ranked in the top 10 nationally. Another contestant is Kelly Lecocq of Lower Burrell, who is ranked in the top three in the women's advanced Kata.

The event is an open tournament and will feature numerous disciplines, including karate, kung fu and tae kwon do.

Seven grand-champion trophies will be awarded for children and adult divisions.

Tickets are available at the gate or at the Academy of Martial Arts in Lower Burrell.

Prices are $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. More information about the competition can be found at www.academyofmartialarts.org or by calling Frank or Nancy Caliguri at 724-335-9300, or 724-335-5550.

Jesse Huba is a freelance writer.

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