Caliguri’s Academy of Martial Arts hosting 52nd annual Pennsylvania Karate Championships

The Academy of Martial Arts will host the 52nd annual Pennsylvania Karate Championships on Saturday at the Quality Inn in New Kensington.

The top 10 rated competitors and all first-place competitors in their events will receive a PKRA state championship patch.

Frank Caliguri, a 10th-degree black belt who runs the Academy of Martial Arts in Lower Burrell with his wife, Nancy, a ninth-degree black belt, helps organize the event with their daughter Kelli, a third-degree black belt and teacher.

“Everyone is very excited for this event because we have competitors, friends and associates from all over the country coming in, including Scottdale, Ariz.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Chicago, Ill.; Ohio; Pennsylvania; New York; Michigan; Indiana,” Frank Caliguri said. “It’s looking to be a big and exciting event.”

Caliguri added that there will be students from 5 to 70 years old competing, including 26 students from his school. In all, there are eight dojos from eight states competing.

“We also have a big showing in the grandmasters division with masters,” Caliguri said. “Grandmasters are coming in from all over the country to compete because the event has the highest sanctions, which will give you more points with the USAMA and the PKRA sanctioning bodies.”

The Academy of Martial Arts will have four black belts competing: Steve Baksis in the grandmasters division, Connor O’Sullivan in the junior division, and Zachary Fry and Terri McCutcheon, who will compete in the black belt division.

“The Quality Inn hotel at the Tarentum Bridge Road has a very large ballroom facility, great for the tournaments, and the competitors like it because they can get a room and stay right on the site of the tournament,” Caliguri said.

Caliguri added that the top 10 PKRA state champion awards will be given out to the competitors, and there will be 13 overall point state champions, which is cumulative points in all the divisions that they compete in throughout the year, including sparring, kata and weapons.

“It’s great having the whole family involved in helping with the promotion of the event,” he said. “My wife, Nancy, and daughter Kelli are directors. My daughter Chrissy and her husband, Wade, and grandson, Jase, and granddaughters, Kira and Zoey helped with setting up and running the tournament. My students also helping at the tournament are special, and thanks to all of them.”