Regional Karate Tournament in Eureka Expected to Draw Hundreds

The 10th Annual U.S. American Karate Championship on Oct. 9 is part of the United Karate Alliance series of regional karate tournaments. This local tournament is being hosted by in Eureka, but will held at .

“We will have more than 50 karate schools represented at the tournament from throughout Missouri, southern Illinois and parts of Iowa,” said undefeated World Super Middleweight Champion Jim Smothers, Jr., who founded USA Martial Arts Academy in 1996, the first karate dojo in the Eureka-Wildwood region.

“It also is the last regional tournament in the United Karate Alliance series, so we anticipate participants will be in top form to secure their rankings for the 2011 tournament season.”

Competitive divisions include kata (forms), weapons kata, and sparring. New this year will be a jujitsu-grappling division. Children from age 4 through senior adults will compete in appropriate age divisions.

Smothers has almost 40 years of experience in a wide variety of martial arts styles, and is a seven-time regional grand champion in semi-contact and kata as well as an undefeated Midwest Kickboxing Champion in addition to his World Super Middleweight title. He has coached several regional karate champions and said that while karate can be a competitive sport, it also is widely recognized as an activity that builds self-esteem and character.

“We’ve seen children start as pre-schoolers who now have earned their black belts,” he said. “Along the way, they’ve learned discipline, manners and fortitude. I’m proud of every one of my students when they achieve higher and higher levels of understanding and skill throughout their participation in weekly karate lessons and in tournaments such as this one in October.”

Eureka resident Donna Wiechman, 57, joined USA Martial Arts Academy the first month it opened, and is now a fourth degree black belt teaching other adults and children at the dojo.

“My son, Ryan, was 4 years old at the time, and I enrolled us both in classes so we could do something together,” she said. “I also knew that martial arts was very self-motivating — both physically and mentally. Participating in advanced classes and tournaments has exposed me to other karate styles and made me a better instructor and a strong practitioner of the art of karate. It’s an ever-evolving skill, and one that I enjoy passing on to others.”

Smothers said anyone can participate in karate at any physical level. Children with profound hearing loss, who are diagnosed autistic or who have physical limitations all have been trained at USA Martial Arts Academy. “I’ve had several older adults who were diagnosed with heart conditions, diabetes, or arthritis and they are now off of their medications because they are in better shape,” he said. “Karate is great for all age and health levels. I don’t believe there’s another sport that contributes to weight loss, helps with confidence and includes high moral standards as can be found in karate.”

Registration for the tournament is under way. Awards for top division finishers and Grand Champion will be awarded throughout the day. There will be a $5 gate charge for spectators.

“It’s an excellent opportunity to see a variety of karate styles and premier competitors from both the local area and from the tri-state region,” said Smothers. “Come out, see the best, and then decide if you’d like to learn karate yourself.”

Editor's Note: Thanks for this information from an author who knows about karate firsthand—her husband and son are members of USA Martial Arts Academy.