Another great team trip to the Windy City. - Okinawa Karate Okinawa Karate | Denver Shotokan Karate | Kids Martial Arts

Another great team trip to the Windy City.

Okinawa Team paid a visit to Chicago – beautiful, the third most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles.

Third year in a row our #DreamTeamOkinawa travels to compete in the prestigious international tournament Fonseca Cup, organized by our friends, great karatekas and the family – Elisa Au Fonseca three-time WKF World Champion and her husband John Fonseca WKF World Karate Medalist.

“Worth fighting for” – is the official slogan of the event. Nine athletes from Okinawa Dojo including Sensei demonstrated their skills at such a high level competition – it was definitely worth fighting for!

Our results:

Maria Gladkih – GOLD (kata), GOLD (kumite)

Daniel Skhisov – GOLD (kata), BRONZE (kumite)

John Marler-Vu – GOLD (kumite, SILVER (kata)

Debbie Torres – GOLD (kata), GOLD (kumite)

Daniel Zaslavsky – BRONZE (kumite)

Martin Gissa – GOLD (kata), GOLD (team kumite), BRONZE (kumite)

Ochi Purevsaikhan – GOLD (kata), GOLD (kumite)

Kieu Vu – SILVER (kata), SILVER (kumite)

Sensei  Vitaly Padalka – BRONZE (kumite)

This trip for all participant was truly an amazing experience! But how trips like this can be fun without sightseeing, right?

We got to check out Downtown of Chicago, enjoyed Millennium Park in its fall tricolor, the Cloud Gate was so impressive! This sculpture nicknamed “The Bean” because of its legume-like shape.  Part of the team got to go on the top of Willies Tower – 108-story skyscraper and the second-tallest building in the United states, and the eights tallest freestanding structure in the World. Wow! We took a walk along the shore of amazing Lake Michigan – one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Enjoyed the night ride on the Ferris Wheel at the Navy Pier Chicago. Filled up at few famous restaurants and cafes and had a lots of delicious food.

The whole trip from the beginning till the end was filled with excitement, family-like atmosphere, laughter and fun!

Thanks a lot to all friends and families who supported our team during the trip and who made it possible!

KarateBros. 

If you would like to get a feel of this trip, please enjoy this short film about our adventures, including moments from the tournament:

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Alan Ulyanovskiy - private karate class at Okinawa Dojo

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Group classes build warriors — private lessons refine them. One-on-one training accelerates skill, sharpens technique, and unlocks your true potential. Serious about leveling up?
A sneak peek into today’s private class with Nicholas. Getting ready for the belt test.
#karatebros #dreamteamokinawa #senseilife #usakarate #okinawadojo #karatedenver #karatekid #dojo #privateclass

Group classes build warriors — private lessons refine them. One-on-one training accelerates skill, sharpens technique, and unlocks your true potential. Serious about leveling up?
A sneak peek into today’s private class with Nicholas. Getting ready for the belt test.
#karatebros #dreamteamokinawa #senseilife #usakarate #okinawadojo #karatedenver #karatekid #dojo #privateclass
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It took us some time 🤫 to properly display the WKF and PKF medals earned by our student Eduard Sagilyan.Proud of you Eddie @eduard_sagilyan_
Let’s keep adding to it
#AllTheWayToTheTop🔝
#USAkarate #WKF #PKF #Medals#KarateBros #SenseiLife
#DreamTeamOkinawa

It took us some time 🤫 to properly display the WKF and PKF medals earned by our student Eduard Sagilyan.

Proud of you Eddie @eduard_sagilyan_
Let’s keep adding to it
#AllTheWayToTheTop🔝
#USAkarate #WKF #PKF #Medals

#KarateBros #SenseiLife
#DreamTeamOkinawa
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#ThrowbackThursday to the 2005 FSKA World Championships. Five fighters. One goal.
Proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with legends - Sensei Hiroshi Allen @hirokarate , Jesse Arimas, Brandon Carrillo, and Thomas Balka.In the final match, Sensei Vitaly delivered the decisive victory, clinching the title for Team USA against the reigning champions Team France.The Stardust Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NVA moment in history.
Roots run deep. The journey never ends.#TBT #KarateBros
#OkinawaTeam #HiroKarate #FSKA
#Funakoshi #Shotokan #Karate

#ThrowbackThursday to the 2005 FSKA World Championships. Five fighters. One goal.
Proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with legends - Sensei Hiroshi Allen @hirokarate , Jesse Arimas, Brandon Carrillo, and Thomas Balka.

In the final match, Sensei Vitaly delivered the decisive victory, clinching the title for Team USA against the reigning champions Team France.

The Stardust Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV

A moment in history.
Roots run deep. The journey never ends.

#TBT #KarateBros
#OkinawaTeam #HiroKarate #FSKA
#Funakoshi #Shotokan #Karate
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💥OKINAWA TEAM is ready💥
US open & Jr. International Cup
Las Vegas, NV - Paris Hotel
April 18-20Good luck to all Okinawa athletes!#USOpen #JIC #LasVegas
#KarateBros #DreamTeamOkinawa
#USAKarate

💥OKINAWA TEAM is ready💥
US open & Jr. International Cup
Las Vegas, NV - Paris Hotel
April 18-20

Good luck to all Okinawa athletes!

#USOpen #JIC #LasVegas
#KarateBros #DreamTeamOkinawa
#USAKarate
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- Who are we?
- OKINAWANice work today, Team!#karatebros #dreamteamokinawa #senseilife #okinawadojo #karatekid

- Who are we?
- OKINAWA

Nice work today, Team!

#karatebros #dreamteamokinawa #senseilife #okinawadojo #karatekid
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A few words from our guest athlete Mateo Nacu about his experience at the High Caliber Denver.
Mateo finished 1st in Kata and 1st in Kumite at this karate event in Denver, Colorado.
Congratulations, champ!𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐮
World Ranking #4 🌎
PKF 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈🥈🥉
Youth League 🥇🥉🥉Thank you 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐢 𝐉𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐮 @jaynacu from @ensokarate for bringing your team and supporting our tournament! 🤝
Your guidance shines through in the success of your students. Best of luck!🎥 @jrlarroche#usakarate #dreamteamokinawa #karatebros #highcaliberdenver #karatedenver #ensokarate #athleteinterview

A few words from our guest athlete Mateo Nacu about his experience at the High Caliber Denver.
Mateo finished 1st in Kata and 1st in Kumite at this karate event in Denver, Colorado.
Congratulations, champ!

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐮
World Ranking #4 🌎
PKF 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈🥈🥉
Youth League 🥇🥉🥉

Thank you 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐢 𝐉𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐮 @jaynacu from @ensokarate for bringing your team and supporting our tournament! 🤝
Your guidance shines through in the success of your students. Best of luck!

🎥 @jrlarroche

#usakarate #dreamteamokinawa #karatebros #highcaliberdenver #karatedenver #ensokarate #athleteinterview
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Sensei Noël Nkuranyabahizi @coachnoel250 traveled all the way from Rwanda to support the High Caliber Denver tournament!We appreciate your help with officiating and the positive energy you brought. Looking forward to welcoming you and your team back in 2026! @thechampionssportsacademy#highcaliberdenver #okinawadojo #usakarate #senseilife #karatebros #karateunites

Sensei Noël Nkuranyabahizi @coachnoel250 traveled all the way from Rwanda to support the High Caliber Denver tournament!

We appreciate your help with officiating and the positive energy you brought. Looking forward to welcoming you and your team back in 2026! @thechampionssportsacademy

#highcaliberdenver #okinawadojo #usakarate #senseilife #karatebros #karateunites
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