Okinawa Team at Las Vegas US Open Karate 2014 Okinawa Karate | Denver Shotokan Karate | Kids Martial Arts

Okinawa Team at Las Vegas US Open Karate 2014

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This past weekend fabulous Las Vegas hosted two greatest karate events of the year in the United States – US Open and Junior International Cup 2014. This year’s tournaments took place at Paris Hotel and Casino and attracted over 2 000 competitors from 42 countries. It was organized by USA Karate and sanctioned by World Karate Federation. Kumite (sparrings) and Kata (stand up solo demonstrations of karate techniques) were performed simultaneously on 12 rings.

Okinawa Team by KarateBros from Denver, Colorado has been represented by 13 competitors and 5 coaches.
The youngest participant of the Team Okinawa was a 6 years old girl from our team. Outstanding performance of our athletes delivered the following results.

TOTAL MEDAL COUNT:

  • Gold 11
  • Silver 6
  • Bronze 12

ATHLETES AND RESULTS:

  • Zaslavsky Daniel – Gold, Silver, Bronze
  • Dykalenko Masha – 3x Gold, Bronze
  • Befus Ron – Gold
  • Torres Debbie – 2x Gold, Silver
  • Gladkih Maria – Gold, Silver, Bronze
  • Khodjaev Milla – Gold, Silver, 2x Bronze
  • Padalka Vitaly – Silver
  • Gissa Martin – 3x Bronze
  • Dykalenko Pasha – Silver, Bronze
  • Purevsaikhan Ochi – 2x Gold, 2x Bronze
  • Skhisov Daniel – Bronze
  • Vu Kieu
  • Marler-Vu John

This year besides 13 competitors the Team Okinawa has been represented by 5 coaches, who’s hard work and passion helped our athletes to deliver such outstanding results.

COACHES:

  • Alex Padalka
  • Vitaly Padalka
  • Chris Torres
  • Denis Gladkih
  • Ron Befus

Kids have been training really hard for this tournament, 4 to 5 days a week. The dedication of these young athletes is not less impressive then any professional athlete who you would follow on TV every day.

The next big event that our karate kids are getting ready for is the National Qualifier – Rocky Mountain Championship that will take place in Louisville, CO on May 4th, 2014.
Okinawa Dojo life is full of all kinds of exciting moments and events. At the end of the spring the school will have a belt testing, where all students get a chance to demonstrate an improvement of their level and earn their new deserved belts.
All kids are looking forward to one of the most exciting events of the year – Summer Karate Camp “GASHUKU by KarateBros” which will be held in our beautiful Cherry Creek State Park by the lake. Kids with their parents spend a wonderful time camping in the tents, enjoying karate training, boating, tubing, marshmallows on the fire and the great time with friends and family. Team spirit, laughter and great memories!

Okinawa Team coaches Karate Brothers Alexandr and Vitaly Padalka are from Russia originally, have come to United States about 10 years ago.
They had their first Dojo in Aspen, Colorado. In the beginning of 2011 brothers relocated to Denver and continued to pursue their dream – teaching karate to local community.”

Watch us on YouTube

2023 US Open & JIC - Okinawa Team

USA Team Camp 2022

Okinawa Competition Team - 2022 year recap

Tough Mudder Colorado 2022 - 14 Okinawa Ninjas

2024 Okinawa Team - Year in Review

Follow us on Instagram

💥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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🆂🅴🅴 🆈🅾🆄 🅽🅴🆇🆃 🆈🅴🅰🆁! 👊
💥 High Caliber Denver sends a huge THANK YOU for making this year’s event the best one yet!🎥 Relive the action with this incredible video by Ricardo Larroche with JRL - a true highlight of the tournament! @jrlarroche🇺🇸 History in the making! This was the first USA Karate-sanctioned event of 2025, and we’re beyond grateful for the National Karate Federation’s support @usakarate . Your backing helped us take this event to the next level. #LevelUp👫🫶💃🏼 Team Okinawa - you are simply the best! This wouldn’t have been possible without you.🕺 Referees & Judges - your exceptional performance kept the competition at the highest standard. Domo Arigato Gozaimashita!👨‍⚕️⛑️👩‍⚕️ To our dedicated medical team - Mile High Internal Medicine, thank you for ensuring every athlete received top-notch care. @ermin.kreso🌺 A touch of beauty! The stunning floral arrangements at the podium and VIP table were hard to miss. Huge shoutout to Amanda & Marchello @amanda_theflorist @marchellosfloral did you know those flowers were real? 🫶We extend our gratitude to all Coaches, Senseis, Athletes, and club owners who supported our tournament this year!This year was nothing short of phenomenal! A special shoutout to our amazing Karate Brothers, Vitaly and Alex Padalka, our diligent team manager Laura Hansen @lauraj_hansen , and our operations manager Arturo Fuentes @the_fuga_studio . To all the volunteers, staff, and supporters—your invaluable efforts made this celebration of karate possible. We’re deeply grateful, and your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed!🎨Shoutout to our amazing designer, Andrew Moroz @maroscreative His eye-catching designs truly elevated the event.
🥇 A special thank you to Sensei Paco Gomez @pacogomez21 the master of production, who helped bring it all to life!🔒 Commitment to excellence! We upheld the highest standards by ensuring all officials, coaches, 18+ athletes, and even medics completed SafeSport training.🔥 We’ll see you again next year!#dreamteamokinawa #karatebros #highcaliberdenver #usakarate #okinawadojo #senseilife #karatedenver

🆂🅴🅴 🆈🅾🆄 🅽🅴🆇🆃 🆈🅴🅰🆁! 👊
💥 High Caliber Denver sends a huge THANK YOU for making this year’s event the best one yet!

🎥 Relive the action with this incredible video by Ricardo Larroche with JRL - a true highlight of the tournament! @jrlarroche

🇺🇸 History in the making! This was the first USA Karate-sanctioned event of 2025, and we’re beyond grateful for the National Karate Federation’s support @usakarate . Your backing helped us take this event to the next level. #LevelUp

👫🫶💃🏼 Team Okinawa - you are simply the best! This wouldn’t have been possible without you.

🕺 Referees & Judges - your exceptional performance kept the competition at the highest standard. Domo Arigato Gozaimashita!

👨‍⚕️⛑️👩‍⚕️ To our dedicated medical team - Mile High Internal Medicine, thank you for ensuring every athlete received top-notch care. @ermin.kreso

🌺 A touch of beauty! The stunning floral arrangements at the podium and VIP table were hard to miss. Huge shoutout to Amanda & Marchello @amanda_theflorist @marchellosfloral did you know those flowers were real? 🫶

We extend our gratitude to all Coaches, Senseis, Athletes, and club owners who supported our tournament this year!

This year was nothing short of phenomenal! A special shoutout to our amazing Karate Brothers, Vitaly and Alex Padalka, our diligent team manager Laura Hansen @lauraj_hansen , and our operations manager Arturo Fuentes @the_fuga_studio . To all the volunteers, staff, and supporters—your invaluable efforts made this celebration of karate possible. We’re deeply grateful, and your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed!

🎨Shoutout to our amazing designer, Andrew Moroz @maroscreative His eye-catching designs truly elevated the event.
🥇 A special thank you to Sensei Paco Gomez @pacogomez21 the master of production, who helped bring it all to life!

🔒 Commitment to excellence! We upheld the highest standards by ensuring all officials, coaches, 18+ athletes, and even medics completed SafeSport training.

🔥 We’ll see you again next year!

#dreamteamokinawa #karatebros #highcaliberdenver #usakarate #okinawadojo #senseilife #karatedenver
...

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Happy birthday Sensei Alex, happy birthday Brother!
You are a great man, a talented teacher, an amazing father and husband, a remarkable son, an exceptional friend, and the best brother I could possibly imagine!
I love you and wish you to be happy 🫶
Enjoy every day of life, achieve new heights, and continue making a difference!
Proud to be your brother ❤️
Have a magical birthday!!!#HappyBirthday #SenseiLife #KarateBros

Happy birthday Sensei Alex, happy birthday Brother!
You are a great man, a talented teacher, an amazing father and husband, a remarkable son, an exceptional friend, and the best brother I could possibly imagine!
I love you and wish you to be happy 🫶
Enjoy every day of life, achieve new heights, and continue making a difference!
Proud to be your brother ❤️
Have a magical birthday!!!

#HappyBirthday #SenseiLife #KarateBros
...

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𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣We had a pleasure of having USA Karate athlete of the year and a Double Pan American champion - Isabela Sanchez @isa.karate at the High Caliber Denver karate championships.This young lady is a great example of true karateka and an awesome person overall.
Congratulations on your strong performance, Isa! 🔥
Btw, next year we will have weight divisions 😉Of course, congratulations to a proud father Sensei Luis Sanchez @luisblackbelt and @floridakarateclubs#karatebros #dreamteamokinawa #highcaliberdenver #senseilife #usakarate #denverhighcaliber #karatedenver #interview🎥 @jrlarroche

𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣

We had a pleasure of having USA Karate athlete of the year and a Double Pan American champion - Isabela Sanchez @isa.karate at the High Caliber Denver karate championships.

This young lady is a great example of true karateka and an awesome person overall.
Congratulations on your strong performance, Isa! 🔥
Btw, next year we will have weight divisions 😉

Of course, congratulations to a proud father Sensei Luis Sanchez @luisblackbelt and @floridakarateclubs

#karatebros #dreamteamokinawa #highcaliberdenver #senseilife #usakarate #denverhighcaliber #karatedenver #interview

🎥 @jrlarroche
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𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝟐 🇺🇸
𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐊𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏 &
𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏 👊A huge thank you to the incredible instructors—Luis Sanchez @luisblackbelt , Kamran Madani @coach._kam , and Eduard Sagilyan @eduard_sagilyan_  for sharing their expertise and passion!Both studios were buzzing with energy, determination, and a deep love for karate. So many talented athletes came together, eager to learn, grow, and take their skills to the next level. You all are truly inspiring!There are no shortcuts to success—only discipline, commitment, and dedication will take you to the top!Okinawa Dojo was proud to welcome High Caliber Denver participants, Region 2 karateka, and guests from across the country.HOSTS:
Vitaly Padalka @vitalyokinawa
Alex Padalka @alexokinawaLet’s keep pushing forward! 💪🥋🔥#karate #USAkarate #noshortcuts #discipline #commitment #dedication
#HighCaliberDenver #dreamteamokinawa #karatebros #senseilife #karatedenver

𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝟐 🇺🇸
𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐊𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏 &
𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏 👊

A huge thank you to the incredible instructors—Luis Sanchez @luisblackbelt , Kamran Madani @coach._kam , and Eduard Sagilyan @eduard_sagilyan_ for sharing their expertise and passion!

Both studios were buzzing with energy, determination, and a deep love for karate. So many talented athletes came together, eager to learn, grow, and take their skills to the next level. You all are truly inspiring!

There are no shortcuts to success—only discipline, commitment, and dedication will take you to the top!

Okinawa Dojo was proud to welcome High Caliber Denver participants, Region 2 karateka, and guests from across the country.

HOSTS:
Vitaly Padalka @vitalyokinawa
Alex Padalka @alexokinawa

Let’s keep pushing forward! 💪🥋🔥

#karate #USAkarate #noshortcuts #discipline #commitment #dedication
#HighCaliberDenver #dreamteamokinawa #karatebros #senseilife #karatedenver
...

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