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All-American Karate Academy trio to compete internationally
With one wall of the All-American Karate Academy already lined with trophies, three students may soon be bringing more high accolades to the Greencastle school.
Having qualified through state-level events, three academy students — Laura Majors, Izaiah Campbell and Riley O’Day — will compete in the U.S. Association of Martial Arts Grand Internationals in Albuquerque, N.M., March 15-18.
The trio earned their way into the event through competitions sanctioned by the Professional Karate Commission, Tournament Karate Association and USAMA.
“They’ve all been very successful in these competitions,” Karate Academy owner and instructor Steve St. Pierre said. “Throughout the state, they were voted in by the their participation — both by their peers and by the blackbelts throughout the state.”
Under the tutelage of both Steve and wife and fellow instructor Nikki St. Pierre, the students are no strangers to success. Even making the academy’s competition team is no small feat.
“Our competition team is on an invitation basis,” Steve said. “There’s no tryout. Not everybody makes the team.”
Majors is 27 years old but has been training with All-American Karate Academy since she was a youth. She will be competing in the adult women’s blackbelt competition.
Campbell, 15, of Greencastle, will be competing in the 14-15 boys’ advanced division.
He has been doing karate for eight years and competing for the last two years.
“I won Albuquerque last year, so I’m hoping to win it this year,” Campbell said.
In addition to Albuquerque, Campbell also competed in a Las Vegas tournament, but was disqualified while going against someone he had defeated at Albuquerque.
Campbell competes in point sparring, which he describes as “fighting with some contact but not full contact.”
Finding that line where “some contact” ends can be tricky.
“I’m probably better suited for full contact,” he said.
O’Day, 9, of Coatesville, will compete in the boys’ 9-11 boys’ advanced division.
He has been doing karate for three years, competing for two.
“There are a lot of different things you can do,” O’Day said of the competition.
One that especially excites O’Day is chanbara, which involves fighting with a foam sword.
“You can hit the other person anywhere,” O’Day said.
Now into his 50th year of martial arts training, St. Pierre continues to garner high accolades for his accomplishments. He will serve as an arbitrator for the tournament, and will also soon be honored in the state where he got his start back in the late 1960s when he is inducted into the Illinois Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Ever the teacher, St. Pierre seems happiest talking about the success of his students.
“I’m really proud of these guys,” St. Pierre said. “They put in a lot of time — come early, leave late.”