This year's Pan American Karate Championships was held in Caracas, Venezuela from May 30 - June 1st with a little over 23 participating countries. The United States National team consisted of 18 members(13 males and 5 females) and three coaches.  From IKF, representatives included Sensei George Kotaka, Sensei Elisa Au, and Eimi Kurita.  Eimi Kurita won the Gold in the women's 60 kg kumite and Sensei George won the Silver in the -65 kg kumite.  The U.S. 5-man team kumite also received a Bronze medal with a win over Mexico.  Sensei Elisa Au had a good showing in the women's 60kg and Open kumite division but was unsuccessful to medal.  Overall, the United States placed 6th in the overall medal count.  This was an exciting event and a great tune-up for this year's WKF World Championships held in November in Tokyo, Japan.

BRANCH	PARTICIPATION-1 PT.	1ST PLACE-5 PT.	2ND PLACE-3 PT.	3RD PLACE-1 PT.	TOTAL	RANK
PALOLO	79	175	60	17	331	1ST
KAMILOIKI	70	115	75	27	287	2ND
UNIVERSITY	70	95	63	27	255	3RD
KAILUA	67	85	81	17	250	4TH
PEARL CITY	33	65	33	6	137	5TH
KAIMUKI YMCA	26	40	24	4	94	6TH
WESLEY	12	35	12	0	59	7TH
KANEOHE	13	30	12	3	58	8TH
PUNAHOU	10	5	6	7	28	9TH

Most Outstanding Competitors: 1st Kent Hori - 2nd Sarah Hori - 3rd Jeren Nishimoto

Most Outstanding Dojos: 1st Palolo - 2nd Kamiloiki - 3rd University

Most Outstanding Instructor: Sensei Mari Kaneshiro

For the past several years IKF and the AAU have been taking a team up to Japan during spring break to compete in  goowill tournaments.   IKF members included: Takeshi Idei, Shoji Kinoshita, Rumi, Kinoshita, and Shinnosuke McGerity.  In conjunction with team IKF, the AAU brought a Jr. National team to represent the United States in this goodwill exchange.  The first tournament was held in Osaka, on March 23, by Sunako Sensei.  The following weekend on March 29, a second tournament was held in Tokyo by Sensei Jibiki.

IKF Individual Results:

Takeshi Idei: 1-Bronze(Osaka Tournament) / 1-Gold, 1-Silver(Tokyo Tournament)

Shoji Kinoshita: 1-Gold(Tokyo Tournament)

Rumi Kinoshita: Was not able to place but we applaud her valiant effort and dedication to this competition.

Shinnosuke McGerity: 1-Gold(Tokyo Tournament)

Though IKF brought a small team up, our team did an outstanding job of representing our school.  Divisions were big in size and brown and black belt were combined into one division.  Even though IKF members were inexperienced, their training and determination proved essential to their success.  Congratulations to all four members of IKF!

2008 IKF Black Belt Promotion-March 14 & 15 (Univeristy Square Dojo)

This year’s black belt promotion included a total of 11 applicants, 9 from Hawaii and 2 from Washington.

Shodan(1^st degree)applicants: Adam Cachero, Amy McNeill, Joshua Crimmins, Alicia Crowley

Shodan-Ho(Temporary)applicants: Milan Twining, Taylor Kaneshiro, Sean Hori, Ikaika Cabugon, Jarryd Dote, Kerri Matsushima, Abigail Horn

Out-of-state applicants included Alicia Crowley(Seattle,Washington) going for her Shodan(1^st degree) and Abigail Horn(Bremerton, Washington) going for her Shodan-Ho.

Everyone was issued his or her black belt diplomas and belts on April 4, 2004 at University Dojo. Congratulations!!!

Left to Right: Adam Cachero, Amy McNeill, Joshua Crimmins, Milan Twining, Taylor Kaneshiro, Sean Hori, Ikaika Cabugon, Jarryd Dote, Kerri Matsushima

2008 US Open was held from March 21-23, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Representatives from IKF were Sensei George Kotaka, Sensei Elisa Au Fonseca, and Eimi Kurita.  With over 1200 competitiors and 26 different countries, this international event was exciting and memorable.

For the first time in US Open history the men's Team Kumite title was won by the United States.  Sensei George was apart of this team as they defeated Team Ecuador for the finals.  Sensei George also won Gold in his -65kg kumite division.  The U.S. women's kumite team consisted of Elisa Au, Eimi Kurita, and Cheryl Murphy.  The women's team came away with the Bronze medal.

Sensei Elisa Au Fonseca received a Gold in the women's open kumite division and Eimi Kurita received a Silver in the women's kata division.  Both women have been exceptional athletes and have represented the U.S. team and IKF very highly in all major international events. 

KGMB 9 News Station just reintroduced their hit show back in the early 80's called Hawaii's Super Kids.  In 1989, 11 year old, George Kotaka was the feature of one of the episodes.  Now 20 years later, to blast off the show once again, Sensei George Kotaka was asked to come into KGMB 9 studios to do a morning show for its beginnig launch.  The old episode back in 1989 showed George Kotaka performing the kata (Gojyushiho), bo kata (Sakugawa-no-Kon), and sparring with mentor, Sensei John Limacaco. This footage is definitely priceless!

Click on the link below to see the whole episode unveil from start to finish. http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/1585/126/

January 27, 2008 / San Diego Convention Center

IKF took a 6 member team including Sensei George Kotaka to Sensei Minobu Miki's annual karate championships.  Team members included Shinnosuke McGerity (6yr.), Ikaika Cabugon (12yr.), Rumi Kinoshita (13 yr.), Shoji Kinoshita (14yr.), Kerri Matsushima (16yr.), and Eimi Kurita (18yr.).  Team IKF-Hawaii also met up with IKF-Sacramento and Sensei John Limcaco and did an outstanding job of representing IKF. Team IKF-Hawaii results are as follows:

Shinnosuke McGerity - 3 Gold
Ikaika Cabugon - 1 Silver
Rumi Kinoshita - 1 Silver
Shoji Kinoshita - 1 Silver, 2 Bronze
Kerri Matsushima - 2 Silver
Eimi Kurita - 2 Gold

In addition to the competition Sensei George Kotaka conducted a kumite seminar the day before the tournament along with 3 other karate sensei's.  This is the second consecutive year that Sensei George was invited to San Diego for a seminar on kumite techniques.