I'm from the CVHS class of 1989. One of the swim team captains. Since then I've moved on to other physical activities like running, Pilates, and Karate. My wife Jennifer and I volunteer our time as a Karate instructors to teach students in the Penn State Karate Club (PSKC) at Penn State's University Park campus. We are both 5th degree Black Belts in Okinawan Isshin Ryu Karate and Kobudo.

In June, we traveled to Augusta, Maine with some of our Black Belts to attend training seminars offered by Okinawan Grandmaster Kichiro Shimabuku and to compete in the IWKA 2017 World Championship Tournament with other Isshin Ryu Karate practitioners from around the globe. The tournament is held every two years and includes competition in empty hand forms, weapon forms and sparring. This year's event was held at the Augusta Civic Center on June 23rd & 24th. Our team of PSKC competitors came home with five 1st places, four 2nd places, and seven 3rd places. I finished 3rd in both my forms and my weapons divisions. Jennifer finished 3rd in her forms division. In 2019, the championship tournament will be held in London.

The Penn State Karate Club is one of the oldest university based martial arts clubs in the country. PSKC has been active at PSU since 1972. Membership is open to all PSU students, faculty and staff. Jennifer & I became involved with the club in 1994.
www.PennStateKarate.org

PSKC also participates in local tournaments and conducts self-defense workshops for various groups throughout the year. Additionally, PSKC members promote fitness and support for THON and Special Olympics through participation in events like the THON 5K and Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run, and volunteering during the Summer Special Olympics at Penn State.

2017 Tournament Photo Left-to-Right:
Joseph Kotanchik, Sara Wall, Eliza Gabel, Breanne Decker, Grandmaster Kichiro Shimabuku, Jaeson Koszarsky, Vivian Denny, Jennifer Koszarsky, Lauren Denny, Carl Denny