Ingram's Celebrates 19 State Champions

Ingram's Karate Center is no stranger to competition, our competitive team has been among the top AAU teams in Florida since the 1980's; now Ingram's wants to celebrate some of it's strongest competitors from the 2019 season.

Becoming a Florida titleholder is no small task, it takes dedication over the long haul for an athlete to qualify for a Florida Championship. At each tournament, a point system is awarded based on the place standings of the competitor in each event. Competitors who win 1st place in their division for performances in Kata, Kumite, and Kobudo (Forms, sparring, and weapons respectively) receive the highest point totals, being followed by those winning 2nd and 3rd place with a lesser point achievement depending on placement. Each time an athlete places in their division, their point standing raises and at the end of the year, the state championship goes to the athlete who has the highest total points in each of the three events as well as one overall winner for total combined points.

This means that showing up once or twice, even with an outstanding performance, won't win you a state title; it takes a full year of outstanding performances to rank high enough in points to secure a championship.

In the 2019 competitive season, Ingram's is proud to announce 19 Florida State Champions. We'v e interviewed a few of them and would like to introduce you to them and congratulate them for their excellence.

Eli Baker, 15

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season: GROWTH

What was the best part of your Florida Tournament experience this year? BEING IN A DIVISION WHERE THE INGRAMS TEAM WORKS TOGETHER AND ENCOURAGES EACH OTHER THROUGHOUT THE SEASON

How have the Sensei's and coaches helped you have an amazing season? THEY ALWAYS BELIEVE IN ME AND ENCOURAGE ME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I WIN OR LOSE

What improvements do you feel you've made this season? I'VE GROWN IN MY KUMITE THE MOST BY BEING MORE CONFIDENT AND USING MORE OF THE SKILLS I'VE LEARNED DURING TRAININGS AND PRACTICE SESSIONS

What is it about competition that you enjoy? BEING A PART OF A TEAM AND ALWAYS BEING AROUND OTHERS WHO LOVE KARATE LIKE I DO

Ashton Hanna, 9

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season: Challenging

What was the best part of your Florida Tournament experience this year? The best part for me is sparring. I used to be terrible at sparring, I used to cry when I lost but after watching, learning from my mistake and a lot of practices; I have improved a lot and I was really happy when I finally won my gold medal with hard competitors. Sparring taught me a lesson to never give up and practice makes perfect.

How have the Sensei's and coaches helped you have an amazing season? One of the Senseis that really, really helped me is Sensei Jen. During my private lessons with her, she would always push me to the next level and to make my katas better. When we are at competition if I walk by her, she will always wave and smile at me. In my mind she is saying “You will do great”. I love her because she always has a kind and happy spirit. She always tell me “win or lose, you will always do great if you try your best”. That really encouraged me to give 100 percent and not to be sad if I didn’t medal.

Another Sensei that helped me is Sensei Chris. He was my coach for sparring for this season. He did very good job which I believe if it wasn’t for him, I would not be able to won as much as I did. He helped give me more confidence when I spar.

What improvements do you feel you've made this season? Sportsmanship. I used to cry when I lost. Now, I always cheer my friends and my competitors on. Won or lose, I will always show respect to the referees and coaches.

What is it about competition that you enjoy? I enjoy competing and seeing all of my competitors and karate friends all in one place.

David Gagne, 11

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season:

Fun

What was the best part of your Florida Tournament experience this year?

Getting my first gold medal.

How has the Sensei's and coaches helped you have an amazing season?

By encouraging me to do good and teaching me everything I need to know.

What improvements do you feel you've made this season?

Becoming a better competitor

What is it about competition that you enjoy?

Getting to travel and win medals.

Lilli Cletcher, 16

1. A word that I would use to describe the season this year would be vibrant because everyone is always so full of energy whether it be from nerves or excitement and happiness. 

2. The best part of the seasons experiences would have to be getting the chance to meeting all of the newer referees and becoming better friends with such amazing people, as well as watching the kids every tournament better themselves and keep the competition alive. Being able to see the kids walking around so proud of themselves that they just got out on the mat and did their best is part of what makes the tournaments so fun and light-hearted. 

3. The Sensei’s and coaches have helped me so much by letting me know what to fix and how to fix it and also just believing in me and always being there to support me and everyone else. 

4. The improvements that I feel I have made this season are my timing, speed, and agility in both my kata and sparing. 

5. The thing about competition that I enjoy is the adrenaline rush that makes me feel like I can do anything, helping me stay strong throughout the competition, and the memories I’m able to make with all of my friends. 

Lucas Araujo, 8

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season: TOUGH

What was the best part of your Florida Tournament experience this year? Being around my teammates and cheering them on!

What improvements do you feel you've made this season? I've made tons! Especially in my Kata and in weapons. I got #1 in Kata. That was a surprise to me!

What is it about competition that you enjoy? Being able to test myself. Sometimes I win sometimes I don't. But I always try to do better than before. I love karate.

Jen Cornelisen, 35

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season: -Fulfilling

What was the best part of your Florida Tournament experience this year?

-The best part of my Florida Tournament experience was getting to go up against competitors who challenged me to be at my best.

What improvements do you feel you've made this season?

-Growing up I was not an Athlete, and so developing the mindset required for athletic competition has been a challenge. I feel that training and competition this year has helped me to continue developing the attitude and mindset that are necessary to excel in competition.

How have the senseis and coaches helped you this year?

-I have been fortunate to train with Sensei Jen, before and during this tournament season. Her help, particularly as I learned a new bo kata has been invaluable. Additionally her presence, attitude and commitment to excellence have set a great example that I have endeavored to work towards throughout the year. She is a tremendous example and inspiration to me.

The coaches have been great and have pushed me to be better and helped me to continue to push myself to get the most out of this competition season.

What is it about competition that you enjoy?

-It pushes me to be better tomorrow than I was yesterday.

Nathan Gernand, 9

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season: EXCITING!

What was the best part of your Florida Tournament experience this year? My last tournament was the best part because I scored so high and became the State Champion of Kumite because of it.

How has the Sensei's and coaches helped you have an amazing season? They encouraged me to do my best and made it fun while trying.

What improvements do you feel you've made this season? A LOT OF THEM!

What is it about competition that you enjoy? Winning, the raffle, and sparring

Preston Wood, 14

In one word, summarize your 2019 tournament season: Fun

What was the best part of your tournament experience this year: The new people I met

What improvements do you feel you've made this year: I've improved in speed and endurance

How have the senseis and coaches helped you this year: They help refine my skills and understand the rules better

What is it about competition you enjoy: The challenge and physical activity

Steffanie Brown, 22

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season: Fantastic

What was the best part of your tournament season this year: Creating goals and achieving them, constantly striving to do my best and improve. I also enjoyed being able to create friendships with the other people in my division.

How have the senseis and coaches helped you thjs year: They helped me become better in my katas and weapons, caring about every single one of us and pushing us all to do the best gives me the confidence to go out and compete the best I can.

What improvements do you feel you've made this year: I feel like I have made some major improvements in both my hands kata and my weapons kata.

What is it about competition you enjoy most: I enjoy the friendships that come out of competition. I also enjoy being able to compete alongside some of the best people in the state, making me consistently grow and improve

Marc Flores, 17

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season: Fun

What was the best part of your Florida Tournament experience this year? Seeing and competing with my friends from other dojos.

How have the Sensei's and coaches helped you have an amazing season? They gave me constant support and always had my best interests in mind. They trained me and the coaching advice they gave has helped me a lot.

What improvements do you feel you've made this season? I feel like I have improved with my fighting tremendously. What is it about competition that you enjoy? Seeing friends and other very skilled competitors.

Tor Cornelisen, 8

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season: Amazing

What was the best part of your Florida Tournament experience this year: The best part of the season was having so many of my friends from karate on the team with me.

How have the senseis and coaches helped you this year?

I have gotten to work a lot with Sensei Jen and she has helped me to improve at everything in karate. I feel very lucky to be able to train under her at Ingram's. My coaches have been great too, they have helped me to stay in shape and helped me focus for tournaments.

What improvements do you feel you've made this season?: I feel like I really improved most on the mental side of tournament: attitude and effort.

What is it about competition that you enjoy: I like the competition with my opponents. I enjoy the challenge most.

Daetyn Lett, 9

Daetyn Lett, 9

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season:

Champion!

What was the best part of your Florida Tournament experience this year?

Making good friends, hanging out with my team, and winning state champion in kata.

How have the Sensei's and coaches helped you have an amazing season?

They teach me how to get better in my katas and weapons. They teach me to believe in myself.

What improvements do you feel you've made this season? I improved my kata and weapons and have 2 weapons that I can compete with now.

What is it about competition that you enjoy?

I enjoy competition because it helps me get better at karate. And I enjoy winning!

Sigrid Volko

In one word, summarize your 2019 competitive season: Rejuvenating

What was the best part of your Florida Tournament experience this year? I am competing in the brown belt category and enjoyed to be grouped with the black belt division in my category for competitions. This is a nice group of competitors who have been challenging me this season.

How have the Sensei's and coaches helped you have an amazing season? The​ team training sessions led by senseis John and Cindy are a great preparation for the tournaments. All the senseis working with the team pay a lot of attention to each team member, whether they are national or world champions or more "mature" competitors, such as myself, providing each of us with feedback and guidance on how to improve techniques and strategies both during training and in competitions.

What improvements do you feel you've made this season? ​I think I have most improved in Kumite and finally look forward to competing.

What is it about competition that you enjoy? I like being among like-minded people who enjoy practicing karate and who put a lot of effort and attention in honing their art. I am also fortunate to be able to share this experience with my own children.

These interviews represent a portion of our State Championship winners this year. Now the team will prepare for National Competition to be held in Fort Lauderdale, FL early in July. The best competitors from around the nation will come together to see who will secure a National Champtionship for 2019. We would like to congratulation all of our state title winners listed below:

Lucas Araujo: Kata

Preston Wood: Kobudo, Kata, Overall

Marc Flores: Kobudo, Kata, Kumite, Overall

Tor Cornelisen: Overall

Daetyn Lett: Kata

Ashton Hanna: Kumite

David Gagne: Kata, Kobudo, Overall

Thomas Kassos: Kata, Kobudo, Overall

Lilli Cletcher: Kobudo, Kata, Overall

Evan Melendez: Kumite

Eli Baker: Kata, Overall

Steffanie Brown: Kobudo, Overall

Mike Zuccollo: Kata, Kumite, Overall

Sigrid Volko: Kata, Kumite, Overall

Angee Hastings: Kumite, Overall

Jennifer Cornelisen: Kata, Kobudo, Kumite, and Overall

Nathan Garrand: Kumite

Leo Martinez: Kobudo, Kata, Kumite, Overall

Raphael Martinez: Kobudo, Kata, Kumite, Overall