Karate School Members in Ashburn Win Medals at National Tournament

ASHBURN, VA – Hidy Ochiai Karate of Northern Virginia’s chief instructor, Sensei William Max Winkler, and students brought home five gold, seven silver and eight bronze medals from the 50th Annual Washin-ryu National Invitational Tournament, held from September 16-18, 2016, in Endwell, NY, according to a Hidy Ochiai Karate announcement.

Sensei Winkler, a fifth-degree black belt, took home the Championship Title in Men’s Black Belt “Open Kumite” and two silver medals.

Nine students were awarded medals. Scroll down to see the list of winners.*

The Annual Washin-ryu National Invitational began in 1966, and it is one of the oldest and longest-running traditional Japanese karate competitions in the United States. This year the tournament was held at Maine-Endwell Senior High School in Endwell, NY, and had 150+ competitors ranging from ages 6 to 65, all practitioners from Washin-ryu Karate schools across the country. The weekend-long event began with an opening ceremony held at the Washin-ryu National Headquarters in Vestal, NY, with Master Hidy Ochiai, the founder of “Washin-ryu Karate-do,” attending alongside 250 karate students, competitors, and families.

“It is always incredible to not only see so many Washin-ryu students, from veteran martial artists to Little Pandas, gather together to compete, but also to witness the heart of this yearly event. It is a celebration of the principles we dedicate ourselves to live by each day: respect, honor, and self-development," Sensei Winkler said. "As a result, there is a harmony that pervades from start to finish. I am grateful that my students and I have been given the opportunity to experience such strong competition in such an uplifting atmosphere.”

* Student medalists:

Sophie Ochiai

• Gold (Junior Brown Belt Kata)
• Silver (Junior Brown Belt Kumite)

Whitman Ochiai

• Bronze (Junior Black Belt Kata)
• Bronze (Junior Black Belt Kumite)

Sahana Shankar

• Gold (Junior Novice Kata)

Prannav Shankar

• Bronze (Junior Brown Belt Kata)
• Bronze (Junior Brown Belt Kumite)

Michelle Backhausen

• Bronze (Junior Advanced Weapons Kata)

Kim Fow

• Gold (Women’s Intermediate Kata)
• Gold (Women’s Intermediate Weapons)
• Bronze (Women’s Intermediate Kumite)

Greg Berson

• Silver (Men’s Brown Belt Open Kumite)
• Silver (Men’s Executive Elite Team Kumite)
• Bronze (Men’s Brown Belt Ten no Kata)

Roger Albano

• Silver (Men’s Executive Elite Team Kumite)

Mark Myelle

• Silver (Men’s Executive Elite Team Kumite)
• Bronze (Men’s Executive Elite Weapons Kata)
• Bronze (Men’s Executive Elite Kumite)

To learn more about Washin-ryu Karate, visit: http://hidyochiaikaratenova.com.

Photo credit: Washin-ryu Karate