Karate at the US Karate Alliance National Championship

The Army West Point Martial Arts team showed off their exceptional skills in Karate at the United States Karate Alliance National Championship in Denver, CO. The team dominated the two-day competition in full contact fighting, point fighting, weapons fighting, and forms. Overall, the team won gold, coming away as National Champions in 10 of the 15 fighting divisions and one of the forms divisions. The tally of medals was 11 Gold, 7 Silver, and 10 Bronze. In the Full Contact Fighting Men’s Black Belt divisions, CDT Jordan Nettles won third place lightweight, CDT Anthony Chargualaf won first place lightweight, CDT Jackson Darash won third place heavyweight, and CDT Andrew Buelow won second place lightweight. CDT Eli Eichenberger had an impressive showing, competing for grand champion, after winning gold in full contact and point fighting. CDTs Liana Blatnik and Natasha Chick won their respective Women’s Brown Belt and Black Belt in full contact divisions. In point fighting, CDT Jordan Nettles took second with CDT Andrew Buelow taking third in lightweight black belts. CDT Sarah Juhn took first and CDT Kayla Johnson took third in the Women’s Color Belts, and CDT Liana Blatnik took second in Women’s Brown Belts. In Kata, CDT Halsey Smith took first place in the Men’s Black Belt Division, and CDT Liana Blatnik took second in the Women’s Brown Belt division. In the Weapons Point Sparring Competition, CDT Sarah Juhn won third place and CDT Kayla Johnson won first place in the Women’s Color Belt Division.