Eastern Sun Karate Club

Eastern Sun Karate News

Third Annual Tri-club Christmas Luncheon

On December 5, 2010, members from Eastern Sun Karate, Preston and Talbot Shotokan Clubs held their annual Christmas Luncheon at China King Buffet in Federalsburg, Maryland. The fan kata girls performed their team kata for the restaurant. Special guests were owner and members of Arkham Productions, Sensei Tuniff and his student, Bradley Mullikin.

Eastern Sun Karate participates in an Arkham Productions zombie comedy movie, Dead on Delmarva

Almost all of Eastern Sun Karate members participated in the filming of a zombie/comedy movie, Dead on Delmarva, produced by Arkham Productions. The full-day filming took place at the Denton Armory on Saturday, october 17, 2010. Many were either dressed and made-up to look like zombies or they played the part of a karate student that fought the zombies. It was a long, but fun day! A special thank you to Arkham Products for letting ESK participate in the movie. The movie is being edited and will be available on DVD.

Fourth Annual Karate Tournament to benefit WWII Veterans held on September 11, 2010

On Saturday, September 11, 2010, Eastern Sun Karate, Preston Shotokan and Talbot Shotokan clubs held their Fourth Invitational Tournament at the Talbot County YMCA in Easton, Maryland to benefit WWII Veterans. Shotokan Karate Association clubs from Pennsyvania came down to participate in a fun-filled day of kata, team kata and kumite competitions. A special Fan Kata demo was presented, as well as board breaking. All proceeds benefited Honorflight, a non-profit organization for WWII Veterans.

Eastern Sun Karate Club gives a baby shower for members, Angel and Jason Willey

A special baby shower was given to Eastern Sun Karate members, Angel and Jason Willey at the Colosseum Restaurant in Denton, Maryland on September 19, 2010. They received a nice, shower of support and gifts from their fellow karate-ka. Their baby girl was born on October 22nd. Congratulations Angel and Jason!

Eastern Sun Karate and Preston Shotokan clubs participate in Denton, Maryland SummerFest 2010

On Saturday, August 21, 2010, Eastern Sun Karate and Preston Shotokan clubs participated in their annual SummerFest demo in Denton, Maryland. They performed their demo at night, showing a variety of Shotokan karate basics, kata, self-defense, sparring and weapons. Everyone did a great job, especially the Fan Kata girls, who surprised Sensei Liszewski with their premiere performance! Olivia Gorman did an awesome job organizing and teaching the group of girls their fan kata team form. Once again, there was good feedback from the crowds on the entire demo.

Eastern Sun Karate member, Olivia Gorman, competes at Capitol Classics in Washington, DC

Congratulations to Olivia for competing in the Capitol Classics in Washington on July 31st! Olivia said of the tournament, "Capitol Classics was a great experience. I got fifth place out of nine girls. The four girls who placed above me are apparently set/reigning champions--who basically always win. One of my judges gave me some great compliments and helpful critiques and said that basically I'm on the cusp of placing higher in NASKA tournaments." Way to go Olivia... we are all very proud of you!

Eastern Sun Karate members compete at WOMAA's Mid Atlantic Four Season's Martial Arts Championships

Eastern Sun Karate members Pat Olekszyk, Joey Kane and Barbi Christopher recently competed at WOMAA's Mid Atlantic Four Season's Martial Arts Championships in Houston, Delaware on July 24, 2010. Results are as follows:

Pat Olekszyk: 1st place Adult (42+ yrs) Black Belt Forms/Kata and Adult Black Belt Grand Champion

Joey Kane: 1st place Adult (18-34 yrs) Black Belt Forms/Kata

Barbi Christopher: 2nd place (42 + yrs) Black Belt Forms/Kata and 1st place (42+ yrs) Black Belt Weapons Forms

Pat Olekszyk and Barbi Christopher also placed 1st in Black Belt Team Forms/Kata.

Poker Run to benefit Eastern Sun Karate student to be held on Saturday, August 28, 2010

To Benefit: Youth for Understanding – a USA Foreign Exchange Student Program to help a 16-year-old American girl from Ridgely (North Caroline High School) raise the tuition she needs to travel to Japan as an exchange student.

Dates: Saturday, August 28, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010 (rain date)

Registration: 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Blessing of Bikes: 10:00 am
Poker Run: 10:00 am to noon
Lunch & entertainment follows Poker Run

Location: Town of Ridgely, Maryland (Caroline County)
Martin Sutton Park, Maryland, Route 480 Ridgely Road (3 miles northeast of Route 404)

Food: pizza, soda, water, chips, watermelon (no alcohol)
Donation: $15 per person
Activities: Music, Karate Demonstrations, 50/50 Raffle

Pre-registration not required: Courtesy call for headcount appreciated. Please call (410) 634-8120.

Eastern Sun Karate Club attends 42nd Annual Shotokan Karate Associations’ Invitational Adult Tournament on April 17, 2010

Congratulations to all of the student who completed. Win or not, you are all champions. Just remember to learn from this experience, it will help you grow as a martial artist. Sensei ROCKED Basai Sho! Special thanks to the family and friends of Eastern Sun for supporting the competetors. Congratulations to Sempai Pat, who was promoted to Go-Dan during the pre-tournament ceromonies! Here are the tournament results:

Individual Kata and Kumite contestants in order of rank:
John Liszewski: Gold for Senior Black Belt Kata
Pat Olekszyk: Gold for Senior Womans Black Belt Kata
Ryan Liszewski: Gold for Teen Black Belt Kata and Bronze for Sparring
Olivia Gorman: Silver for Teen Black Belt Kata
MIke Segar: Silver for Teen Purple Belt Sparring and Bronze for Kata
Typhannie Hall: Gold for Teen Green Belt Kata
Guiller Clancy: Silver for Teen Green Belt Kata and Bronze for sparring
Jena Coscia: Bronze for Teen Green Belt Kata
Bridget Gorman: Silver for Adult Yellow Belt Kata
Jacob Shuttleworth: Silver for Teen Yellow Belt Sparring
Brian Joyner: Gold for Mens Yellow Belt Sparring

Team Kata contestants:
Patricia Olekszyk, Barbi Christopher and Olivia Gorman:
Silver for Adult Black Belt Team
Jena Coscia, Kristy Sonberg and Typhanie Hall:
Gold for Teen Green/Purple Belt Team Kata
Tristen Speleos, Bridget Gorman, Jacob Shuttleworth and Brian Joyner:
Gold for Yellow Belt Team Kata

Eastern Sun Karate Club has Promotions on March 22, 2010

Several students were promoted on Monday March 22 and in addition, one was promoted to Black Belt. Olivia Gorman has been an enthusiastic, dedicated student. She and her team have competed in the SKA Penna tournaments, local and international events. Olivia has placed no lower than 2nd in any event and has won Grand Champion at the 4 Seasons Tournaments. In Shotokan, Sho-dan (1st degree black belt) is the first step in a long journey towards perfection of technique and character. Welcome to your new journey.

View Promotion Photos >

View Olivia Gorman's Karate Essay>

Come visit Little Rocky’s in Bucks County, PA

Our favorite stop after SKA tournaments. Photo (right): Rocky doing his magic!
Photo (below): ESK at Little Rocky's after the April 17, 2010 SKA tournament!

Standardized testing dates to begin May 3, 2010

Mark your calendars! The following are the next five testing dates for green belt rankings and above: May 3, 2010, August 2, 2010, November 8, 2010, February 7, 2011 and May 8, 2011. Please contact Sensei John Liszewski with any questions.

Third Invitational Karate Tournament held February 20
to Benefit Honor Flight for WWII Veterans

The Eastern Shore Associated Shotokan Karate Clubs held their third bi-annual invitational tournament Feb. 20, at the James Fretterd Community Center in Denton. Eastern Sun Karate, Preston Shotokan Dojo and the Talbot Shotokan Club got together with the help of Tuneff Karate and the Pa. Shotokan Karate Association. The competition was held as a preparation for the parent organization’s bi-annual tournaments in Pennsylvania. The proceeds after expenses will go to www.honorflight.org. A new hub has opened for Honorflight in Virginia to better facilitate getting terminally ill World War II veterans to their monuments. Besides the need for funds, they also need volunteers to assist wheelchair-bound and ill veterans. They are also asking for high school bands and choirs to perform for the veterans either at the airports or the memorials. For details, contact Lona Ishikawa at namaiki.baghdad2004@gmail.com, Alaina Carter at dca.hon orflight@ gmail.com or Rebbecca E.B. Steketee at Rebbecca_Steketee@nps.gov.

Caroline County is preparing to set up a monument for veterans at the James Fretterd Community Center. For details, contact Sue Simmons at 410-479-8120.

View Third Invitational Karate Tournament Photos >

2009 Tri-club Christmas Luncheon

Eastern Sun Karate, Preston Shotokan Dojo and Talbot Shotokan Karate Club held their second Christmas Luncheon on December 6th, 2009 at the China Buffet in Federalsburg, Maryland. Over 50 students and family came out! We plan on having another Christmas Luncheon in December 2010.
Photo: Jason Willey and Roger Price

Eastern Sun Karate student, Samantha Segar, writes a special poem for Sensei John Liszewski for Christmas 2009!

THE TEN WEEKS OF KARATE
(sing to the tune of “the 12 days of Christmas”)

On the first week of karate my Sensei gave to me a great big fat lip.

On the second week of karate my Sensei gave to me two black eyes, and a great big fat lip.

On the third week of karate my Sensei gave to me three huge gashes, two black eyes, and a great big fat lip.

On the fourth week of karate my Sensei gave to me four bloody knuckles, three huge gashes, two black eyes, and a great big fat lip.

On the fifth week of karate my Sensei gave to me five broken fingers, four bloody knuckles, three huge gashes, two black eyes, and a great big fat lip.

On the sixth week of karate my Sensei gave to me six big blisters, five broken fingers, four bloody knuckles, three huge gashes, two black eyes, and a great big fat lip.

On the seventh week of karate my Sensei gave to me seven pulled muscles, six big blisters, five broken fingers, four bloody knuckles, three huge gashes, two black eyes, and a great big fat lip.

On the eighth week of karate my Sensei gave to me eight nasty cuts, seven pulled muscles, six big blisters, five broken fingers, four bloody knuckles, three huge gashes, two black eyes, and a great big fat lip.

On the ninth week of karate my Sensei gave to me nine ugly bruises, eight nasty cuts, seven pulled muscles, six big blisters, five broken fingers, four bloody knuckles, three huge gashes, two black eyes, and a great big fat lip.

On the tenth week of karate my Sensei gave to me ten broken toes, nine ugly bruises, eight nasty cuts, seven pulled muscles, six big blisters, five broken fingers, four bloody knuckles, three huge gashes, two black eyes, and a great big fat lip.

By: Samantha Segar for Sensei John Liszewski – Christmas 2009

Yudansha Ron Christe', from the Talbot Shotokan Karate Club, has written another great book!

Ron Desecration of the grave of the Apache warrior,Geronimo, in 1917, leads to a modern day adventure. Tom Lasino, first introduced in Eagles Don’t Die, is tasked to determine if the story of the 1917 desecration of Geronimo’s grave by 4 young army officers is true. With Geronimo’s two greatgrandchildren, he begins the quest and encounters murders, conspiracies, corruption, and cultural conflicts.

Ron Chiste currently resides on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Ron served in the U.S.Army fora total of twenty-five years of combined active and reserve service. He rose from Private to Colonel, retiring as the last Division Artillery Commander of the now dissolved 50th Armored Division. His military education included paratrooper training, nuclear weapons schooling, artillery Officer Candidate School, Command and General Staff College (Ft. Leavenworth), and theArmy War College Defense Strategy Program (Carlisle). He served in assignments both overseas and here in the United States.

His civilian training includes BA and MA degrees in Physical Sciences, as well as MA and EdD degrees in School Administration. He spent fifteen years as a physics instructor and many years as a school administrator and superintendent of schools.

Now in retirement Ron pursues his hobbies of British cars, Harley - Davidson motorcycles, karate instructing, kayaking, and his writing. For years Ron was a prolific writer of military and educational reports. Now he has the fun of writing for the sheer joy of it.

To order, call 888.280.7715 or visit www.authorhouse.com

Second Invitational Karate Tournament held September 12
to Benefit Honor Flight for WWII Veterans

The Eastern Sun Karate Club, Talbot Shotokan Club and Preston Shotokan Dojo hosted a charity event for Honor Flight on September 12, 2009 at the Talbot County YMCA in Easton, Maryland. Students from all three clubs as well as from Pennsylvania got together to hold a small tournament and raised $500 for Honor Flight! The next benefit tournament will be held in February. For information please contact Caroline County Recreation and Parks at 410-479-8120 or www.carolinerecreation.org.

View Thank You Letter from Honor Flight Organization >

View Second Invitational Karate Tournament Photos >

View Honor Flight Volunteer Photos >

scrolls Scrolls signed at the Second Invitational Tournament to Benefit Honor Flight held on September 12, 2009 at Talbot's YMCA reaches Troops in Afghanistan!

George Jackson (top photo to the left) sent his scrolls that were signed at the Second Invitational Benefit Tournament at Talbot's YMCA to Afghanistan. Chief Erin Matthew Rinehart, stationed in Afghanistan, wrote a letter to Mr. Jackson thanking him for the scrolls.

Dear Mr. Jackson,

On behalf of the entire Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), Khost, Afghanistan I would like to sincerely thank you for presenting us with one of your scrolls!! Your dedication to the military is overwhelming and, rest assured, the men and women of our Armed Services appreciate your heart-felt work. The time and effort you put into creating these displays of gratitude is commendable. All Americans should take a page out of your book when it comes to being a Patriot. In addition to your
efforts, the Eastern Shore community should be applauded. We thank them
for taking the time to let us know how much they care. I am lucky to have grown up in such a close-knit, caring environment.

To let you know who this scroll has reached... we are comprised of over 30 Sailors, both Active and Reserve, who form our PRT, several Air Force personnel who handle public affairs, over 13 civilians working for the Army Corps of Engineers, DOS, USAID, USDA, more than 10 Army Reservists working in Civil Affairs, and our Security Force of over 50 National Guardsmen from the 221 Cavalry out of Las Vegas, NV.

As you can see, we run the whole gambit, but we all work as one. Our mission is to guide the Afghans in the restoration of their government, and to oversee their rebuilding of their infrastructure through various projects such as schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, government buildings, and the list goes on.

Although we cannot be home with our loved ones during holidays, reading your scroll definitely makes us feel as if we are a little closer to them.

Again, Mr. Jackson, thank you for the scroll and everything you do to support our military.

Sincerely,
Chief Erin Matthew Rinehart · S1, PRT Khost, Afghanistan

P.S. These are the best pictures I have so far. (I am the guy standing out in front of everyone in the one shot.) We had another person taking pictures but he has not had a chance to download them yet, as soon as he gets back I will forward those as well!

scrolls Eastern Sun Karate Club goes International!

Congratulations to all four members of the Eastern Sun Karate Club, from Caroline Recreation and Parks, who attended the 3-day 10th Anniversary American World Martial Arts Cup Tournament in Ocean City, Maryland on August 22, 23 and 24.

Pat Olekszyk (4th Dan Black Belt) was honored with induction to the 2009 WOMAA International Hall of Fame while also being named U.S. Female Instructor of the Year. Olekszyk also placed first in women's forms (age 45+), first in women's masters forms (4th Dan+), second in team weapons and team forms.

Olivia Gorman (Brown Belt Teen) placed first in musical forms, weapons forms, forms (kata) and sparring. She also placed second in team weapons. Olivia won Grand Championship in the teen division.

Barbi Christopher (Black Belt) won first in women's forms (age 35-45), second in women's weapons forms, second in team weapons and second in team forms.

Mike Steenken (Black Belt) finished second in kata and second in sparring (age division 18-25).

View International Tournament photos >

scrolls Sensei John Liszewski is promoted to 6th Dan Black Belt

Caroline County Recreation and Parks and the students of the Eastern Sun Karate Club would like to announce the promotion of instructor John Liszewski to 6th Dan Black Belt and of his appointment to the Shotokan Karate Association Board of Directors.

Sensei John was presented his belt on May 11 by his friend and fellow board member John Lovett from Bucks County Pennsylvania where the organization is based. The ceremony was put together by Eastern Sun upper rank students and Black belts with an assist by Sensei Richard Tuneff of Tuneff karate.

Sensei John Lovett and Sensei John Liszewski trained and tested together for their first Black Belts. Sensei John began his Karate training late 1969 under the current head of SKA, Sensei William Hodgkiss. 2010 will be a 40 year milestone of Karate training.

In the early 1970’s, Sensei John moved to the Eastern Shore and began teaching small classes around Talbot County. He settled in at the Talbot YMCA as the first Karate class offered there when Mr. Barton was the director. The classes grew to near 100 on a regular basis during the height of Martial Arts popularity. Many black belts were awarded from that class.

Eleven years later, Sensei John was transferred to Connecticut with Black and Decker. He and his wife Terry trained with a JKA Shotokan Club in Wallingford and attended a few JKA (Japan Karate Association) camps.

Sensei John returned to the Eastern Shore 8 years later 1993 and took over classes at Recreation and Parks when the then current instructors, Jack Gehring and Randy Tucker were leaving to peruse other opportunities.

Now in its 16th year, Eastern Sun Karate and associated clubs, Talbot Shotokan Karate and Preston Shotokan, have enough students to hold their own inter club invitational tournaments. The second benefit tournament was held on September 12th at the Talbot YMCA to benefit Honor Flight. www.honorflight.org The next benefit tournament will be held in February, 2010.

Congratulations Sensei Liszewski from your students and friends and the staff at
Recreation and Parks.

View 6th Dan Promotion Ceremony photos >

Eastern Sun Karate Promotes Three on May 11, 2009

(from The Star Democrat) Eastern Sun Karate recently announced the promotions of three members. Jason Willey, left, was promoted to Brown Belt, Barbi Christopher, center, to Black Belt, and Olivia Gorman to Brown Belt. Congratulations to each for their years of hard work and dedication.