Over the October 5-7 weekend, six members of SKA dojos in the Carolinas participated in the 2018 Memphis Kumite Clinic and competed in the tournament. As every year, the event was hosted with supreme hospitality by SKA’s Memphis dojo, and lead with superb instruction and drills by Memphis seniors Bobby Bird (godan) and Keith Kirk (sandan), some of SKA’s most experienced and skilled fighters.

In the tournament held each year as part of the event, Chapel Hill dojo members Kim Guzan (shodan) and Darion Rapoza (ikkyu) placed 2nd in the Women’s and Brown/White Belt divisions, respectively, and Coastal Carolina dojo leader Jim Solazzo (sandan) won 2nd place in the Black Belt division. Congratulations!!

As in previous years, after the conclusion of the Karate part of the event, everyone gathered at the legendarily sumptuous BBQ hosted by Keith, where delicious food, libations, and SKA folk tales flowed freely long into the night.