Novi's Family Self Defense Center Continues to Take Top Honors Nationallay

Family Self Defense Center, in partnership with Novi Parks & Recreation, has received National Recognition for the fourth consecutive year as one of the top Isshinryu Karate programs in the country. The school has been crowned the 2012 Most Supportive Dojo of the Year by the Isshinryu Hall of Fame Board of Masters.

The school just returned from the National Isshinryu Hall of Fame Awards and Tournament in Chattanooga, TN, where the students broke all previous school records. This event included Isshinryu stylists from all over the world each competing in kata, weapons and kumite divisions. A record 62 trophies were earned by the FSDC competitors, with 12 National Champions crowned.

First Place National Champions:
Andrew, Alex and Tom Pospeshil, Caleb and Katelyn Desmier, Josh O’Meara (two titles), Krishna Kiru (two titles), Lizzy Arnold, Mark Swanson, and Shashank Swaminathan.

Grand Championship Participants:
Josh O’Meara and Krishna Kiru both in kata.

2nd Place Awards:
Caleb and Katelyn (2 awards) Desmier, Krishna Kiru, Krithika Swaminathan (2 awards), Mark and Ryan Swanson (both 2 awards), Mitchel Huang, Noah D’Arcy, Shaelyn Carroll, Tanaz Naterwala (2 awards), and Trina Frick (2 awards).

3rd Place Awards
Abby O’Meara, Alex Pospeshil, Anthony DeFeo, Benjamin Matas, Devon DeCaire (2 awards), Joshua Huang, Justin Frick, Mitchel Huang (2 awards), Shaelyn Carroll (2 awards), Shashank Swaminathan, and Tom Pospeshil.

4th Place Awards
Abby O’Meara, Alex Pospeshil, Anthony DeFeo, Benjamin Matas, Caleb Desmier, Joshua Huang (2 awards), Justin Frick (2 awards), Kathy O’Meara, Lizzy Arnold, Ryan T’Giros, Shankar Kiru (3 awards), Soorya Ramappan (2 awards), and Yogesh Mohanraj.

Medal Recipients
Abhay Vora, Andrew Swanson, Anjali Singh, James Takeshita, Ram Kiru and Savanna Frick.

National Awards Received by Senseis and Students include:

National Number One Sensei in the Country for 2012:
Edmund, Mr. Z, Szelap

National Number One Female Karate Student in the Country ages 13-17:
Lizzy Arnold

National Number One Jr. Female Competitor in the Country:
Tanaz Naterwala

Top Five Isshinryu Teaching Dojos in the Country:
Family Self Defense Center for the 7th consecutive year

Top Five in the Country:
Ms. Chris Szelap, Female Instructors
Randy Fancher, Male Instructors
Trina Frick, Female Karate Students
Krishna Kiru and Tanaz Naterwala, Female Karate Students
Andrew Swanson, Zach Verhelle, James Takeshita and Andrew Pospeshil, Male Karate Students
Shaelyn Carroll, Jr. Female Competitor
Mitchel Huang, Soorya Ramappan and Rohun Savanur, Jr. Male Competitors
The Swanson Family and Shankar Kiru, Contribution to Isshinryu

The students of FSDC have had a banner 2012 tournament season thus far, earning 300 trophies in four tournaments.

Family Self Defense Center offers classes in Isshinryu Karate and Samurai Sport Sword throughout the year through Novi Parks & Recreation. More information can be found at www.karatebyfsdc.com or www.cityofnovi.org.

--From a City of Novi press release