Elite TOMA Martial Arts to host 18th annual Break-A-Thon

Elite TOMA Martial Arts in Randolph will host its 18th annual Break-A-Thon from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, to benefit the Randolph Township Fire Department.

The event will be held at the martial arts academy located at 1572 Sussex Turnpike. Students collect donations, with each $5 raised earning them another wooden board to break at the Break-A-Thon. In the past, some students have raised more than $1,000 each. Last year, nearly 7,000 boards were broken at the event. The Velez family of Mendham holds the record – achieved in 2017 – of more than 900 boards broken (or more than $4,500 raised).

Elite TOMA’s first Break-A-Thon was held in 2001 after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. To honor the sacrifices made by firefighters that day and in the days following, the Randolph Fire Department was the designated charity for the first-ever event. Elite TOMA Chief Instructor Grand Master Jae Jo wanted his students to learn about the important job that firefighters do right here in their own community so that the students could then go out into the community and spread the word about all the different ways the firefighters help the people in our town. The 2018 Break-A-Thon marks the third time that the Randolph Fire Department has been named as the event's beneficiary. Department officials said that funds raised from the 2018 Break-A-Thon will be used for purchasing thermal imaging cameras and AED defibrillators for the department.

Since 2001, more than 1,000 Elite TOMA students have participated in the Break-A-Thon, raising more than $400,000 for a variety of different organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, the Valerie Fund, Hurricane Sandy relief, the Randolph First Aid Squad, The Seeing Eye, The Wounded Warrior Project, and Homeless Solutions in Morristown.

“Here at Elite TOMA, our curriculum is focused on developing the whole student, not only physically but mentally as well. Our program teaches students to become compassionate leaders who strive to help others. The Break-A-Thon encompasses all that we teach: not only kicking and punching, but respect, leadership and putting others before ourselves,” said Jo.

“Several Randolph firefighters visited our school on Sept. 29 and taught our students about all the important ways they keep our community safe. The Randolph firefighters put their own lives on the line every day for our community and that is a mark of true leadership – an important goal for all Elite TOMA students. We are proud of our long friendship with the fire department and are grateful that our students have an opportunity to get to know and learn from these community leaders and role models,” Jo said.

Students have been hosting bake sales, collecting outside local businesses, including the Randolph ACME grocery store, going door-to-door and asking friends and family near and far for donations.

More than 200 children and adults, from preschoolers to senior citizens, study martial arts at the school.

The Break-A-Thon is open to the public and features demonstrations by color belt and black belt students, a family potluck lunch, and a basket raffle. Visit www.tomaworld.com for more information.