VA Karate Athletes Going to World Championships!
My name is John Axsom, and I am the Sensei and Coach for 3 exceptional athletes at our dojo located in Newport News, VA! Those 3 athletes are Amiyr Gordon (Age 12), Ryan Sigsbee (Age 16), and Austin Galeski (Age 24). These young men have trained with me since they were 14, 6, and 4 years old, and have reached the ultimate level of competition by being called by AAU Team USA to represent their country in the 2021 WUKF World Championships in Cluj-Napoca, Romania from September 21st-28th, 2021. Each athlete earned their spot by placing at the 2021 AAU National Karate Championships in Greenville, SC.
Amiyr began training at age 4 years old, is a junior Shodan (Black Belt), and has won competitions all across the East Coast of United States. He's a multiple time National champion, and 3x AAU Junior Olympian. Amiyr is our dojo's youngest student to be called to the National Team, and he's excited to join his brothers from our dojo, and his karate family from across the USA to display his passion on the World stage. Since the call for athletes was made by the AAU, Amiyr has been training up to 6 days per week in preparation for this tournament. As a young, hungry, athlete, he is beyond excited to represent us all. Can you help him achieve this goal he's been working toward for 8 years?
Ryan began his training when he was 6 years old as a birthday present that year, and he's been training 4-5 days a week, every week, since that awesome first day. He's a rising junior in high school, and a fantastic karate-ka, assistant instructor, friend to all, and competitor. Ryan is a 3x National Champion, and 3x Junior Olympian while garnering hundreds of State, local, and regional titles. Ryan has also traveled to Okinawa to train at the Hombu dojo of Shorin-ryu Shorinkan, and came in 3rd out 46 countries at the 2018 WUKF World Championships in Dundee, Scotland! Ryan currently works out 6 days a week to prepare for this tournament...sometimes 7 days. He still teaches, trains, and works a side job as a grass cutting entrepreneur, as well! Ryan is eager to get back on the world stage, and bring home the gold medal for team USA! Can you help him achieve this goal he's been working toward for 10 years?
Austin Galeski began learning and training with me as a middle school social studies student in 7th Grade, and joined the dojo when we opened in 2011 while he was in 8th grade. Since that time, Austin has competed locally, regionally, statewide, nationally, and internationally winning GOLD medals at all those levels! Austin is a two time winner of the prestigious AAU Joel Ferrell Award for being the top Male Athlete at the AAU Junior Olympics. He's a multiple time National Champion, and 3x Junior Olympian. In 2015, Austin traveled with the AAU to Slovenia to compete in the UWK World Championships, and won Silver in Kata, and, in 2017, he traveled with AAU Team USA to Italy winning 2 GOLD medals in Kata, and a Bronze in Kumite. Austin was recently named an "Ambassador" for the Adidas Karate Brand in the United States based on his performance both nationally and internationally. Like all serious Karate competitors, Austin enjoys the thrill of competition, coaching, and would love to one day represent Team USA at the Olympic level. Aside from Karate, Austin works for Huntington-Ingalls Defense Contractors full time, is a Graduate from Hampden-Sydney College with a BA in History, and loves traveling, training, and teaching for karate! Can you help him achieve this goal he's been continually working toward since he was 14 years old?
These international competitions are not cheap. They require lots of capital, time, effort, training, and focus to make them a reality. During Covid-19, these events and challenges are even more devastating, and hard to over come. I vouch for each of these students that if you find it in your heart to donate to them, they will do their absolute best, leave all of their effort on the mat, and represent the USA, their families, their dojo, YOU, and themselves with great poise, class, and humility on the world stage. The cost per athlete to compete is $3,500. We've raised a little so far, but this "GoFund Me" goal will help tie it all together. They are worth the investment, and I ask that you help get them to their individual and collective goals! No donation is too small, and all donations are appreciated...please share with friends, family, and colleagues that are philanthropic at heart, and ready to invest in our youth, and their future! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for considering this fundraiser, and helping our athletes!
Respectfully,
John "Moose" Axsom
