Sports
Novi Family Self Defense Center Wins 33 Awards at National Tournament
The karate school earns top spots in the Isshinryu Hall of Fame.
Family Self Defense Center (FSDC), in partnership with the Novi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, has received national recognition for the third consecutive year as one of the top Isshinryu karate programs in the country.
The school was named a 2011 Outstanding Dojo of the Year and one of the Top Five Isshinryu Teaching Dojos in the Country for the sixth consecutive year by the Isshinryu Hall of Fame Board of Masters.
The karate students competed in the National Isshinryu Hall of Fame Awards and Tournament in Chattanooga, TN, on July 29 and 30, where they broke all previous school records. FSDC competitors earned 33 trophies, with five National Champions crowned.
Tournament Awards
First Place National Champions
Krishna Kiru, Soorya Ramappan, Alex and Tom Pospeshil and Tanaz Naterwala
Runner-up Jr. Black Belt Grand Champion
Tanaz Naterwala
Second-Place Awards
Lizzy Arnold, Mitchel and Joshua Huang, Abby O’Meara, Alex Pospeshil, Soorya Ramappan, Aditya Savanur and Andrew and Mark Swanson
Third-Place Awards
Krishna Kiru, Kathy O’Meara, Alex Pospeshil, Soorya Ramappan, Aditya Savanur, Rohun Savanur (two awards), Cyd Spencer and Mark Swanson
Fourth-Place Awards
Lizzy Arnold, Shaelyn Carroll, Ashwin Vangipuram, Shankar Kiru, Josh O’Meara, Tanaz Naterwala, Annabel Spencer, Ryan and Andrew Swanson and Savanna Frick
Medal Recipients
Yogesh Mohanraj, Ram Kiru, Andrew Pospeshil, James Takeshita, Trina Frick and Devon DeCaire
Find out what's happening in Noviwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
National Achievement Awards
Top Karate Students in the Country
Female ages 12 and under: Ryan Swanson
Male ages 12 and under: Ian Kosaka
Female ages 13-17: Tanaz Naterwala
Top Contributors to Isshinryu Karate
Ami, Jim and Devon DeCaire
Top Male Instructor in the Country for Isshinryu Karate
The school’s co-owner, Ed “Mr. Z” Szelap
Top Five in the Country
Female ages 13-17: Belle Spencer
—Submitted by the Novi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
Find out what's happening in Noviwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
