The 34th American International Karate Championships (AIKC) Saturday, October 24 2026
/Albion, New York — October 24, 2026
The 34th American International Karate Championships (AIKC) took place on Saturday, October 24, at Albion High School in Albion, New York. Hosted by USA-IFK Kyokushin and co-promoted by Shihan Michael Monaco (8th Dan) and Shihan Karl Biedlingmaier (5th Dan), the tournament welcomed competitors from various karate organizations and styles for a full day of kata and kumite competition.
One of the longest-running Kyokushin tournaments in the United States, the AIKC continues its tradition of bringing together martial artists of different ages, ranks, and experience levels. Organizers estimated participation at approximately 130–150 competitors, with divisions spanning open-hand kata, weapons kata, Kyokushin-only kata, semi-contact kumite, and full-contact knockdown competition.
Junior Competitors Demonstrate Their Versatility
The advanced junior divisions featured several noteworthy performances, including competitors who earned titles in both kata and kumite. Dominic Veltre of Kyokushin Karate USA – Honbu delivered one of the tournament's standout performances, capturing four first-place finishes. Veltre won the 15–17-year-old black-belt open-hand kata division, with Micah Ryan finishing second and Anthony Bracco third. He added victories in the Kyokushin-only kata and black-belt weapons kata divisions before completing his successful day with a first-place finish in middleweight U18 advanced semi-contact kumite.
In the kumite final, Veltre defeated fellow Kyokushin Karate USA competitor Gilberto Aponte, who finished second, while Esai Martin of Classical Martial Arts of Long Island took third place. Veltre's performance continued an established competitive record that includes championships at the 2024 AIKC, the AVK Ohio International Kyokushin Championships, and the United States International Kyokushin Championships. He also represented Team USA at the 2024 British Open and IFK World Kata Championships in England and was selected for the American team at the 2025 IFK World Tournament in Germany.
Another notable junior result came from Evan Coots of Gray Wolf Martial Arts – USA-IFK, who captured the lightweight U18 advanced semi-contact title. Coots defeated Kai Colloca of Water Street Martial Arts in the final, with Colloca taking second place and Taiga Matsuda of Seiken Dojo Karate Kyokushin Nakamura USA finishing third. In the female U16 advanced semi-contact division, Jayleigh Moyer of S&S Fitness and Martial Arts claimed first place, defeating Emilia Ciezadlo of Seiken Dojo, who finished second.
Adult and Senior Black-Belt Kata
The adult and senior black-belt kata divisions brought together experienced competitors from several different organizations, including athletes who also participated in kumite. Darren Henderson of Classical Martial Arts of Long Island won the adult 18–35 black-belt open-hand kata division, with Ryan Sanfilippo of Gray Wolf Martial Arts – USA-IFK finishing second and Alexa Johnson of Fighting Spirit Karate taking third. Henderson also earned a silver medal in adult middleweight advanced semi-contact kumite, adding to his accomplishments across both disciplines.
In the senior 36+ first- and second-dan open-hand kata division, Chris Wojtusiak of Chicago Kyokushin Kanku Dojo claimed first place. Kevin Heaney of Classical Martial Arts of Long Island took second, and Veronica Williams of American Vital Karate (AVK) finished third. The senior advanced black-belt division, for competitors ranked third dan and above, was won by Igor Soloshenko of Minnesota Shinkyokushinkai, with Haibo Zhang of Sophora Dojo finishing second and Steve Jackowicz of Classical Martial Arts of Long Island taking third.
Soloshenko has also competed outside the IFK tournament circuit. In August, he participated in the WKO-sanctioned 6th American Full Contact Open in Las Vegas, hosted by Las Vegas Shinkyokushin, where he earned third place in the senior men's open semi-contact division. His participation in both events reflects the opportunities for competitors to test their skills across different Kyokushin organizations.
Adult weapons kata produced an unusual three-way tie for first place between Alexa Johnson, Darren Henderson, and Steve Jackowicz, each receiving identical scores. Johnson added another first-place finish in the adult Kyokushin-only kata division, where she defeated Michael Thieros of Kyokushin Karate USA – Honbu, who finished second. Together with Henderson's results in kata and kumite, these performances highlighted several competitors who succeeded across multiple divisions.
Adult Semi-Contact Kumite
The adult semi-contact divisions featured competitors across several weight and age categories, including fighters with national and international tournament experience. Lyric Schenker of Fighting Spirit Karate earned two lightweight women's titles in separate divisions. In the open lightweight category, Schenker defeated Brianna Rizzoli of the USNA Karate Combat Team, who finished second. She also won the lightweight division for competitors ranked 4th kyu through black belt, defeating Veronica Williams of American Vital Karate in the final. Schenker previously won gold in the U18 cadet lightweight division at the 2024 British Open and has represented Team USA at multiple international tournaments.
The adult men's middleweight advanced semi-contact division was won by Oliver Aguilera of Shinkyokushinkai Karate Maple Grove, Minnesota, who defeated Darren Henderson of Classical Martial Arts of Long Island in the final. Henderson finished second, followed by Reshad Islam and Jake Lawrence of the USNA Karate Combat Team in third and fourth place, respectively. In the heavyweight advanced division, Konstantin Safonov of Limitless BJJ & Fitness defeated Bruce Kim of Capital Kyokushin to claim first place, with Kim finishing second.
Additional adult champions included Jacob Delgado of the USNA Karate Combat Team in middleweight semi-contact and Kevin Heaney of Classical Martial Arts of Long Island in the over-40 lightweight advanced division. Delgado defeated Liam Martin of Classical Martial Arts of Long Island, while Heaney won his division against Thomas Farrell of Performance Fitness. Heaney's victory complemented his second-place finish in senior black-belt open-hand kata earlier in the tournament.
The U.S. Naval Academy Karate Team continued its involvement with the AIKC, having sent competitors to every edition since the tournament resumed in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic. The midshipmen have become a familiar presence at the championships, competing alongside representatives of Kyokushin dojos and other martial arts organizations. Their continued participation reflects the relationships the AIKC has developed with martial artists beyond the traditional Kyokushin community.
Knockdown Kumite
The lightweight masters men's full-contact division was won by Rafal Kszczotek of Seiken Dojo Karate Kyokushin Nakamura USA, who defeated John Brownridge of Imazaki Dojo in the final. Brownridge finished second, while Wojciech Grochowski of NJ IFK Kyokushin took third place. The division brought together experienced competitors representing three different Kyokushin dojos.
In junior lightweight women's knockdown kumite, Willow Swan of Fighting Spirit Karate captured first place after defeating Eleanor Douglas of Golden Eagle Martial Arts in the semifinal and Brianna Rizzoli of the USNA Karate Combat Team in the final. Rizzoli earned second place, with Douglas finishing third. Swan's victory came just three weeks after her international appearance at the 48th British Open in Crawley, England, on October 3, where she earned a bronze medal in the U18 cadet girls' lightweight division. After winning her opening match against Britain's Nieve Sorge, Swan was defeated by the Netherlands' Gwenn Kroon, who went on to finish second. Her performance in Albion added another championship to her growing competitive record.
Black Belt Certificate Presentations
During the 34th American International Karate Championships, four USA-IFK members were presented with certificates recognizing their black belt promotions. Senpai Ken Casamento and Senpai Brian Walsh received their 2nd Dan certificates, while Senpai Bohdan Wolosivk and Senpai Alexa Johnson received their 1st Dan certificates.
Continuing a Long-Standing Tradition
The 34th AIKC continued its tradition of welcoming martial artists from different karate styles and organizations, providing opportunities for competitors at every stage of their development. From young students to experienced black belts and senior practitioners, the tournament brought together karateka for a day of competition and camaraderie. USA-IFK extends its appreciation to the competitors, instructors, coaches, officials, volunteers, and families whose participation and support made the event possible.
The next major tournament on the USA-IFK calendar is the 9th United States International Kyokushin Championships (USIKC), scheduled for January 16, 2027, at the Albany Capital Center in Albany, New York.
Osu!
