Fayetteville Karate Students Shine at AAU Karate Nationals in Florida

FAYETTEVILLE, NY. –– The three students from Lawrence World Class Karate who participated in the 2024 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Karate Nationals held recently in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, have returned home victorious with two gold and two silver medals, and one bronze.
The Lawrence World Class students competed in the kubudo (weapon systems), kata (choreographed set pattern of movements), and kumite (a controlled, competitive fight using basic techniques delivered with “empty hands”) events.
60-year-old Eric Scharoun, who has Down Syndrome, and has a 5th degree black belt, won two gold medals in the advance physical challenge division. He achieved first place in the kata and kubudo events, making him the national champion in these two disciplines. It is believed that Eric holds the highest karate rank achieved by a person with down syndrome in the United States.
Eight-year-old Srihari Mohan competed in the kata, kubudo, and kumite sections. He placed second in the weapons andfighting sections, earning himself two silver medals. This was Seihari’s first Karate Nationals tournament.
Sam Tadevossian, a 17-year-old second-degree black belt karate student competed in the kata, kubudo, and kumite events at the Nationals and won third place in the team kumite event for which he was awarded a bronze medal. He has been competing in the AAU Karate Nationals since 2021 and has previously won a number of medals at the tournament.
“The competition was very tough this year and I am exceptionally proud of Eric, Sam, and Srihari,” said Hanshi (Master) Rande Lawrence, head teacher at Lawrence World Class Karate. “They were mentally and physically prepared for the tournament, and they did their personal best.”
The recent victory now takes the number of medals won by Lawrence World Class Karate dojo at previous AAU Karate Nationals to 110, of which 45 are gold medals. These were awarded to competitors who achieved first place making the medal winners national champions. No other Karate school in Onondaga County has achieved this before.
Hanshi Rande Lawrence was assisted by Renshi Gary Guidera at the Nationals.
Lawrence World Class Karate dojo is the only karate school in Central New York specializing in traditional Japanese Shotokan and Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate Systems.
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 800,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts.

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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