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Co-op City Times / May 18, 2019
Matt Miller Delivers Another Impressive Trifecta
Co-op City’s Matthew Miller won big this past Saturday, May 11, at the 15th Annual Shodukan Invitational Martial Arts Championships in Hammonton, New Jersey. Matthew represented Martialway KungFu Center here in Co-op City in the Black Belt Weapons Division, and Power of Self Goju of Harlem in the Black Belt forms division, and both schools in the Black Belt sparring division. He walked away with a winning trifecta. Matthew took first blacks in all three of his divisions and then won the grand championship in the Weapons Division doing Kung-fu (Chinese Martial Arts) and then went on to win the grand championship in the forms division doing Goju karate (Japanese Martial Arts) representing Power Of Self Goju of Harlem. Matthew also fought well and won in Quebec, Canada a few weeks ago. “We are proud of Matthew and are encouraged by all the posts on Facebook and all the greetings, well wishes, congrats and encouragement we get from people of the community,” said Mike Miller, Matthew’s father. “The encouragement and donations we get from people in our community and family members is what fires up Matthew to do better both in martial arts and in school.” On Sunday, May 19, Matthew will be competing in a youth tournament in Harlem, then early next month at Syracuse University, followed by competitions in Orlando, Florida; Detroit, Maryland; Augusta, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Pittsburgh; Queens, NY and ending the year in Toronto, Canada. “We had to cancel Ireland, Budapest, Amsterdam, Atlantic City and Atlanta, Georgia because of scheduling and very expensive airfares,” said Mike Miller. “We would like to thank the Co-op City Times for their support and encouragement of Matthew by continuing to highlight his achievements. We are continuing our fundraising efforts to assist Matthew to continue to represent Co-op City nationally and internationally. Our gofundme page is still up and anyone who wishes to make a financial contribution online can visit gofundme.comMatthewMillerNational/InternationalTournaments. You can also read his fascinating story detailing his martial arts journey and physical health triumphs over asthma and anemia.” Mr. Miller also reports that last January, Matthew was scheduled to receive a National and International ratings award at The North American Sports Karate
Co-op City Sports
Association (NASKA) Awards Banquet in Chicago, but he was unable to attend because of a scheduling conflict. According to NASKA, Matthew is ranked and rated at number 8 in Forms in his age and rank division worldwide and number 10 in forms in his age and rank division nationally. He is ranked and rated at number 2 in sparring in his age, rank and height worldwide and number 6 in sparring in his age, rank and height nationally. Matthew’s rankings and rating can change moving up or down as he competes with wins or losses at NASKA-rated martial arts tournaments nationally and internationally. He only has three more NASKA-rated contests to compete in which will qualify him (if he continues to win) to be awarded at the annual NASKA Awards Dinner Banquet in January 2020 in Chicago. Matthew was also nominated again at this year’s 2019 Global Leadership Conference International Black Belt Hall Of Fame as Outstanding Kata Competitor of the Year. That ceremony will be held in Pittsburgh this November.
Co-op Little League Fields, Bronx, NY 10475 • • • •