Its 2008 State Championship awards at a banquet held at The Summit on Saturday, December 13. Several local Martial Artists from Five Star Martial Arts in Brighton received awards after a tough competition season beginning in March. Martial Artists throughout the State of Colorado as well as Utah and Wyoming, participated in six tournaments to compete for the title of State Champion. The Colorado Karate Association (CKA) presents awards to the top four in the adult divisions and the top eight in the youth divisions. Five Star Martial Arts was represented by nine competitors throughout the year, and is proud to announce:

Mr. Bill Feliss, Brighton - 4th place in 35+ Advanced Traditional Forms and 4th place in 35+ Men's Advanced Sparring; Mr. Marcellino Ortiz, Jr., Denver - State Champion 13-14 Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced Musical Forms and 2nd place 13-14 Men's Black Belt Sparring; Mr. Marcellino Ortiz, Sr., Denver - 3rd place in 35+ Men's Intermediate Sparring; Ms. Shawn Wilkinson, Brighton - State Champion 35+ Beginning Traditional Forms, State Champion 35+ Women's Beginning Sparring, 3rd place in 35+ Intermediate Sparring, and 4th place in Intermediate Traditional Forms; Miss Shaylene Wilkinson, Brighton - State Champion 9-12 Beginning/Intermediate Musical Forms, State Champion 11 Traditional Forms, 2nd place in 11-12 Female Beginning/Intermediate Sparring, and 5th place in Female Intermediate/Advanced Sparring; Mr. Phillip Willett, Jr., Aurora - State Champion 9 Advanced Traditional Forms, 3rd place in 9-12 Advanced Creative Forms, 3rd place in 9 Advanced Sparring, and 5th place in 9-12 Advanced Weapons; Mr. Cole Worth, Brighton - 2nd place 13-14 Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced Weapons, 4th place in 13-14 Men's Advanced Sparring, and 5th place in 13-14 Advanced Traditional Forms; Mr. Lloyd Worth, Brighton - State Champion 35+ Men's Beginning Sparring and 3rd place in 35+ Beginning Traditional Forms; and Sensei Jeffrey Stenson, Brighton - State Champion Adult Black Belt Creative Forms, State Champion Adult Black Belt Musical Forms, State Champion 18-34 Black Belt Traditional Forms, and 2nd place in 18-34 Men's Middleweight Black Belt Sparring.

Of these competitors, three also received awards for the TOP 20 overall competitors: Mr. Phillip Willett, Jr. - 15th, Miss Shaylene Wilkinson - 10th, and Sensei Jeffrey Stenson - 5th.

The CKA is open for any individuals and/or schools who are interested in competing or just coming out for the day to watch. For more information, please contact Jean Paschke, CKA Membership Director, at 303-378-4962, or visit the CKA website at www.coloradokarateassociation.org.