Father and Son Win Big at National Karate Championships

Islander Juan Múnera and his 13-year-old son, Marco Múnera, were among the elite athletes recognized at the National Karate Championship held in Ft. Lauderdale July 3-6. Juan Múnera, who holds a purple belt, won two gold medals - one in forms and another in weapons with nunchakus. His son Marco, who is a green belt, won a silver medal in combat. Both have been practicing karate for the past nine years under the instruction of Sensei Nick Lemke.

“This year was a bit harder to train for the championship,” Juan Múnera said. "Our instructor had to leave town in January to attend to family issues, and it was up to Marco and me to get ready for the competition.” 

Múnera trains from 4:30 AM to 6:30 AM at Marriott Crystal Shore's gym and at the YMCA in the afternoon. “One of the many benefits of practicing martial arts is learning to have discipline,” Múnera said, "and I think we’ve already got that part." 

Juan Múnera is a seasoned practitioner, having practiced martial arts for 50 years. He holds a black belt in Taekwondo and a black belt in Mushindo. He considers not having an instructor for a while to be just a temporary issue in their lifelong martial arts journey.

Marco’s goal for 2024 is to take the test for purple belt. Juan is preparing to take the test for brown belt, which is one belt before black belt.