American Karate Association

04/09/2026

Only a little over a week left… 👀

The Naperville Challenge is coming in HOT 🔥

🥋 High-level competition
💰 Cash prizes up for grabs
🎟️ Win a private session with a Team AKA Captain
🏅 Clean medals
😎 Great vibes

🌎 2026 WKC Regional Qualifier

Don’t miss it.
👉 Register NOW: www.mataction.com/naperville-challenge

03/11/2026

🔥 Naperville Challenge Tournament 🔥
April 19, 2026
TOCA Naperville
1740 Quincy Ave. | Naperville, IL 60540

Get ready for one of the most exciting regional martial arts tournaments of the year! The Naperville Challenge brings together talented competitors from across the region for a day of high-level competition, energy, and unforgettable moments on the mats.

Step onto the competition floor, test your skills, and see how you stack up against some of the best.

🥋 Don’t miss your chance to compete!
Register today:
www.mataction.com/naperville-challenge

03/09/2026

Hunter B. Lyon’s journey to becoming the new President of NASKA began long before tournaments and leadership roles—it started with a kid in Memphis who fell off his bike in front of a martial arts school and discovered a lifelong passion. From earning black belts under Grand Master Terry Brumley...

03/08/2026

Naperville Challenge
April 19, 2026
TOCA-Naperville, Naperville Illinois

Registration is open!
www.mataction.com/naperville-challenge

03/08/2026

👉 https://www.sportmartialarts.com/2026-naska-new-president-intro/

Join us for a look at the new era for the NASKA Circuit as Larry Carnahan passes the torch to Hunter Lyon and names Lyon the new President of NASKA. Lyon has vowed to ensure that his work with the NASKA circuit will focus on "making Mr. Carnahan proud" and continuing the sport karate legacy that Mr. Carnahan built.

👉 https://www.sportmartialarts.com/2026-naska-new-president-intro/

01/31/2026

Celebrate the life of John Sharkey, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Blake-Lamb Funeral Home.

01/27/2026

01/26/2026

01/25/2026

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Sensei John Sharkey, a teacher and mentor to so many. Sensei Sharkey lived a life of service, giving his heart fully to his family, friends, and students. His kindness, generosity, and unwavering willingness to help—whether as a mentor, a listening ear, or a place of refuge—touched countless lives across all walks of life.

A pillar of the martial arts community, Sensei Sharkey took leadership of the non-profit American Karate Association in 1973 and went on to build the AKA Warrior Cup into one of the most prestigious martial arts tournaments in the world.

Sensei Sharkey measured success not by numbers, but by character. He believed the value of a black belt was defined by the standards behind it. In his lifetime, he awarded just over 100 black belts through his Sharkey’s Karate Studios. Each one stands as a testament to his uncompromising commitment to excellence and to what a Sharkey black belt truly means.

His legacy lives on through every life he shaped with selflessness, discipline, and love. As we mourn his passing, we invite you to honor Sensei Sharkey by holding him in your heart—and by sharing a positive memory that celebrates the extraordinary life he lived and the impact he leaves behind.

11/02/2025

🇺🇸 Only one week until our awesome event — the 9th Annual Battle for the Troops! 💥

We’d like to take a moment to thank our incredible sponsors for their support and generosity:

NORC Veterans ERG → Veterans Insight Panel

Cat Collins Realty → www.catcollinsrealty.com

o3 Consulting → https://debtconn.com

Ultimate Weapons → https://www.ultimateweapons.org

Action Screen Print and Embroidery → http://www.actionscreen.com

Your support helps make this event possible and ensures that 100% of the net proceeds go to benefit our veterans through Tunnels to Towers and the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans.

❤️ Don’t miss your chance to be part of an event that gives back to those who’ve given so much for our nation — our veterans.

Register today www.mataction.com/battle-for-the-troops

10/30/2025

Join Us and Earn Your Spot on Team USA! 🇺🇸

Compete for your chance to represent Team USA in 2026 at the WKC or ICO World Championships — or both!

🏆 WKC Qualification:
The top 4 finishers in the Black Belt and Jr. Black Belt divisions will earn the opportunity to compete for a Team USA spot at the 2026 WKC Nationals.

🌍 ICO Qualification:
The top 4 competitors in the Intermediate, Advanced, and Black Belt divisions will qualify to represent Team USA at the ICO World Championships in France, 2026.

Registration is now open — don’t miss your chance to make history!