Kokomo, Ind- First Bank of Berne donated to the Professional Karate Commission for their Spring Smash event. Pictured is (l to r) Ian Hewitt, student; Gabriel Heiskell, student; Corina Aguirre, Kokomo Branch Manager, and Sensei Donnie Michael. Hewitt has been a student for four years and is a purple belt. Heiskell has been a student for five years and is also a purple belt. They will both be competing in this year’s Spring Smash. Sensei Donnie Michael is a six degree black belt, with World Champion titles earned over his forty year career in martial arts.
The Spring Smash is a Professional Karate Commission Triple National Point Tournament also awarding points for PKC Region 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, United States Karate Alliance, and Regional Sport Karate Circuit. It’s an open martial arts competition for all systems and ages. This year’s winners will receive a variety of great prizes, yearlong point awards to become PKC National Champion, and individual Regional and State Champions. The Spring Smash was started in 1999 by its long time host, Sensei Donnie Michael, owner of Donnie Michael’s Karate in Kokomo. Sensei Michael opened his first studio in 1997. His school offers Karate classes in Kokomo for kids, men, and women of all ages.
The Spring Smash competition was created to encourage students of all ages to test their martial arts skill in multiple categories and compete against the best of the best from all over the nation. The Spring Smash will be held at Taylor High School, May 7th, 2022 from 10am-4pm. Over 225 participants are expected including PKC Elite and Alliance Hall of Fame members. Spectators are more than welcome. As Sensei Michael would say, “I’ll see you at the Smash!”
To learn more about how you can get involved with this organization, visit donniemichaelkarate.com, visit Donnie Michael’s Karate on Facebook, or call Donnie at (765) 461-8607.