Who says it can't be done? Not Sebastian Karate Moo Duk Kwan, a small father and son school that trains at the Sebastian Gym, under Master Instructor Peter DeFosses and his son, Senior Instructor Gregory DeFosses. On the 4th of July weekend, the school took twenty students ranging in ages of 5 to 72 years old, to one of the world's largest martial arts tournaments, the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championship held at Disney in Orlando, Florida. This year the US Open hosted more than 3,000 competitors, 5,000 spectators from 41 countries and 40 of the 50 U.S. states were represented.

The students realized their dreams of competing at that level this year and managed to strike Gold, Silver, Bronze and more, not once but 45 times. That's right; this small group of twenty took 45 awards home. Everyone thinks of the martial arts as being only for the young, the Tigers/Warriors (ages 10 to 35) who did win 16 of the awards, one with their newest student 13 year old Ramiro Magana placing 1st in the white belt Traditional Forms. Sebastian Karate Moo Duk Kwan also covers the full spectrum with its Little Dragons (ages 5 to 9) who received 15 awards including one from the youngest member, 5 year old Nicole O'Neill with a 5th place in Traditional Forms. The Dragon's Den (ages 40 to 72) received 14 awards; two came from the most senior student by age, Dr. John Clare age 72, received a 2nd place in Traditional Forms and a 5th place in Traditional Weapons. So the next time someone tells you, you can't do it because you are too old or too young, remember the students of Sebastian Karate Moo Duk Kwan, who beat the odds with hard work and dedication, regardless of their ages, realized their dreams at a true world championship tournament - the U.S. Open.