Frank Caliguri made a trip Thursday to the Quality Inn in New Kensington to check on the status of a number of things in advance of Saturday’s Pittsburgh Karate Championships.

“We also had a time keepers and score keepers meeting the other night to make sure they’re all ready to go,” Caliguri said by cell phone Thursday afternoon while the phone at Caliguri’s Academy of Martial Arts dojo in Lower Burrell rang several times.

“We have phone calls coming in regularly about different things involving the championships. While I was up at the Quality Inn, I found out that all of the rooms are sold out. That was nice to hear.”

Caliguri, the tournament co-director with his daughter, Kelli, and wife, Nancy, said energy and enthusiasm is high for Saturday.

He said it’s been a busy time for all involved.

“We’re at the crunch time. It’s almost here,” Caliguri said. “So many people have given their time to make this event a success.”

The championships made a successful return in 2022 after a nearly decade-long hiatus as more than 300 competitors of all ages descended on the Quality Inn to compete and celebrate a plethora of martial art styles and practices.

Caliguri expects well over 200 martial artists to take part with 100 or more to register Saturday morning and join the many already signed up.

“We have a lot of top competitors coming in because it is a double max sanction for the state,” he said. “Being that it is a bigger, established tournament, you will get more points off a win. It also is a (United States Association of Martial Arts) event with a national sanction, so we’re drawing them in from all over the country.”

Caliguri said more than two dozen local Academy students will test their skills Saturday. The youngest is 5 with the oldest 68.

“We have the kids divisions all the way up to the senior divisions,” he said. “All ages again will be represented locally and from all over.”

Caliguri said the oldest overall competitors are senior masters who are in their 70s.

Returnees hoping to make an impact include Murrysville’s Jose Rivera, a longtime state masters champion who will attempt to defend and hold his position.

“If he gets the state award this year, which is given out at the state tournament in November, it will make 20 years in a row that he got the black belt or masters title for the state,” Caliguri said. “That is an impressive level of consistency and dedication.”

New Kensington’s Steve Baksis, a black belt from the Academy in Lower Burrell, also will be be in action with the hopes of holding onto his No. 1 state position.

Those who wish to register at the door Saturday to be in line for trophies and tournament points can do so starting at 9 a.m.

Caliguri said it again is an open tournament, so there will be representatives from many styles including karate, kung fu, tae kwon-do, and others.

The event will kick off at 10 a.m with the masters and grandmasters kata and weapons.

“It will be a nice start with some of the best, so many of the competitors can draw inspiration for their own progress and what they are working to achieve,” Caliguri said. “Then from there, we branch out and get all the other rings going.”

Weapons and self-defense divisions will follow along with empty-hand forms and then all under-belt forms.

The action will progress to sparring, starting with the under-black belt divisions from approximately noon to 1 p.m. followed by the black belts starting at 2.

There will be eight Grand Champion trophies awarded in the youth and adult divisions.

All Grand Champions will be based on total points from kata, weapons, self-defense and sparring.

The Pittsburgh Karate Championships is a key point-earning event that will go to determining the Pennsylvania Karate Ratings Association state champions.

The state-champion awards and honors will be presented at the 51st PA Karate Championships on Nov. 16 in New Kensington.

Spectators for Saturday’s championships will be able to purchase tickets at the door.

For more information on Saturday’s championships, contact Kelli Caliguri at kellicals@gmail.com or visit academyofmartialarts.org.

“It should be a really nice day of competition with great performances expected,” Frank Caliguri said.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)