2009 Maccabiah Games in Israel

A  veritable who's who in Karate convened in bitter cold Chicago, during the weekend of December 18 - 21st to select the 2009 USA Maccabiah Karate Team.

With temperatures of 20 degrees below zero gusting outside, elite karate athletes from throughout the United States gathered for a weekend of seminars, lectures and a spirited competition for the privilege of representing the US Jewish community in the upcoming World Maccabiah Games.

The pre-selection karate seminars and the team trials tournament was hosted by former (2005) USA Team Coach Sensei Jack Pressman, of Illinois, a three time Maccabiah athlete and gold medal winner (89’) and Dr. Alex Sternberg of New York, the Chairman of Karate for the 2009 Games. Sensei Sternberg, who is credited with introducing the sport of karate into the 10th Games in 1977 has coached teams in ‘77, ‘85 and ‘89 and has participated in the Maccabiah games for over 30 years.

Selection of the athletes was conducted by a blue ribbon panel of Karate senseis and superstars, that included Jeff Kohn of Illinois (77’) coach and past chairman of Karate presently a member of the national coaching staff of the USA National Karate Federation (member USOC), Dov Sternberg (NY), 5 time gold medal winner (‘97, ‘01, and ‘05 Games) and silver medalist Pan Am Games, Tokey Hill (Ohio) 1980 World Karate champion and Chairman of Coaching (USANKF). Additional members of the panel also included Elisa Fonseca, 3-time World champion and 2008 World Silver Medalist, and John Fonseca, World Bronze Medalist, John Nanay and Caren Lesser (‘89).

Vying for a spot on the team were close to 40 athletes, ranging in ages from 15 and up, from Alaska, Florida, Illinois, California, New York and Missouri and to be treated to a special training seminar by World Champion Sensei Elisa Fonseca, and World Medalist Sensei John Fonseca.

Supervising the six National Referees who came to lend their expertise on this bitter cold day were Sensei Alex Miladi of California and Sensei Cedric Barksdale of New York, both WKF certified officials and members of the USANKF Referee Council. 
After several hours of fierce fighting and exhibition of skill, a team of 8 men and 4 women as well as 14 junior boys and girls were selected.

The Selection Committee also recommended Sensei Dov Sternberg of New York, Sensei Marla Cohen of Illinois, and Sensei Caren Lesser, of Florida as coaches of the Open, Junior and Youth teams. All three are former Maccabiah athletes  who will lead the team to the 2009 Games and guide them in Israel in what is described by the Maccabiah movement as:  â€Å"two weeks to experience – a lifetime to remember.”  

The Maccabiah Karate Team will travel to Israel in July, 2009 to compete in the 18th Maccabiah Games, where over 9,000 Jewish athletes from throughout the world are expected to attend what is known as the third largest multi-sport event in the world. An anticipated 900 athletes from the U.S. will compete in a variety of sports in Junior, Masters, Open and Disabled divisions of competition as they join thousands of other Jewish athletes for three weeks of extensive sightseeing, cultural, social and educational activities.  The Games are set to open with a spectacular ceremony, including military fly-overs, parachutists, dancers, music and a parade of international athletes by country, to be held at Ramat Gan Stadium before 70,000 spectators.  The Maccabiah Games are held every four years in Israel in accordance with its tradition, and this year, former Maccabiah Games Medalists and Olympic stars Mark Spitz (swimming) and Mitch Gaylord (gymnastics) are scheduled to host television broadcasts during the Games.