The Post-Journal
by Christopher Blakeslee
September 28, 2024
Promise Kept
A 2021 Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame martial arts inductee, has earned her ninth degree black belt in the art of Shotokan Karate.
In May, Christina Kebort hit another milestone in her long and distinguished martial career by earning her ninth degree black belt from Shotokan Master Rick Johnson of Rick Johnson’s Martial Arts Academy of Warren, Pa.
“I started taking martial arts from my uncle when I was five,” Keyboard said. “He was a Vietnam veteran, and I made a promise to him that I would be the best at whatever I do. …This is a fulfillment of that promise.”
Kebort explained that growing up, in her childhood also necessitated the need for her to be able to defend herself.
“I also started karate with my little brother because we were easy targets for bullies. My parents had disabilities and money was tight,” she said. “I had to learn to defend myself and fight.”
According to a Dec. 17, 2021, Post-Journal article, Kebort, also captured the Master Black Belt Kata and Sparring World Championships in Ohio in 2009; won back-to-back Master Black Belt Kata and Sparring Championships in 2013 and 2014, making her a seven-time world title winner; received the ‘Who’s Who’ in the Martial Arts Elite Women’s Budo Warrior Award in 2018 and received the Martial Arts University Women’s Warrior Hall of Honor Award in 2019; achieved her eighth and ninth world titles when she won gold medals in both Master Black Belt Sparring and Kata championships at the 44th Battle of Columbus, in Ohio. Additionally, she received the Arnold Legend of Martial Arts Hall of Honor Master Instructor Dedication Award and the American Martial Arts Alliance ‘Who’s Who’ of Martial Arts Legends Award. She became an inductee in the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame as the 2020 Woman of the Year, and she was featured in the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame Yearbook and the Martial Arts Masters and Pioneers Book along with Chuck Norris.
“This all goes back to honoring my family and keeping my promise -to be the best at what I do,” she said. “I have so many people to thank for supporting me along this journey.”
In 2021, Kebort continued her winning ways, and accomplished more victories in various martial art circuits.
“I won the Black Belt Kata World Championship contested in Columbus, Ohio, as well as the Black Belt Kata and Sparring U.S. Open Championships held in Indiana and the Black Belt Self Defense National Championship at the USA Nationals in Erie, Pa.,” she said.
In 2022, Kebort was back at it again and won the Continuous Sparring Grand National Championship in Rhode Island and became a lifetime member of the Black Belt World Bureau.
Kebort talked about the benefits of studying martial arts as a way of life.
“Martial arts and Shotokan instill discipline in practitioners,” she said. “It helps develop one physically, mentally and emotionally. I highly recommend anyone that is interested to try a class and see for yourself.”
Kebort, who works as a paraprofessional for Jamestown Public Schools and as a summer camp director for the Boys and Girls Club of Jamestown, said her martial arts journey has led to some high-profile celebrity encounters over the years.
“I got to meet “Superfoot” Bill Wallace, former U.S. President George and Barbra Bush, Chuck Norris, former UFC fighter Randy “The Natural” Couture, and Don “the Dragon” Wilson are just a few,” she said.
According to the International Shotokan Karate Federation (iskf.com) Shotokan Karate is one of four major karate styles developed in Japan, especially in Okinawa. The art is credited with being created by Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) and his son Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi (1906-1945) making this a rather infant art as compared to other martial styles.
Notable Shotokan practitioners include TV actor, Bear Grylls – Man vs. Wild TV show, On-Air TV personality, Howard Stern, Rock “in” Roll legend Elvis Presley, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers actor Jason David Frank, Movie Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme, Actress Lorraine Bracco and Movie Actor Wesley Snipes.
Kebort, as a teacher, owns and operates Kebort’s Tiny Tigers, home-based at the Jamestown Area YMCA, 101 E. Fourth St., The martial-arts program focuses on providing martial arts Shotokan Karate training for all ages.
“I’m so very proud of my students,” she said. “I’ve got several students who’ve joined the military, become police officers, teachers and firefighters. It still amazes me when a shy and introverted student walks into my training center and leaves a confident, skilled and dedicated martial artist and productive member of society.”
For more information visit jamestownymca.org/programs/youth-karate.
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We gratefully acknowledge these individuals and organizations for their generous support.