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Owner of area martial arts studios creates largest online class for April 25

PHOTO COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS
After three months of hard work and dedication, students at the International Martial Arts Taekwondo school were ready to test for their first belt. Then the novel coronavirus outbreak happened. For the first time International Martial Arts, with the support of his students and their families, Master Mohamed Elshikh, a sixth degree black belt, held virtual belt tests via Zoom Video Communications.

John Kanabay has created “The World’s Largest Martial Arts Online Class (WLC)” which will take place at 2 p.m. on April 25 in an attempt to set an International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) world record.

The event is free but also a COVID-19 charity fundraiser for Project C.U.R.E.

Nine martial artists masters from all over the globe will come together for the WLC, sponsored by Kickside Martial Arts of Princeton and Hillsborough.

“As martial arts instructors, we’re all missing the daily interaction with our students,” said John Kanabay, the WLC’s creator. “We created this event as a way to engage with our students but also to raise much-needed monies for healthcare professionals.”

On April 18, the WLC set an ISKA world record by running the “World’s Largest Online Interactive Martial Class”. However, the event crashed the host’s server due to an overwhelming number of participants, Kanabay said.

The WLC team created a new limited channel in which to run the class and had a total of 1,813 participants. Those participants did qualify to name the WLC as the “World’s Largest Online Interactive Martial Arts Class” as recognized through the athletic commission of the ISKA while at the same time raising $6,000 for Project C.U.R.E., Kanabay said.

The April 25 event will consist of nine world-renowned martial artists teaching segments in their featured style, ranging from sport karate to mixed martial arts.

Instructors include:
• John Kanabay: World Breaking Champion (co-creator, WLC)
• Elise Reed: Bellator MMA fighter (co-creator, WLC)
• Mike Chaturantabut: founder of XMA/blue Power Ranger
• Raymond Daniels: Bellator MMA fighter
• Mackenzi Emory: Team Paul Mitchell Sport Karate World Champion
• Dave Kovar: Martial Arts master and motivational speaker
• Jackson Rudolph: Team Paul Mitchell Sport Karate World Champion
• Chip Townsend: Motivational martial artist, ISKA World Breaking Champion
• Master Ken: Self-proclaimed 11th degree black belt and comedian

Those deciding to join can take part as a viewer or as an active participant; martial arts experience is not necessary.

To register and/or make a donation, visit www.worldslargestclass.com.

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