Martial Arts Club members, standing, from left: James Doherty, Simon Berliner, Chris Lydon and Jonathan Farley. Kneeling, from left: Liam Stephens, Michael Blicharski, Laura Rebecca and Luisa Abballe. Missing: Joe Collins, John Timmins, Caroline Seitz and Brad Hepworth. This year, the Garden City High School Athletic Department has expanded its Intramural Program to include Martial Arts. Laura Rebecca, a teacher at the High School has offered self defense workshops to students in the past, and was the advisor to the high school Martial Arts Club. Sensei Rebecca is a second degree black belt in Hakkoryu Jujutsu and trains and teaches at Suigetsu Dojo in Greenlawn. She has also taught jujutsu at the annual NWMAF Conference this past summer to martial artists from around the world.

The Martial Arts intramurals program is year-round, and focuses on both traditional martial arts techniques as well as street-applicable self-defense strategies in a fun, safe and structural environment. More than a dozen students and one other faculty member, Mr. Brad Hepworth, have participated in the program since its inception. On November 11, the program promoted its first students to the rank of yellow belt; Liam Stephens (12) and Luisa Abballe (12). The school looks forward to more participation and rank promotions in the future.

The Martial Arts Intramural Program is open to any high school student in grades 9 through 12, as well as any faculty or staff member. Sensei Rebecca and her students would like to thank Ms. Nancy Kalafus, district athletic director, for her support of the program. Visit the website at: http://highschool.gardencity.K12.n y.us/English/Rebecca/Karate site/m.arts.htm.