On Saturday, April 22, 2023, ATA Martial Arts of West Chester hosted a martial arts tournament to raise money for charity, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. The event, held at Neumann University, brought together martial arts enthusiasts from across the region to compete and raise money for a great cause.
The tournament featured a variety of martial arts events, including forms, sparring, weapons, musical forms, and team sparring. Competitors of all ages and skill levels participated, showcasing their skills and pushing themselves to the limit.
While the competition was fierce, the real winner was charity. Thanks to the generosity of the participants and sponsors, ATA was able to raise over $5,000 for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. This money will be used to support Crohn’s & Colitis Take Steps efforts to accelerate the progress of breakthrough research and support critical patient programs.
“We’re thrilled with the success of the tournament and the generosity of our participants and sponsors,” said Senior Master Marc Jouan, 7th Degree Black Belt and co-owner of ATA Martial Arts of West Chester. “It’s always great to see the martial arts community come together for a good cause, especially one so near and dear to my heart as my son suffers from this disease.”
In addition to the competition, the event featured demonstrations from the demo team, and a raffle with great prizes donated from organizations such as the Wings, Flyers, Phillies, 76ers, and Eagles. The tournament featured 644 competitors from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and more, and was the largest Songahm Taekwondo tournament held in West Chester to date.
ATA Martial Arts would like to thank everyone who participated in the tournament, as well as our sponsors and volunteers who helped make the event a success. We look forward to continuing our support of charitable causes through future events and initiatives.
For more information on how you can contribute to the Crohn’s & Colitis Take Steps initiative visit https://takesteps.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/