Local youth excels in the martial arts arena

Students of martial arts will tell you that the discipline teaches a variety of skills, but perhaps most importantly, it builds confidence and provides a belief in self that can only be achieved through dedication, hard work, and focused intent.  

Peter Karels, a 12-year-old karate student from Buffalo, has been making significant strides in the martial arts community. Training at Dojo Karate, along with a few private instructors, Karels’ dedication and skill have led to remarkable achievements in regional and world-wide competitions.

“Peter is one of our success stories. He does a good job. He’s got a strong mind,” said Chris Hourscht of Dojo Karate in Buffalo.

Karels began his karate journey at age three, visiting the Wright County Fair with his family when the opportunity to break a board presented itself at a bounce house operated by Dojo Karate. “He broke a board and the rest is history,” said Hourscht. Beginning his training as a “Mighty Tiger” at Dojo Karate, Karels took to the sport and began competing on the karate circuit at age five, gaining skill and experience along the way. 

Karels owns an impressive resume. In 2024, Peter competed in 19 tournaments, finishing first in numerous competitions with the North Central Karate Association (NCKA), including top place finishes at the Minnesota State Karate Championship and Central States Karate Championships, a testament to his hard work and commitment to the sport. These accomplishments highlight Peter’s exceptional talent and promise in karate.

Not only has Karels competed at the national level, he’s also performed at world competitions. This past October, Peter represented Team USA at the World Karate Commission (WKC) competition in Albufeira, Portugal, where he earned a gold medal. To be eligible for world competition, participants must place fourth or higher at a regional qualifying event. Competition judges evaluate on several criteria, including movement, technique, intensity, and focus. “To perfect it, it takes a long time.” Peter said.   

Peter’s favorite thing about karate is not necessarily winning medals, trophies, or awards, it’s the growth that comes along with the journey. “It’s all the confidence it gives you. To get up in front of a bunch of people and perform. At first, I felt a little nervous, but now, I’m not nervous.” 

“One of the biggest things about martial arts is learning how to perform under a little bit of pressure,” said Hourscht. “Don’t worry about making a mistake because you will. It’s how you deal with it and get better each time.”

Martial Arts students learn curriculum in various disciplines while working to perfect their technique and skill, testing to achieve higher level belts. Some curriculum takes several years to master. Karels earned a first-degree black belt in 2020 and his second-degree black belt in 2022. He will be eligible for his third-degree black belt this coming November.  

While competitions and tournaments are serious endeavors, there’s a lot of fun that goes along with it. For individuals interested in pursuing martial arts, Peter recommends trying it out. “It’s a lot of fun because you get to kick and punch a bunch of stuff.”

Karels will be competing at the American Karate Association Warrior Cup held in Chicago this January and in a tournament with Dojo Karate in March. His success inspires younger students to pursue excellence in martial arts, as they will often look up to him and seek the knowledge and experience he is willing to provide.

As Peter continues training and building his skills, his family, instructors, and fellow students are proud of all he has accomplished, both in physical skill and inner growth, confident that his dedication will lead to even greater success in the martial arts arena and beyond.