Saturday, November 15, 2003
By Brian Kosoy
Florida TimeUnion - Shorelines staff writer
Working Warrior: Kirk Farber of Atlantic Beach took
home top honors at the Florida/Georgia Open Karate Championships, held at the
Arlington Police Athletic League last weekend. The competition was open to all
styles of martial arts, and competitors came from all over Florida and Georgia.
Farber won all three black belt divisions: musical forms, katas and kumites
(sparring) in the executive black belt division. He was also the
end-of-the-year champion in open musical forms and executive kata divisions.
"I had seven different matches that went into overtime
when it came to the grand championships for the [tournament] and for the
year," said Farber. "What that taught me was not only the mental
toughness of focus and overcoming obstacles, but the appreciation of being in
shape. My regimen of jumping rope and juggling with my twin brother was the key
to my success this past weekend."
Farber, 45, is a fifth-degree black belt who has trained in
the cuong nhu Oriental martial arts style since 1976. He is a computer
consultant and offers fitness-training lessons. He spends much of his time
working with at-risk youths and child development programs, incorporating his
martial arts knowledge into real-life applications.
In addition to competing in the tournament, Farber was a
judge for about 60 children competing in the 10 to 12 age divisions.
For more information about training or lessons, contact
Farber via e-mail at kirk@theworkingwarrior.com.