Team AKA

Hunter B. Lyon: From a Memphis Kid to the Next President of NASKA Hunter B. Lyon’s journey to becoming the new President of NASKA began long before tournaments and leadership roles—it started with a kid in Memphis who fell off his bike in front of a martial arts school and discovered a lifelong passion. From earning black belts under Grand Master Terry Brumley...

👉 https://www.sportmartialarts.com/2026-naska-new-president-intro/

Join us for a look at the new era for the NASKA Circuit as Larry Carnahan passes the torch to Hunter Lyon and names Lyon the new President of NASKA. Lyon has vowed to ensure that his work with the NASKA circuit will focus on "making Mr. Carnahan proud" and continuing the sport karate legacy that Mr. Carnahan built.

👉 https://www.sportmartialarts.com/2026-naska-new-president-intro/

John Sharkey Obituary - Oak Lawn, IL Celebrate the life of John Sharkey, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Blake-Lamb Funeral Home.

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Sensei John Sharkey, a teacher and mentor to so many. Sensei Sharkey lived a life of service, giving his heart fully to his family, friends, and students. His kindness, generosity, and unwavering willingness to help—whether as a mentor, a listening ear, or a place of refuge—touched countless lives across all walks of life.

A pillar of the martial arts community, Sensei Sharkey took leadership of the non-profit American Karate Association in 1973 and went on to build the AKA Warrior Cup into one of the most prestigious martial arts tournaments in the world.

Sensei Sharkey measured success not by numbers, but by character. He believed the value of a black belt was defined by the standards behind it. In his lifetime, he awarded just over 100 black belts through his Sharkey’s Karate Studios. Each one stands as a testament to his uncompromising commitment to excellence and to what a Sharkey black belt truly means.

His legacy lives on through every life he shaped with selflessness, discipline, and love. As we mourn his passing, we invite you to honor Sensei Sharkey by holding him in your heart—and by sharing a positive memory that celebrates the extraordinary life he lived and the impact he leaves behind.

AKA showing up

That’s a wrap on our 33rd Summer Camp! Great job to everyone that made the decision to attend camp and level up their martial arts skills on the holiday week… Up next is Winter Camp!

Merry Christmas from Team AKA!🎅🎄🎁

We can’t wait to see everybody at AKA Warrior Cup 2025!