What a weekend! On April 11, 2026, the Vital Martial Arts Academy team charged into the 5th Coconut Creek Invitational Tournament with energy, focus, and the spirit of true martial artists. We are incredibly proud of every student who stepped onto the mat to represent our school.
The hard work during our recent training cycles truly paid off. Our students displayed exceptional form, power, and discipline, consistently placing at the top of their divisions.
A massive congratulations goes out to Sorina Codita, who delivered a breathtaking performance to be crowned the Advanced Grand Champion. Watching Sorina’s precision and dedication culminate in such a prestigious title was a highlight for the entire academy. Her achievement is a testament to the “Smart and Healthy” philosophy we strive for every day.
Tournament Results
We had a fantastic showing across all age groups and disciplines. Here are the official standings for our VMAA competitors:
Black Belts:
- Sifu Vital Yarashevich – 2nd place bare hands forms
16 – 17 y.o.
- Diana Bushueva – 1st place advanced bare hands forms, 1st place advanced weapons forms.
12 – 13 y.o.
- Carlos Gomez-Moreno – 2nd place advanced bare hands forms, 1st place advanced weapons forms.
10 – 11 y.o.
- Emily Slutchi – 1st place intermediate hands forms, 2nd place beginners weapons forms.
- David Ainisman – 2nd place intermediate hands forms, 1st place intermediate weapons forms.
- Allen Lozovsky – 3rd place intermediate bare hands forms, 3rd place intermediate weapons forms.
8 – 9 y.o.
- Sorina Codita – 1st place advanced bare hands forms, 1st place advanced weapons forms. Advanced Grand Champion.
- John Estrin – 1st place intermediate bare hands forms.
- Maria Gomez-Moreno – 1st place intermediate weapons forms.
- Lucia Viscito – 2nd place intermediate bare hands forms.
- Cristian Slutchi – 3rd place intermediate bare hands forms, 2nd place intermediate weapons forms.
- Leonardo Girasol – 4th place beginners bare hands forms, 4th place beginners weapons forms.
6 – 7 y.o.
- Ilia Gamarsa – 2nd place beginners bare hands forms.
The day was made even more memorable as the tournament fell on Sifu Vital Yarashevich’s birthday. The event organizers and the martial arts community surprised Sifu Vital with a special celebration right on the tournament floor. There is no better way to celebrate a birthday than surrounded by students, peers, and the martial arts family!
A Note of Gratitude
We would like to extend our deepest thanks to Renshi Alexis Cardona and the Martial Arts Federation (MAF) for hosting such a professional and high-energy event. The Coconut Creek Invitational continues to be a premier platform for athletes to test their skills and grow as practitioners.
