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May 2005 Martial Artist of The Month
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World Champion Nick Schilling

Images by Thomas Hopkins Photography

World Champion Nick Schilling

 Nick was born on July 10, 1990 in Williamsburg, Virginia but relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida before he was two.  Beginning at age four, Nick played both soccer and baseball for the next five years.  He began taking karate in 1997 (at age 7) at Gold Coast Kenpo Karate under the tutelage of Sensei Ray Doucette.  Nick excelled at karate and it soon took the place of all other sports activities. 

He began tournament competition in 1998 on the local circuits and won numerous 1^st place awards in sparring and forms.  Nick earned his black belt in September 2001.  In the summer of 2000, Nick began private training with three time world champion Adam Faldetta.  It was then that Nick picked up his first pair of kamas and started gymnastics training.  Nick was one of the original members of Team Faldetta International, a demo and performance team.  He performed at many demonstrations such as the 2001 & 2002 Paul Mitchell Sports and Fitness Festival in Miami Beach, Florida, the 2001 & 2002 Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame Awards, the 2003 FPCKE Battle of The Arts night show, as well as many other area festivals, sports demonstrations and karate school functions. 

Nick Schilling and Becca Ross

Nick started competing on the NASKA circuit in 2002 and, during his first two years on the circuit, immediately became a top competitor, placing in all of his divisions. This was a stellar achievement since Nick had to face some of the toughest competition the karate world has to offer. 

          Nick Schilling with team member and 
     good friend World Champion Jonathan Boyd

Nick has had the benefit of training with many world champion competitors during this time, including Lauren Kearney and Daniel Sterling. By 2004, Nick had earned NASKA World Champion status and is currently ranked #1 in three divisions so far this 2005 competition season. Nick has also won several Grand Championship titles over the last year. 

In 2003, Nick became a member of the K.I.C.K Team (Kicking in Christ’s Kingdom.) and began training with World Champion, Jonathan Boyd. “It means so much to me to be a member of the K.I.C.K. Team,” says Nick, “I want God to be glorified in everything I do.”  Nick looks up to and admires Jonathan, and credits him with much of his success. “Jonathan is a great role model for me,” says Nick, “in karate and life in general. He’s kind of a perfectionist so it makes me work even harder than I normally would! Jonathan has been a HUGE part of my success and I’m grateful to have him, as a coach and a big brother.” Additionally, Nick trains 2 or 3 days a week at Miami Sansei Goju Ryu in Miami, Florida with Mike Cifre, another top NASKA competitor, who has helped Nick add to his Xtreme arsenal! 

Between karate classes, private training, his personal home workouts, and competition training, Nick devotes about 20 hrs per week to karate. He is also an assistant instructor at All Star Karate in Boca Raton, FL.   When he isn’t practicing, Nick spends hours reviewing videos from previous tournaments in order to see where he wants to improve and to learn from other competitors.  

The friends Nick has made on the circuit are very important to him.  “They are like my second family.  We have a great time together at the tournaments and we really care about each other.  We cheer each other on and are happy for each other when we win,” states Nick. 

          Nick has one main goal in mind as far as martial arts are concerned but he chooses to keep it under wraps right now. “It’s kind of my own personal thing I want to achieve, like a next-step goal I’ve set for myself. I’ll let you know when I get there!”  

This fall, Nick will be entering his sophomore year at Westminster Academy, a private Christian school, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Nick is also a certified scuba diver but, of course, KARATE is his life!