In 1995 Christopher Amato was introduced to the sport of karate while attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, seven years later he met Leah, who would later become his wife and karate partner. Once their kids were old enough, around four, they too were introduced to the sport. 

Christopher has risen to the Renshi (polished instructor) level, while his wife Leah is a Sensi or teacher and their two kids Domnic (15 years old) and Gabby (14) have both climbed the ladder to Sempai (senior student). The family trained at the Bushi Karate Club, a dojo in Oxford. When the facility became available, the Amato’s jumped at the chance to purchase the dojo so they, as well as all the friends they had made there, could continue to train there. 

Bushi karate provides traditional Japanese karate in an approachable but rigorous way for students of all ages to the community of Oxford and surrounding towns. Karate schools are often a much-needed social resource within a community, providing structure, discipline, goal-oriented achievements, and healthy after-work or after school activity for every student.

The Amato’s became the owners of the Bushi Karate Club in 2019, a year before Covid-19 ravaged the world and according to Leah, it was a rather stressful year once the pandemic hit. However things would eventually subside and the dojo has been a place to go to learn the sport. 

While the family has all been successful with their training, young Gabby has taken the sport to another level.

“Two years ago we went to an AAU Tournament in New Jersey and she really like participating with a different set of competitors and really wanted to pursue it more,” her mother said. “We then had to change her training. She had built her foundation with our family but she was now getting ready to move onto a higher level so we got her a strength and conditioning coach (Ashlee Nosek) and an elite Kata (Sensei Joey Castro) coach.”

Kata (forms) is the practice of performing sequences of specific Karate basic moves in multiple directions targeting a virtual opponent. The ultimate goal of learning and presenting a Kata is to be able to demonstrate the sequences of self-defense movements at full speed, with precision, power, and fluidity between various movement segments while ensuring breathing, timing, and purpose of movement are aligned. 

In addition to being involved with karate Gabby plays softball, fences, plays the flute and participates in student government, but it is karate that is atop that list. So much so she trains three nights a week at the Bushi Club, works one night with her conditioning coach and one with her elite Kata coach.

In April of this year she took part in her first big national tournament in Las Vegas coming home with three medals – third place in Kata and two second place finishes in long and short Kobudo (weapons). That gave her a sense of what she could do.

“I love seeing the progress that I have made at AAU Tournaments, but coming home from Las Vegas with three medals changed my outlook,” Gabby said. “Originally I had not been super confident in my abilities, but this definitely boosted my confidence.”

In addition to her confidence beginning to soar, she was invited to become part of the US team that was going to participate in Sweden as well as qualifying for the Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Florida later in the year. 

“Taking part in Nationals I was very nervous, but excited – I was just looking for the experience,” she said. “I was not expecting anything else. There I got to train with the only female gold medalist.”

She may not had expected anything else but a learning experience at the US Nationals but she left Florida with two more medals – a gold in long kobudo and a silver medal in short kobudo. As soon as that tournament came to an end Gabby had to immediately jump on a plane and head to Malmo, Sweeden to take part in her first World Championships. Once again she would surprise herself and walked away from the World Union Karate Federation (WUKF) with yet another gold medal in long kobudo.

“I felt good going in, but I was still very nervous,” she recalled. “It was such an honor to compete with higher level athletes from around the world.”

Having grown up watching her older brother take part in karate, she knew that she wanted to follow in his footsteps. Not only has she followed her brother’s success (Dominic is a first degree blackbelt), but she has also surpassed him. In addition to the many medals she has received over this past year, she has completed her second degree blackbelt and is looking to go even further. Gabby has dreams of earning her third degree blackbelt that will take another three years where she will have to go through another four katas and take part in another 30 fights before she can take the four-hour test showing everything she has learned to become a sensei.

“To some it may be a lot of time, but it has definitely been worth all the time that I have put in,” Gabby said. “I love being able to continually progress, while competing with all the friends I’ve made along the way.”

Friends, that not only works out in the Oxford dojo, but now all over the world. As a young 14-year-old it is certain that Gabby Amato will be making a name for herself as she continues to move up the karate ladder.