An Elmira jujitsu team will hold a public send-off Sunday before eight athletes and two coaches travel to Guatemala to represent the United States at the 2026 World Sport Jujitsu Championships.
Team AFK Jujitsu said its Bon Voyage Fundraiser Bash will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 4 at Latitude 42 Taphouse, 467 Old Ithaca Road in Horseheads. The event will give visitors a chance to meet the competitors and watch a self-defense demonstration.
The team recently competed at the American Sport Jujitsu League National Championships in Virginia. Its athletes won gold medals in 14 events and seven national championship titles, according to an announcement from American Family Karate & Jujitsu, the Elmira academy that fields the team. The announcement did not identify individual medal winners or specify the divisions.
A final local event before the trip
The Sunday gathering will also include live music by Acoustic Remedy, food from Somethin' to Taco Bout and face painting by Haley's Creation Station. Organizers described it as a fundraiser, but did not give an admission price or a new fundraising target in the announcement.
The academy said earlier this summer that the team was raising money for travel, lodging, registration and other trip costs. The international competition is scheduled for Oct. 9-11, according to that earlier report.
American Family Karate & Jujitsu is based at 103 Hoffman St. in Elmira. The academy said additional information about the team and trip is available at TeamAFKJujitsu.com.
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