By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

ST. JOHNSVILLE — Sheldon Howard, a St. Johnsville resident and world class karate competitor, was awarded four first place trophies in his age division at the American Karate Grand Nationals, the United States National Karate Championships, held in Chicago Feb. 1-2.

Howard, on Jan. 27, also won the Long Island Winter Open Karate Championships, taking first in both forms and self defense. Howard rounded out that competition with two second place finishes in the weapons and sparring events. He was also ranked by Nytournaments.com as the number one 40 and over Black Belt competitor in New York for 2012 in forms and weapons.

Howard, a 53 year old grandfather of four, began studying karate in New York City in 1976. His studies have taken him not only across the United States, but around the world, to foreign cities such as Okanawa, Japan.

Howard noted that his multi-decade path to the present, which included a 20 year period where he didn’t compete, but still trained, has included almost daily practice, four to five days a week, which involves constant repetition of basic technique forms and weapons practice, along with conditioning, including running, weight training, stretching, and continued education.

While living 21 years in New York City prior to moving to his “adopted home” of Oppenheim, Howard served on the New York City Police Department. While he survived for years as an NYPD officer, including as a first responder during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, it was an odd twist of fate in Oppenheim that convinced Howard to return to competitive karate.

About four years ago, while walking his dogs, Howard was hit by a car. The accident, which notably injured him, was “a motivating factor” in his decision to resume competitive karate.

An exercise physiologist, Howard rehabilitated himself following the accident, and after being released from the hospital, decided to enter the same championships (United States National Karate Championships) that he was recently so successful in, at that point placing second. The fact that Howard placed second without training specifically for that competition led him to wonder “how would I do if I upped my game?”, leading him to train with the specific goal of entering that competition again in the future.

The rest is continuing history, with Howard routinely competing against people of all ages and winning numerous championships in the 18-and-over Black Belt division, leading to an induction into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2012.

While Howard said of his ability to repeatedly win accolades, sometimes even earning them in bouts against his long-standing idols, “it’s nice to have that corroboration and validation, but the tournaments are a very small part of what martial arts are about.”

The principals of karate are deeply rooted in respect, and to get swept up in ego is an undesirable quality.

Living in St. Johnsville, it’s easy to live within the principals of respect, said Howard, who noted that the community has been highly influential.

“We have a great community, and I think people forget that it’s still great,” said Howard, explaining that the people of the community hold onto a system of values and care for one another. As an example, Howard said that he’s witnessed communities that don’t celebrate Memorial Day, while St. Johnsville proudly and enthusiastically does.

“St. Johnsville deserves a lot of credit,” he said, continuing, “one thing about the town, on Memorial Day, people actually go to the service. They really do take the time out around here, and I have tremendous respect for that.”

The area, he said, was the perfect place to move after experiencing something as intensely life changing as Sept. 11, which helped to shape his view that even while immersed in the competitive sporting world, it’s important to “keep things in perspective — the most important thing is family and friends.”

Howard, who represents Team Shukokai and is coached by the US Shukokai Karate Union Chief Instructor Michael Berkowitz, also gives credit in his success to his training partner, former St. Johnsville Police Chief Kevin Snell, who he said is rightfully “very much beloved by the community.” He noted that he and Snell, after his move to the area, “gravitated toward each other.”

Howard will be featured in the Feb. 25 issue of Sports Illustrated in the “Faces in the Crowd” section. The story is also available to view online. In November, Howard will represent the United States in Miami Beach at the Pan American Internationals, and he will continue to train and compete throughout the year, aiming to compete in 10-12 tournaments before the year’s end.

While his plans stretch as far as 2015, at which point Howard will compete in the World Police and Fire Games, he said that no matter how far his travels and successes take him, he’ll “always come back home to Oppenheim.”