By Mike McCombs
The Island News
Beaufort’s Club Karate is hosting the 32nd annual Goodwill Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Beaufort High School gymnasium. The event celebrates martial arts, community spirit, and friendly competition.
The doors open at 9 a.m., with demonstrations beginning at 10 a.m., and competition beginning at 11 a.m. The cost for spectators is $10 for those 6 and older.
Tournament participants can pre-register online at clubkaratellc.com, or register in person at Club Karate at 10 Sams Point Way, Suite B-3 on Lady’s Island. Payment can be made online ($65) or at the event ($75).
The tournament is a longstanding community event showcasing martial artists of all levels across various disciplines. Participants are divided into categories based on age, skill, and discipline.
Awards include ribbons and an 11-by-17 plaque for all participants.
Club Karate owner Chuck Elias touts the tournament as more than just a competition, but a celebration of martial arts and community. It has become a platform for martial artists of all ages and skill levels to showcase their talents, learn from each other, and foster a sense of camaraderie, he told The Island News in 2025.
“Nothing but happiness, a good experience,” Elias said, when asked what he hoped a first-time participant would take home from the event. “It’s an opportunity to find out their strengths, their weaknesses and what they need to work on, to find out that there are people out there who train hard. Can they be one of them?”
Elias said tournaments played a big part in his own development in the martial arts.
“I know that if I had not attended a tournament, I’d have never been past a white belt,” he said. “I got to see how big martial arts really was. Tournaments are about seeing people of all ages, ability and ranks. About getting inspired, getting motivated.”
For more information, contact Chuck Elias at 843-252-7283 or Clubkick@gmail.com.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.