Local martial arts performance team entertains troops abroad

Members of the Sharkey's Karate Studios martial arts performance team Sideswipe this month traveled to Naples, Italy, to entertain the United States troops and their families.

The team, which travels annually to Naval bases worldwide participating in the Navy Exchange (NEX) appreciation week, also hosted two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, Lieutenant Commander Tom Kelly and Specialist Four Alfred Rascon.

"It was a great honor for our team to be in the presence of these two war heroes," says John Sharkey, owner of Sharkey's Karate Studios. "We thank them for taking the time to meet with both the team and our service members, and sharing some of their hard-earned wisdom during our visit."

The Sideswipe martial arts performance team is comprised of Sharkey's Karate Studios members. The team's annual travels have taken them to Japan, Guam, Spain, Naples and Guantanamo Bay in recent years. The team returns to Guantanamo Bay this October.

More information about Sideswipe and Sharkey's Karate Studios can be found on the web at http://www.sharkeyskarate.com/.

For more information about Sideswipe's outreach to the troops through NEX, contact John Sharkey 630-805-3270 or Hunter Lyon at 901-210-8285.