When senior Sammi Weinberg started karate she said she had no idea how far she would go. Now Weinberg has an international competition under her belt along, with three medals.

Weinberg’s participation in karate began five years ago.

“I was looking for self defense,” said Weinberg. “I also was not in the best athletic shape and I was looking for a way to increase my athleticism, get stronger and [get] a little bit of a self-esteem boost ‘cause Lord knows I needed it.”

This past summer, Weinberg attended the 19th Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem, Israel. The Maccabiah Games are athletic competitions for Jewish athletes, similar to the Olympics. They are held in Israel once every four years. She medaled in three of the four events in which she competed including individual kumite, team kumite, individual kata and team kata.

In order for Weinberg to qualify for the Games, she had to impress the judges by showing off her technique, skill and preparation.

Weinberg said that the Maccabiah Games were a once in a lifetime experience.

She found out about the games through Jeff Kohn, director of the North Shore Dojo, who has helped her train since Weinberg began karate.

“I never really had to push her to work hard,” said Kohn. “She has always been a really hardworking girl and she stepped up to every challenge.”

Weinberg took bronze in individual kumite and took silver in both team kumite and team kata.

“I was definitely proud to have gotten where I did,” said Weinberg. “But there was that nagging feeling of ‘it’s not gold.’”

Weinberg said the athletes she competed against were world-class athletes. The largest team at the games was the Israeli team, who took most of the gold medals. For Weinberg, one of the biggest challenges was to compete against them.

Weinberg said karate has helped her in more ways than she imagined. Weinberg said that she is not only in great shape, but she also has learned so much about herself and her boundaries.

According to Weinberg, karate makes her feel powerful.  She said it helped her get through her stressful junior year because it helped her to feel like she had some control over the things going on in her life.