ELMIRA, NY (607NewsNow) — Ten competitors and coaches from American Family Karate (AFK) & Jujitsu in Elmira are set to compete at the 2026 World Sport Jujitsu Championship in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala.

Scheduled for October 9th through the 11th, the local group will be part of a larger cohort of athletes and coaches from the United States. Team AFK Jujitsu owner and instructor Sensei Shawnie Brown has been selected to serve as the U.S. Team’s self-defense coach, while students Kyle Northup and Teagan Brown will compete on the official U.S. Team. Other Team AFK Jujitsu students will compete in the World Championship divisions.

“There is something powerful about seeing a community come together behind its athletes,” said Shawnie Brown of Team AFK Jujitsu. “These students have trained for years for opportunities like this. When they step onto that competition floor in Guatemala, they will be carrying the encouragement of their families, teammates, local businesses and hometown with them.”

To help reduce travel costs, Team AFK Jujitsu has set a $35,000 fundraising goal. The money will help cover airfare, team uniforms, tournament registration, lodging, food, incidentals, and travel insurance for the competitors and coaches making the journey.

Sponsorships are available for local businesses, varying in levels between $250 and $5,000. Depending on which level of sponsorship they choose, local businesses may receive recognition on the Team AFK Jujitsu warmup jackets, official Worlds Team banner, social media coverage, and other promotional materials.

“This is an opportunity for local businesses to do more than place a logo on a jacket,” Brown said. “They can become part of a story about local students working hard, representing their country and discovering how large the world can become when a community believes in them.”

For sponsorship information, interview requests or additional details, contact Tom Brown at 607-331-7933 or TomBrown@TeamAFKJujitsu.com.