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SEWELL, N.J. (FOX 29) - It's always a good time at Underground Martial Arts in Sewell New Jersey.
"I want to see those fists tight. Tiger eyes," said Coach Mark Moore.
The challenge on the mat tonight was different than usual. Coach Moore announced it was the end of a month long fundraising effort for Autism Awareness Month.
"Many of our students have autism but autism doesn't have them," said Coach Moore.
14-year old David Steinour led the class in a karate kid kata. It's an imaginary fight using self-defense techniques.
"Dave nice and loud karate kid kata for autism," said Coach Moore. David is a black belt and he's on the Elite Leadership Team here. He also has autism.
"It helps me because I have more opportunities to socially interact with people here and I know how to defend myself easily," said David. Tonight each of the kids performed their own karate kid kata in front of three judges.
To participate in the tournament, they also had to participate in the fundraising.
"They had to go out and get donations not by their parents and each goal that they set had a challenge. White belt goal, yellow belt goal and they all got to the black belt goal was the end goal so to speak. That helped the kids get out there and be a leader in the community," said Coach Moore.
They raised more than $6,000 for the Gloucester County Special Services Education Foundation.
"We found someone that was right in our back yard so we felt great to help out a program that helps out some of our students here locally," said Coach Moore's wife Jamie. David says the money will help other kids with special needs get opportunities that have helped him with his autism.
"How I function with it, how I overcame it, the challenges I face and how karate benefits me," he said.
Local businesses also pledged donations to help Underground Martial Arts reach its goal.