UTC sophomore Hailey Henderson (in yellow belt) clashes with a higher rank at the Bryan Open Karate Tournament (photo credit: Bryan College).
When the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Karate Club traveled to Dayton, Tennessee, earlier this month for the Bryan Open Karate Tournament, the expectations were modest.
The UTC Karate Club, one of Campus Recreation’s club sports, is relatively new on campus. The organization began during the 2023-2024 academic year and practices just once per week. But when the club went up against seasoned competitors from traditional martial arts academies on March 8—including scholarship athletes from Bryan College’s Martial Arts Academy—the results told a different story.
Four UTC representatives brought home a total of seven medals in kata (forms), kumite (sparring) and weapons events. In total, six of the seven UTC competitors earned a top-four placement.
Dr. Bradley Reynolds, a senior lecturer of environmental science, is the UTC Karate Club’s founder and lead instructor. Dr. Ethan Carver, associate provost for Academic Affairs and dean of the Graduate School, is a co-advisor and co-instructor, and Meagan Matthews is an assistant instructor.
“We’re tiny, we’re new, and we’re not what most people expect when they think of a club sport,” said Reynolds, who has privately taught karate for about 10 years. “Our students competed against dedicated martial arts schools and athletes who train multiple times per week and they found success. That’s a testament to their commitment, discipline and courage.”
Medalists and top four finishers from the Bryan Open Tournament included:
- Sophomore mechanical engineering major Hailey Henderson, who placed first in women’s beginners kata and second in women’s intermediate kumite
- Sophomore communication major Ryan Conley, who placed first in men’s beginners kumite
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology Duncan Overton, who was first in both men’s beginners weapons and men’s beginners kata and fourth in men’s beginners kumite
- Sophomore creative writing major Collin Jackson, who finished third in men’s beginners kata
- Sophomore marketing major Zach Valdez, who was fourth in men’s black belt kata
- Reynolds, who was fourth in senior men’s weapons
Reynolds, a 5th-degree black belt in Isshinryu Karate, said he typically doesn’t compete in tournaments anymore but entered this one to demonstrate solidarity with his students.
“I wanted to show them that I was just as invested and willing to be in the ring,” he said.
One of the club’s most noteworthy performances came from Henderson, a beginner who was bumped up to the intermediate level in kumite due to a lack of opponents in her division. Despite the challenge, she earned second place.
“She met the moment,” Reynolds said. “That’s not just a physical feat; it’s a mental one. She was going up against opponents with far more experience, but she didn’t back down.”
Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology Duncan Overton, who finished first in both men’s beginners weapons and men’s beginners kata and fourth in men’s beginners kumite, wields the bo (photo credit: Bryan College).
The UTC Karate Club began after Reynolds—who has “been in and out of karate since I was 11 years old”—gauged student interest and received encouragement from Eddrick Brooks, coordinator of club sports in Campus Recreation.
Reynolds said he then “pitched the club to the Student Government Association and it was very well received.”
He explained the importance of the different roles karate plays.
“There is a misconception that karate is for kids. It’s not. Not even close,” Reynolds said. “Karate is a serious civil fighting system, primarily developed for empty-hand self-defense. It’s intricate, sophisticated and potentially complex when done properly. There is a lot of striking, but there are also throws, grappling, joint locks, chokes and takedowns.
“Second, one of the big advantages of karate is that studying karate can give a person something positive to focus on at a time when they may really need it.”
What started as a small group training weekly in the Aquatic and Recreation Center quickly found traction, building a dedicated group of students committed to practicing regularly outside of formal meetings.
One of those students is Jackson, who literally stumbled upon the club a year ago while writing about it for the University Echo.
“I was assigned to cover the club even though I didn’t really enjoy writing about sports,” said Jackson, a sophomore creative writing major from Hendersonville, Tennessee. “I set up an interview with Dr. Reynolds and he told me, ‘Hey, while you’re here, if you want to do the interview after the class, you can just sign this waiver, take your shoes off and line up.’”
He decided to join in, figuring it would help him write the article, and “I ended up loving it from the first second.”
Jackson kept returning week after week, eventually earning a yellow belt and receiving the club’s “Heart of the Team” award. By the end of the semester, he had volunteered to become the club’s vice president.
“Even if I’m still a low belt rank, it’s been a really important journey for me,” said Jackson—who now has long-term karate aspirations. “I know that I want to do this for the rest of my life and I know that I want to get to a black belt. I want to be able to say, ‘I randomly started in college and I worked my way up to a black belt.’
“I never had any interest in athletics growing up. I wasn’t disciplined. But karate has helped me become a better student and a better person.”
For Jackson, karate is about much more than physical fitness or competition.
“Isshinryu Karate and all martial arts begin and end with courtesy and respect—which is something that I had not realized. That’s what Dr. Reynolds teaches us from day one,” Jackson said. “Karate is about developing strength—not to be abusive but to be able to protect myself and protect other people.
“I’m a very spiritual person. I love the symbolism. I love being able to show, ‘Hey, I don’t want to fight you. I respect you, but if you’re going to threaten me or threaten people I love, I will defend myself.’ I think that’s really cool.”
Although his specialty is the art of Isshinryu Karate, Reynolds said the UTC Karate Club welcomes students with backgrounds in other disciplines. The spirit of camaraderie and cultural appreciation are central to the club’s philosophy.
“We’ve had students with backgrounds in judo, jiu-jitsu and other forms join us,” he said. “Everyone shares knowledge and everyone learns.
“We even had a young man from Japan last year, Issei Maura, who trained with us while studying at UTC. That cross-cultural exchange, seeing someone from the birthplace of karate training alongside students from the Southeast, was a beautiful thing.”
Looking ahead, Reynolds hopes the club continues to grow in size and reputation.
“I want this to be a presence on campus that becomes bigger than karate,” he said. “Karate begins and ends with courtesy and respect. If our students carry that with them into classrooms, into their lives and into the community, then we’re doing something right.”
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UTC Karate Club assistant instructor Meagan Matthews flips the sais (photo credit: Bryan College).
