Twelve-Year-Old Karate Champ Rising | Tucson News

Tucson News Today | 2 Min Now | The Daily News Now! · Jun 29, 2026 · 1m

Twelve-year-old karate prodigy Alaina VonMenke is set to represent the U.S. at the 2026 World Karate Championship in Romania—after four years of relentless training that sacrificed parties and routines. Switching from dance to martial arts, she’s grown from a shy beginner into a confident leader at her dojo, even teaching adult black belts. Her sensei raves about her transformation, while Alaina credits karate for teaching her patience, grit, and unshakeable self-belief—proving that greatness starts young and builds character one kick at a time. Support the show:Get a discount at…