A trip to Italy can include various things such as dining on authentic Italian cuisine, touring ancient ruins, visiting museums and castles, and kickboxing.  That’s right, kickboxing. Many people from all over the world will travel to Italy to take part in a kickboxing competition this fall. The World Association of Kickboxing Organization will be holding a tournament this year on Italian soil and a local East Bridgewater youth has been invited to represent America on team USA.

This September Mario Mastro III, 14, will be taking part in the WAKO Junior World Kickboxing Championships 2008 tournament in Naples, Italy. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime”, said Mastro, who has been studying martial arts since the age of five.

Mario Mastro gets some instructions before a sparring session.

After qualifying to represent the United States at the Junior World Kickboxing Championships, Mastro adjusted his daily routine to include workouts and practices in preparation for the tournament. 

Mastro is currently ranked number one in the state and third nationally in fighting in his division.  Mastro is a student at The Tama Dojo on Washington Street in Whitman and currently his rank is a qualifying black belt. At the end of the year Mastro will be taking a four day test for his black belt that includes a physical fitness test, techniques test, self defense test, reading books and writing essays, and sparring against fresh black belts.

Upon hearing that he qualified to be a part of Team USA, Mastro said he was shocked, but eager to compete. Mastro believes his daily routines and his training at the Tama Dojo have helped to prepare him for competition.

Athletics is a big part of Mastro’s life as he is a six time All-Star Baseball player for East Bridgewater Little League and also a four year

A-Division Soccer Player of Southeastern Massachusetts.  The experience Mastro has playing sports has helped him become a strong martial arts student and a Team USA member at the WAKO Junior World Kickboxing Championships. 

Mastro watches other martial arts competitions and exhibitions with top rated fighters to learn moves and techniques that he can incorporate into what he already knows. “He is a student of the game,” said Mastro’s teacher and father, Mario Mastro Jr.

Mastro Jr., said he is excited about the competition and advises his son to be well prepared.  “Prepare yourself as best you can, and then win or lose, at least you know you gave it your best shot’” said Mastro Jr. 

Mastro Jr. is looking forward to the trip and is excited for his son to have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.

As both a teacher and a father, Mastro Jr. said he is very proud of his son and all his accomplishments such as being the 2007 KRANE National Karate Champion and 2007 New England Open Champion (105 lbs. continuous division). 

The admiration and pride goes both ways as Mastro considers his father to be his role model. “He has taught me everything I know,” said Mastro.  He is also appreciative of the fact that his father owns the martial arts studio he trains at and said he is fortunate to be able to study at the Tama Dojo with his father as one of his instructors.

This September Mastro will be a entering a new phase in his life, that of a high school student. Mastro will be a freshman at East Bridgewater High School and he is not fazed by this new chapter of his life.  Mastro has prepared himself for this experience just as he has prepared for his trip across the world to take part in something that he considers to be his favorite thing, by working hard.

Mastro is currently seeking sponsorship for his trip.  Anyone interested in supporting Mastro and team USA can contact his instructors at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it