SWFL teen overcomes obstacles to achieve 10 world titles

Katelyn Donaldson, 16, may have just earned her driver’s license, but she already had 10 world titles in karate, the sport she said helped her overcome bullies, a heart condition, and other other obstacles in her life.

“It’s amazing, and I wanna use it as a way to inspire other people, especially younger girls,” Donaldson said. “Never underestimate yourself. You can always go above and beyond.”

Donaldson, a North Fort Myers High School student, said her journey to the top started from feeling on like she was at the bottom.

“I had bullies,” Donaldson said. “It taught me to defend myself. I started out really shy and eventually (karate) got me to boost my confidence tremendously.”

She said she first took the mat in 2016, shortly after the scariest experience of her life.

“I had passed out on my driveway, and I got a concussion,” Donaldson said. “I got a skull fracture on the back of my head. (Doctors) they figured out that I had first degree AV blockage and said that I would never recover from it.”

Donaldson said her heart condition ended her dance career and left her wondering what her future held, but that’s when she decided to try karate at Martial Arts University in Cape Coral and instantly fell in love with the sport. The success followed the passion.

“My first tournament was a month after I’d first gotten my yellow belt, and I won first place my first time ever competing,” Donaldson said. “I love seeing them improve every time I come back, it’s amazing.”

Since starting karate only a few years ago, Donaldson’s list of accomplishments include 18 SW Florida District Championship titles, 20 state titles, 13 national titles, 10 world titles, and 3 triple crowns (winning the Battle of Daytona, the Blitz Mayan Challenge and the USA Sport Karate National Championship).

“Katelyn’s very special,” said Jeff Santella, Martial Arts University Soke’ instructor. “We’ve trained 25,000 people to date, and I can’t remember when there’s been a student that has achieved but Katelyn has in such a short time.”

On Jan. 26, Donaldson was presented with the USA Sport Karate National Hall of Fame award in Cape Canaveral for her new record of 6 divisional overall points season win.

When she’s not training in Cape Coral, she’s helping the up-and-coming athletes as an instructor at Martial Arts University.

“Martial arts is known to have a positive impact on kids,” Santella said. “For kids to get their confidence up, to get coordinated, to get good habits and to build character. There’s no place where you can get it all under one roof than a dojo.”

Donaldson’s father, Mark, said he expects his 16-year-old daughter to continue resetting the standard and setting an example for others to follow.

“I’m so proud,” Mark Donaldson said. “We’re gonna be competing in NASKA this year, which is basically the NFL of sport karate, so we’ll be going after Junior Pro.”

Donaldson continues to defy her bullies and self-doubt.

“Never underestimate yourself,”Donaldson said. You can always go above and beyond.”