July 2026 HIMAC Winner: HOLDING PUSH-UPS | Hong Ik Martial Arts of Mahwah
HIMA CHAMPION: Holding Push-Ups
Winner: Riaan Shah
Hong Ik Martial Arts of Mahwah is proud to recognize Riaan Shah as the winner of the Hong Ik Martial Arts Champion Award for Pushup Holding. Riaan earned the champion title after an impressive final competition that tested strength, endurance, focus, and determination.
The final round brought together the top three finalists from Hong Ik Martial Arts of Mahwah: Victoria Rizzotti, Maksim Zekster, and Riaan Shah. Each finalist had already distinguished themselves through excellent pushup-holding performance during classes and by consistently completing and submitting their monthly homework charts.
The championship began with 10 pushups featuring three-second holds at both the bottom and top positions. The difficulty then increased to 10 pushups with five-second holds at both positions. For the final series, the competitors performed five pushups with a demanding 10-second hold at the bottom and a five-second hold at the top.
After completing the entire sequence, only Victoria and Riaan remained. The two finalists then faced one final challenge: maintaining the pushup-holding position for as long as possible. Both demonstrated tremendous determination, but eventually Riaan was the last competitor remaining, earning him the title of Pushup Holding Champion.
Riaan currently holds the rank of First Degree Black Belt and is a member of the Hong Ik Martial Arts MUSA Program. He continues to approach his martial arts training with enthusiasm and dedication while steadily progressing as a martial artist.
The Champion Award recognizes more than physical ability. Riaan’s accomplishment reflects the perseverance, discipline, and consistent effort that martial arts training seeks to develop both inside and outside the dojang.
Congratulations to Riaan Shah on an outstanding performance and a well-earned championship, and to Victoria Rizzotti and Maksim Zekster for their excellent performances as finalists!
– Hong Ik Martial Arts of Mahwah