The father Vincenzo, children Francesco, Terryana, Orsola, Karol, Giusy and also the mother Antonella who follows them and encourages them to achieve on the tatami or on a football field what the sporting challenges reserve for them. And the results between titles and medals achieved in Italy and abroad confirm that the people of Basilicata have in unity, perseverance and humility that desire to emerge, which prevails in the end even when others have preferential lanes and forget that objectives are achieved with sacrifice and with “smile training, as reported on page 9 of the book “A family of champions. The D’Onofrio brothers, Lucanian legend of Karate”, published by Altrimedia. A work co-written by colleagues Rossella Montemurro and Filippo Radogna, who collaborate together in the online magazine Tuttoh24, and who breathe sport, adventure and simple but highly committed stories as emerges from the books they have written individually for other contexts. It is a work that can be read (we do it in installments in spare time) almost in one breath and which, beyond the many results achieved from the D’Onofrio family – which is such a part of the history of Sant’Arcangelo (Potenza) – is striking for the foresight of father Vincenzo who introduced his children to sports. Thus Karate, which inevitably leads to martial arts, judo and oriental culture, may seem “foreign” to the thoughts and customs of the people of Basilicata. This is not the case because silence, concentration, determination and the desire to assert themselves have so much in common with that discipline gyms from all over the world up to the Olympic blue – let’s summarize – is the confirmation of what we say.
The D’Onofrios are determined people who look within themselves and around themselves and throw their hearts and passion beyond life’s obstacles. What Francesco, one of the many men of the State Police in his life, did to save the “others” during the explosion of a fuel depot in Rome is worth the medal of solidarity. In the bulletin board of this hero of the D’Onofrio family there are also the titles, trophies and records of the sisters. We will not list them, leaving the reader the pleasure of discovering and appreciating them given that the list is destined to increase in 2026. A legacy to leave to their children and parents, father Vincenzo and mother Antonella, who await another generation of athletes…Time after time. The results, sooner or later, arrive. Patience, tenacity and humility are needed as in karate, but also in football where goals are the result of preparation and the desire to emerge. We await the athletes from the D’Onofrio home in Matera for the presentation of the book, as soon as possible. But certainly before October 25th, the world anniversary of karate, or for one of the many dates that will characterize the year of Matera, Mediterranean capital of culture and friendship with Tetouan (Morocco).
PRESS RELEASE
Altrimedia Edizioni publishes
A family of champions. The D’Onofrio brothers, Lucanian karate legend
of journalists Filippo Radogna and Rossella Montemurro.
The preface is by the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi
Altrimedia Edizioni has just published A family of champions. The D’Onofrio brothers, Lucanian karate legend (Altrimedia Edizioni, preface by the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi) by journalists Filippo Radogna and Rossella Montemurro.
At the center of the publication are Francesco, Terryana, Orsola, Giusy and Karol Maria who had from their father Vincenzo D’Onofrio – 7th dan black belt, coach and former teacher of the FIJLKAM national school – that imprinting that allowed them to successfully channel themselves into sport.
“Probably – the authors write – it was written in destiny that the D’Onofrio brothers would have made sport, a very strong passion, a life choice. Jokingly, but not too much, father Vincenzo states that ‘they were born in the family gym’. Vincenzo is a man of one piece, accustomed to rigor and discipline – indispensable qualities when practicing sport at certain levels. But also, and above all, a father in a dual role that is not at all easy, yet carried out in the best possible way. A load not indifferent emotional, for him, together with the great satisfaction that his champions continue to give him”.
Francesco successfully trod the international tatami, winning the university world championships in 2018 before joining the police – last July 5th in Rome he was seriously injured on duty, while valiantly providing assistance to some people during an explosion -, Terryana is the European karate champion and bronze medalist at the 2025 World Championships (third in the World Karate Federation World Ranking), Orsola, team bronze medalist in 2025 at the absolute European Championships, is following in the footsteps of her older sister while Giusy and Karol, who distinguished themselves in karate as children, today are respectively the president of the Asd Cam D’Onofrio association and a young football talent. Next to them, discreetly, is mother Antonella, always ready to intercept any anxieties and worries and to tone things down when needed.
“The path of each brother – writes Minister Abodi in the preface – is a unique testimony, each with a different story, but united by courage, discipline and determination.
A family of champions teaches us that success is not synonymous with fanfare, but the result of a silent journey made of effort, sacrifices and, above all, a profound respect for oneself, for others and for one’s roots.”
In A family of champions there are the interventions of the mayor of Sant’Arcangelo Salvatore La Grotta, the president of CONI Basilicata Giovanni Salvia and the president of the Basilicata FIJLKAM Regional Committee Giuseppe Attico, as well as the most beautiful photos of the D’Onofrio brothers.
Filippo Radogna was born in Matera, where he lives and works. He graduated in Political Science and specialized in Public Relations at the University of Bari. Official of the Basilicata Region, professional journalist, former editor of the Press Office of the Regional Council, among the various newspapers he has collaborated with the newspapers L’Umanità, il Corriere del Giorno and Roma. He currently writes for the online newspaper La Nuova del Sud and the online newspaper TuttoH24. He has published essays on history and current affairs and has received several literary awards. With the anthology of short stories The Enigma of Pythagoras and other stories (Altrimedia) he won the 2017 “Ernesto Vegetti” Critics’ Award. He was awarded the 2025 “Renato Carpentieri” Award for sports journalism.
Rossella Montemurro, professional journalist. Graduated in Educational Sciences, she has worked for numerous newspapers. He currently directs the online newspaper TuttoH24 (www.tuttoh24.info). He published I giorni di Scanzano for Ediesse Edizioni in 2004 (recommendation by the Jury of the Basilicata Literary Prize, 2005); for BMG Editrice in 2010 Carabinieri in Matera. Tradition and modernity at the service of citizens, publication authorized by the General Command of the Carabinieri; for Altrimedia Kicks and punches on the roof of the world, My dive into dreams (awarded in September 2022 at the Capitol with the “Rome rewards social culture” award) and Galloping against the wind. In 2025 he published Io sono Drago for Zoraide Editore. Giuseppe Colapinto: the Arabian dream.
