Mihir Murthi, 13, competes at the U.S. Karate Nationals in Florida.

The word karate may mean "empty hand," but a Massachusetts karate team recently back from the U.S. Karate Nationals came home with handfuls of medals.

The team from Boroughs Martial Arts in Westborough competed against 3,700 karate practitioners, winning a total of 33 medals. The Massachusetts team fielded 30 adults and children, including five Indian Americans. They are: Pranay Pherwani of Shrewsbury, Athreya Ramesh of Westborough, Akshay Alamuri of Shrewsbury and brothers Arya and Mihir Murthi of Westborough.

Eric Rossini, sensei at Boroughs, and his team joined up with karate practitioners from across the country for three days of competition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

For several in the group, it was their first time taking part in a national competition.

"It's a very quick-growing organization," said Rossini of the USA National Karate-do Federation, which sponsored the national competition. He estimates that the number of contestants at this year's competition increased about 20 percent over last year.

This year marks the eighth trip in 15 years teaching karate that Rossini has made to the nationals, and only the second time he's gone with such a large group.

Rossini's students showcased their skills in the Shotokan karate discipline, a style steeped in quick, precise movements that makes it a "very linear, straightforward type of karate," Rossini said. "They're not out there whaling on one another," he said, likening the gracefulness of Shotokan to the delicacy of fencing.

Above: Arya Murthi of Westborough competes in the U.S. Karate Nationals in Florida. Below: Akshay Alamuri, 10, of Shrewsbury poses with the gold medal he won at the U.S. Karate Nationals competition in Florida.

Rossini put his students through a rigorous regimen of drills four to five times per week for months leading up to the competition.

Students were also asked to ramp up the amount of time spent in the dojo practicing during a three-day intensive training camp Rossini instituted in the weeks leading up to the competition. Students practiced from nine in the morning until about three in the afternoon, stopping only for lunch and short, periodic breaks throughout the day.

Akshay Alamuri, one of Rossini's students, tried the Tae Kwan Do style of martial art before settling on Shotokan.

The swiftness of offensive moves often showcased in Shotokan karate keeps Akshay excited and engaged in learning his craft.

Akshay, who is 10, said he appreciates Rossini's careful instruction and that the sensei takes the time to explain each maneuver in detail and breaks it down until each member of the class is comfortable with every lesson.

"[Sensei] doesn't just try to get [the instruction] in," said Akshay.

Akshay describes Rossini as lighthearted, with a seemingly endless supply of jokes at the ready to help banish shyness or hesitation from his students, some as young as 6 years old.

"He makes jokes, but at the same time he's teaching us techniques," said Akshay. His younger brother, Ajay, 6, is one of Rossini's youngest pupils, but did not compete in Florida.

The mixture of fun and discipline proved beneficial for the brown belt.

Akshay, who won a gold medal in his age group, said he ran into a particularly formidable opponent.

Athreya Ramesh of Westborough launches a kick.

"Most of the time when kids kick, they have their arms out and I get a punch in," he said, while demonstrating the maneuver in his Shrewsbury apartment. His top opponent in Florida, however, hid his moves well.

Despite all his preparation, 11-year-old Westborough resident Arya Murthi said he was surprised at his success. After several rounds of competition, the brown belt won a bronze medal in Florida.

"Fighting five matches made it more thrilling," he said, noting that he was sorry for another competitor who, due to an error in processing his registration, did not get to compete.

Arya's older brother, 13-year-old Mihir, is also a Borough's student. Mihir, whose strong suit is his counterpunch, said the competition was fierce this year.

Mihir's toughest opponent was more agile on his feet than pre-competition rumors let on.

"It was extremely hard to pin him down. [His] aim is not to telegraph any [move he's about to make]," Mihir added.