Tuesday, June 7, 2011

I'm a Black Belt!

Today I am going to be telling you about my black belt test which happened on June 4, 2011. I stopped going to a karate place that I had went to for four years, and went to a new karate/MMA place that my favorite sensei opened up. His name is Sensei Trever. Since a lot of students followed Sensei Trever to his new  MMA place, and were really close to getting a black belt in Shotokan karate at our previous karate place, he trained us for about five months, and we tested for our Shotokan black belts. Sensei Trever put together an amazing panel.
The panel was: Dave Hebler (10th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate and Elvis Presley's bodyguard), Shaun Hester (3rd Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate), Peter Cunningham (7 Time World Champion Kickboxer and Movie Star), Leandor Manabe (3rd Degree Black Belt in Chou Lay Fut Kung Fu), James Gavsie (2nd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and my sensei's business partner), Fred Mergen (4th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate), Eric Valente (2nd Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate), Steve Holden (5th Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate and my sensei's teacher), and last, and best, Trever Sherman (5th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate and my trainer).
I tested with my friends Brandon, Alyssa, Maya, Diego, Harlow, Tabitha, Jennifer, Natalie, Ian, and Juliette. Before the test, Steve Holden was setting up where the panel was going to sit. He brought out a big dummy that probably weighs as much as me. Then, he threw it at me. I caught it, but it knocked me over. About twenty minutes later, he was walking around and said "you know what I like to do before a test?". Then, he took my friend Brandon down. A few minutes later, he did it again.
The test was great! We did Punches, Kicks, Katas, Sparring, and Self Defense Moves. I got a huge certificate, a signed picture of Elvis Presley and his bodyguard doing karate, a signed picture of Peter Cunningham and Christian Bale from the movie, The Fighter, and of course, my black belt.
Thank you to everyone on the panel, my parents, the rest of my family, and mostly Sensei Trever! I couldn't of done it without you!
Here is a picture of my black Belt:
Photo taken by my sister, Lexi.
Have you ever taken a karate class?
What style was it?
Did you get your black belt?

11 comments:

Lexi said...

Dear Jaden,

Once I tried a class at your old place. It was very fun, but I got a little nervous and left the dojo after about two minutes. I remember that you were sempaing that class. Do you remember sempaing that class?

From,
Lexi (Your sister)

Mrs. Yollis said...

Dear Jaden,

Congratulations on your achievement! Wow!

I must say, that was quite a panel that Sensei Trever put together. Steve Holden sure sounds like a mischievous guy! :-) Were all the judges wearing their black belts, too?

What was the most challenging part of the test for you? What happens if a student don't pass the test?

Your proud teacher,
Mrs. Y♥llis

Jaden said...

Dear Mrs. Yollis,

Thank you!

I agree that it was a great panel that Sensei Trever put together. All the people on the panel were wearing their outfit and their black belts, too.

The most challenging part of the test for me was doing the katas because each of the five had at least sixteen moves in it. If a student didn't pass the test they would train for the Shotokan test Sensei Trever is holding later this year for the kids that joined later, but I dought that would ever happen because Sensei Trever would NEVER let you test if you did not know EVERYTHING you needed to know.

I forgot to mention that I am currently an orange belt in American Kenpo Karate. Last Thursday I got my third stripe, and still did not know any of the six self-defense moves I needed to know for purple belt. Currently, I think I know five, but I might know six, so if I make sure I know the sixth tommorrow, I can pass it off to get the stripe and then be in the next test which is probably this Saturday. Have you ever watched someone do a karate class?

From,
Jaden

Gregg said...

Dear Jaden,

I have never taken karate but I love watching you! Your black belt test was amazing. The best part before the test was when Steve Holden threw the dummy at you. You were laughing for 3 minutes straight. I also loved when you and Brandon were sparring and you did a somersault (apparently without knowing). I am very proud of you! you are an amazing young mixed martial artist.

Love,

Dad

Jaden said...

@ Dad,

I also love having you watch my classes. Also, I agree that the black belt test was amazing. Sensei Trever said that on Monday and Tuesday. I disagree with you because you said that Steve Holden throwing the dummy at me was the best part, but it hurt my neck. In my opinion, that was the worst part. I need to watch the test at home to make sure you're not kidding about the somersault. Without any thinking, I agree that I am an amazing youg mixed martial artist. I should be the karate kid in the next karate kid movie! ☺

Sincerely,
Jaden

Anonymous said...

Dear Jaden,
Congratulations on receiving your black belt! I have taken karate before, and I stopped at a blue belt. in my opinion, I did not like it. Instead of karate, I'm running cross country.

From,
Andrew

Misha said...

Dear Jaden,

Congratulations on getting a black belt in Karate. I am guessing that it was hard to get your Black Belt. When you got knocked over by the big dummy, did it hurt? What was the dummy made of? My sister doesn’t take karate, but she takes Krav Maga. Have you ever heard of Krav Maga?

From,
Misha

Jaden said...

@ Andrew,
Thank you. In your karate what was the belt order? The belt order at my karate is: white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, advanced green, brown, advanced brown, black. I remember you telling me that you ran cross country. How much more do you like running cross country than karate?

From,
Jaden

Anonymous said...

Dear Jaden,

Well done upon getting your black belt. This is the icing on the cake for all your hard work!

I did start a dojo here in Leopold but I have stopped at this moment for I hurt myself and need sometime to recover.
Am not to sure if I will be going back.
In saying this I really did love going. This sport does require a great deal of strenght and discipline. Discipline I do have but strenght I don't seem to have.
May be I need to work on that one.


Great work once again Jaden you should be so proud of yourself.

From AA.

Jaden said...

@ Misha,

Thank you for commenting on my blog. It was very hard to get my black belt. I had to train day and night. For two days the week before the test and the two days before the test, I had a pretest from 7:00 PM-8:00 PM. It hurt my neck a little when I got knocked over by the dummy. I do not know what the dummy was made of. I have never heard of Krav Maga. What is Krav Maga?

Sincerely,
J☺den

♥Miriam♥ said...

Dear Jaden,

Congragulations! It must be so exciting being a black belt.

I don't do karate because I have a lot of other activites that I do like track and field, piano, ballet, swimming, and tennis.

On Saturday, I saw the Karate Kid. Have you seen this movie? I think you would like it.

From,
♥Miriam♥