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?

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Did you get your black belt?

Karate Test

On Saturday, I had a belt test at my karate.  I do a style that combines Shotokan and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Right now, we are doing a big kata.  It is called the Thunder Kata.  I tested for my 2nd brown belt. Here is a picture of my 2nd brown belt:

I have been doing karate for around four years.  Here is the story of how I became an expert at karate:

One day, my mom asked me if I wanted to do karate.  At that point, I was only four years old.  Before I started karate, my mom and I had been walking in and looking at kids do karate.  Then I took a free trial class.  I really liked it so I kept on going.

My sensei's were sensei Tom and sensei Andy.  I really liked sensei Tom because he really tried hard to teach you karate and he only played games if we were doing our best.  I learned that the #1 rule in karate is always try your best.  I liked sensei Andy because if we did good for about 20 minutes we would be able to play games for 25 minutes. 

I went to karate with my friends:  Kelly, Ethan, Deven, Dylan and Wyatt. Deven and I are the only ones who still go to karate.  One day, I went to karate with my friend Dylan and there was a new sensei named sensei Trever.  I was sad that sensei Tom and sensei Andy left but now I am happy that sensei Trever came.  Also, sensei Romel came.  He quit after about a year because he is on someTV shows.  Along the way, my senseis Eric, Brandon and Leandro joined the dojo.  Now after 4 years, I just got my 2nd brown belt.  At my dojo, the belt order goes:  white, yellow, orange, blue, purple, green, 1st red, 2nd red, 3rd red, 1st brown, 2nd brown, 3rd brown, black, 2nd black.

Do you do karate?

Do you like karate?

How long have you been doing karate?

What belt are you?