what people say about us

Aidan Case 12 years old

As a Black Belt my life has changed I am more confident and proud of what I have become I now know what being a Black Belt is like It’s a time of my life to learn I see obstacles and hardships in life in different ways than other people knowing that I can overcome these struggles I have been through harder parts of life such as my Black Belt Test and I know that the only thing stopping me from doing anything I want is my brain but that doesn’t stop me anymore I now see obstacles as a time to learn and expand my knowledge of the world and myself As a Black Belt I have been through challenges that most people will not face in their lifetimes much less by the age of 12 but Black Belt is about doing extraordinary things and making the most of them You explore your mind and body learning that your limit may be twice as high as you thought Being a Black Belt is about learning You learn how to get better how to pick yourself up when you fall both literally and metaphorically You learn when you are hurt and when you are injured and you learn to tell the difference between the two You have to say to yourself Will this affect me tomorrow or can I push on You learn to push through those times and help others through too As a Black Belt I have also learned how important healthy competition and good friends in the Black Belt testing cycle are Without my friends at the Dojo I might not be a Black Belt Without Sensei Don Anna and Alan by my side pushing me on making me work harder I might not be where I am today This not only applies to friends but family as well My family supported me the whole way on this journey Without this support I might not have even started Karate let alone make it to Red Belt Therefore I thank all my Sensei s training partners family and friends for helping me to reach my goal that I have had for almost 8 years