This past December, I set a new testing requirement for my black belt students... a standard, more or less, that will help them develop both physically and mentally. Being a martial artist is a continued process that the student partakes, encountering stumbling blocks, lessons, and bruises along the way. It is during this, that the diligent practitioner can flourish on many levels. Increased stamina, flexibility, strength, and speed are all physical attributes that can be achieved through training. Confidence, humility, leadership, patience, and respect for self and others are all attainable through this persistence. The latter list, of course, is oftentimes more lengthy to develop. Both physical and mental benefits of martial arts training, much like any undertaking, are always a work in progress.
The new goals in which I have set for my black belt students serve to help them realize their potential for not only better athletic ability, but for leadership and compassion as well. Each student listed below will be testing for their respective degree of black belt on March 14th at New Edge Martial Arts. Aside from their years of dedication as long time students of mine, they are stepping above and beyond... choosing their own personal fitness goal as well as a community service task to complete before their physical, verbal, and written tests next month. I am very proud of each and every one of them.
Billy Dubay
Age: 15
Testing For: Black Belt
Fitness Goal: 25 pull ups a day, in addition to studying his patterns and
testing techniques every day prior to testing.
Community Service Goal: Billy has pledged to help his mom and neighbors with their
trash as well as snow removal during the winter.
Bio: Billy has been training at New Edge for six years. He has grown through
so many changes during his time in the martial arts, overcoming techniques that require
flexibility, memory, and agility with continued diligent practice as well as private lessons with Master Cindie New. Each and every year brings forth an improvement with Billy's skills, and I dare say he is one of the school's most improved students from start to finish. A welcoming personality, Billy accepts each new student with open arms and a willingness to lend a hand. He has oftentimes assisted with classes at the school, which I, as well as the other instructors and students, are very grateful for. I am very proud of his accomplishments and know that he will make an exceptional addition to the black belt group at New Edge Martial Arts.
Mackenzie Ford
Age: 13
Testing For: Black Belt
Fitness Goal: Mackenzie has pledged to take up snowboarding as a new activity.
Community Service Goal: Mackenzie has offered up her time, at her young age, to teach
classes at New Edge on Monday nights. She recently proved herself, as she taught two new
blue belts their patterns in ten minutes, which they memorized correctly.
Bio: Mackenzie has been a mainstay at New Edge Martial Arts for four years, continuously
challenging herself and making her movements as precise as possible. She has overcome
several obstacles in the form of fear and pain on the competition floor, but has
yet to give up and quit. Mackenzie has a strong sense of determination, and it has paid off for her.
She is a strong student and competitor, going up against boys her age at times when there
has been a lack of females to compete against at events. Like Billy, her deputy black belt peer,
she has volunteered her services at New Edge. Compassionate, friendly, cheerful, and ever dedicated,
I am very proud of her accomplishments and know she will make a great black belt.
Sara Brown
Age: 15
Testing For: 2nd Poom/Degree Black Belt
Fitness Goal: Running a mile a day and persisting to test despite suffering a recent broken arm
Community Service Goal: Sara has pledged to offer her services to various teachers
at her high school, as well as to volunteer at her church.
Bio: Sara is one of my Charter Member students, being at the school for close to nine years. During this time, I have been honored each and every day to have her in the academy. Sara is a constant source of positivity to her peers and instructors, and has a natural athletic ability that sets a good
pace for her fellow students to follow. She is a dedicated student, as testament to the fact that, even though just suffering a broken arm, she still plans on testing for her 2nd Degree Black Belt. She is
strong in the ring and crisp with her forms technique. Sara has also taken up more of a leadership
role this past year at the school, assisting in demonstrations, volunteering in classes, and judging/score keeping at tournaments. New Edge is proud to have Sara Brown as a student and black belt.
Benjamin Rappolee
Age: 15
Testing For: 3rd Poom/Degree Black Belt
Fitness Goal: Benjamin has pledged to pursue extra core and cardio activities each day prior to testing, and has also made a goal to participate in more self defense and Hap Ki Do classes per week.
Community Service Goal: Ben has offered his services at Gleaners, which is a food bank for the needy.
Bio: Ben is the longest remaining student at New Edge Martial Arts, having trained for nearly 9 years, and being the 8th student I have ever instructed in the martial arts. Ben is a very intelligent young man, be it at school or in the training hall. He has always used this to his advantage, memorizing forms and studying his opponents' movements to give him the upper hand. He also been gifted with speed, flexibility, and agility... as can be seen while he performs his acrobatic flying kicks across the mat. Ben is a hard worker and is dedicated to the martial arts, having returned more than once after suffering a sports-related injury. He has recently become more of a leader
at the school, specifically when working together with the lower ranking black belts in the
advanced class. I am extremely proud of him, and look forward to seeing him, as well as
the other students, test for their black belts on March 14, 2014.
