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“I hereby confirm upon you the rank of Shodan-ho, Black Belt Interim,
in the Goju Shin-Ryu karate-do.”
These words, spoken to hundreds of black belts over the past
23 years, were spoken once more on January 16, 2016, to a group of 13 young men
and women, ranging from age 10 to 58.
The rank of Black Belt refers to a level of competency
achieved by very few students in the martial arts. In fact, about 1% of martial
artists nationwide who ever start the martial arts ever reach the level of
Black Belt.
Hence, the level of Black Belt is a rank taken very
seriously in the martial arts. It goes
far beyond merely learning the techniques of the martial arts and being in
excellent physical shape, but more importantly the life skills and character of
a black belt. As training progresses in
the higher ranks, the martial arts becomes more and more about a stronger
calling – the molding of oneself into a better person, not only in the kata and
sparring, but in confidence, self-discipline, and honor.
However, the study of martial arts does not end at Black
Belt. As Shihan Wenneberg, founder of
Goju Shin-Ryu and 7th degree Black Belt has taught us, ‘one becomes
the expert only to return to the novice.’
Throughout the martial arts, Black Belt is considered a level of strong
competency of the basics, not a master or an expert. It is only through continued training that a Black
Belt reaches a level of mastery.
American Martial Arts Academy is proud to welcome 13 new
Black Belts to the Goju Shin-Ryu Black Belt Family:
- Sempai Serena Bomar, age 10
- Sempai Ava Kukula, age 10
- Sempai Nathan Nguyen, age 11
- Sempai Anthony Kharrat, age 12
- Sempai Katherine So, age 13
- Sempai Justin Reyes, age 12
- Sempai Mia Rangel, age 12
- Sempai Nathan Matthews, age 13
- Sempai Justyna Lane, age 12
- Sempai Kevin Garcia, age 13
- Sempai Zachary Bush, age 14
- Sempai Robert Augustine, age 16
- Mr. Ed Jubenville, age 58
Also, congratulations to those Senior Black Belts who tested
for a higher level of Black Belt.
- Mr. Adam Rigsby, Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt)
- Sensei Deere, Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt)
- Sensei Wenneberg, Yondan (4th Degree Black Belt)
- Sensei Joshi, Yondan (4th Degree Black Belt)
