What does a black belt mean to me?

Receiving a black belt was always a dream for me from a white belt to now. To me it symbolizes an accomplishment. At first I just wanted to show but then I realized the love and affection I have for martial arts. I saw it wasn’t made to be a trophy it was an item with a significant meaning you must earn. The many black belts Iíve seen wear their belts with pride. They earn it and are proud to have. I hope that someday I’d be able to show that pride to others.

A black belt is reminder of ones infinite potential. As I continue to work on self-discipline, focus and physical conditioning I have learned to be true to myself, work with my limitations, push myself beyond my current limits and do it all with pride. Although my journey has not been easy, it has come to show an acceptance of who I am and a quest of who I want to become. A black belt is also about learning to take responsibility.

As a black belt people should already know what and what not to do. For example if you’re pressured into drinking you should know that you shouldn’t do it and say no. Also if you see someone getting bullied doesn’t just pass by and ignore him/her. Tell the teacher, principal, or nearest adult. Lying isn’t good, so if you did something make sure you tell the truth. Telling the truth can set you free.

A black belt to me is about discipline and self-control. When I started karate I was very reckless and accident-prone. As continued to learn more I started to have move control of my body. Discipline is something very important to. Discipline is learning to obey rules or having a good behavior. Without discipline children and adults would grow up without and respect for others and themselves.Black Belt also means determination. It takes a lot of determination to earn a Black Belt. A determined martial artist will constantly practice and perfect their techniques while an unmotivated martial artist will get frustrated or bored with it and give up. Iíve been practicing my forms and techniques for almost a half an hour every day! Throughout my journey I have realized that only an individual with lots of determination can achieve maturity and proficiency in the art.

There is no definite meaning for Black Belt. It varies from person to person, or from Black Belt to Black Belt. I believe someone cannot fully understand what earning a Black Belt means to them until they go through years of training. Only now can I say that to me Black Belt means hard work and determination. In the beginning I thought earning a Black Belt would be easy, but now I know better. Iíve realized that Black Belt is something you have to work hard for and has to be something you really want and keeps you motivated for the rewarding end result. If not anything else, it will certainly be something to I will always remember and be proud of achieving.

BY: Ajani Adrea (Amerikick Park Slope)

Black belt for me is not just a black belt. It is a journey. There is knowledge, experience, determination, and more behind that belt. I started karate because I had no hobbies to do. I quit soccer, the dream sport of my family, and I had nothing but school and the TV in my room. I had to find something that would become more of a hobby for me.

At only nine years old, some things were limited. I was very picky decisions and I was the type who absolutely hated to do new things. However, I finally found something that could please my needs: karate. Amerikick Karate was not only physically healthy on me, but also mentally healthy on me unlike other sports and hobbies. Plus, I loved the culture of karate and its background too.

So when I started attending Amerikick Karate, I knew that this was not only the hobby, but the lifestyle, that I needed. From that point that I started 5 and half years ago, my entire life has changed. I went through good times, with nine belts and a stronger mind and body, and bad times, with a serious knee injury.

However, all of those good times and bad times are all considered memories. So where do add up all of those memories? I am going to make my black belt represent all of those memories. Which shows that black belt to me is a journey, filled with determination, self-confidence, learning, injury, revival, and accomplishments.

Black belt represents those memories, and those memories will be wrapped around my waist. Towards my next degree, I am planning to achieve more knowledge because I feel that I could still learn a lot more on my quest for success in karate. Black belt is not just an ending but it is also a beginning, and with new beginnings learning is needed to always become better.

I would also like to achieve more confidence, in which just like learning, confidence will always make you better and people always will achieve more confidence as they grow. Confidence also can help me achieve more mentally and physically, because without confidence, how could you achieve anything? Finally, of course I would like to achieve success and when I mean success I mean success in any forms.

Whether it is mastering a jump kick, or being able to do a full split, success is vital to me. With success, not only do you also achieve confidence too, but you also achieve knowledge, you achieve determination for more success, you achieve gratitude, and you also achieve growth, and with growth, you always do better for more success. So success is what I mainly want to achieve because when you achieve success, you achieve so much more with it. Success is the reason that I will be able to achieve my black belt. Success is the reason why I am at this point in karate.

Success is what I am planning to achieve for me. Antonio Carollo

There are many things I have learned since I passed the test and earned my Amerikick  black belt. One of the first things I learned was that you never truly stop  learning. Getting my junior black belt was just the beginning.

I learned many  more techniques, as well as refining the ones I have already learned. It has  taken enormous amounts of inner strength and dedication to get to where I am  now. When I reflect, it shocks and amazes me all at the same time. I have  learned more Katas and I have grown more knowledgeable. But these are just some  of the physical aspects of karate that I have learned since I gained my black  belt. There are many more life lessons and principles that I have learned. I can  apply them in my life as well as in karate.

One  of the most important lessons I have learned is control. It has taught me to  control myself when I’m angry. Bad things happen, and people can be mean. That  is just a fact of life. The lessons I learned in karate help me control myself  if some people bully me so I don’t freak out and say or do something I will  regret. Karate has taught me I don’t need to hurt someone to win. It has helped  me become a smarter and better fighter, and also a better person in  general.

Another  important lesson I learned is dedication. In a sense, I already had it. I  wouldn’t have made it this far. I knew many people who quit after getting their  junior, or who stopped at red. Getting my junior black belt just showed me how  much farther I could go, and how hard it would be. I learned that it was really  just the beginning. And if I wanted to continue I would have to be dedicated  since there was still so much to learn. In school,this skill has kept me on  track for projects and for homework as well. If I didn’t have the dedication to  my work, I wouldn’t be a distinguished honor roll student at all. For these  reasons, this may be one of the most important lessons I have  learned.

Another  thing that I have learned is how to prioritize my time and what I do. Karate has  taught me that if I want to succeed at something, I have to make it a priority.  I could have gone to a birthday party, but instead I went to karate. This lesson  has also been important in school. It has taught me to organize my time and put  my work first.

I  have learned many skills and lessons since I got my black belt. Not only have  these skills helped me in karate, but also in my school and everyday life. I can  only apply these lessons I have learned and acquire new ones. I will continue to  work and learn and be the best that I can be.

Josh Gold  will begin his test for his next belt this Saturday at Amerikick in Warminster  PA 215-343-2378!   

Good luck Josh!

What does a black belt mean to me? It means the world to me. It all started when I was almost 4 years old and my mom took me to a free demonstration class. It wasn’t Amerikick but I liked it so much I asked my mother to sign me up right away.

I spent the next year and a half at the Little Gym. I loved it so much I worked my way up to an Orange Belt. I thought I was on my way, but my Sensei Tim decided to move away and it was too far for me to go. Then we looked around town and found Amerikick Marlton, NJ.

My new Sensei was Chris Molaris. He was very nice but told me I would have to start over as a white belt. I was very disappointed and I even thought about quitting. My mother told me that I was not a quitter and she said if I didn’t like it after a month I could stop going.

I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone, but after 2 classes I loved it very much but I never thought I was going to become a black belt or to have come this far. The experience has been amazing and I don’t want it to stop it.

Karate is a place to overcome your fear with bullies. That happened to me. Some kids would push me around, but now since I’ve been taking karate the kids won’t mess with me anymore.

Karate is the place where I can get all of my problems out or if I had a bad day it really helps me forget all of it. A black belt means the world to me because I know to come this far is amazing.

What I am planning to achieve on my journey to the next degree. I am planning to get to senior black belt and teach the classes for the little kids and be a role model to all of the little girls. I want to enter higher divisions in tournaments and travel to different states, maybe even countries.

A reason why I come to karate every day is because of my sensei Anthony Difilippo. He is my favorite sensei of all time. He has made karate so much fun and has taught me everything I need to know about karate and the techniques. He has gotten me so far and I couldn’t thank him enough. I want to make him proud by achieving my black belt. I also want to become a master at my Bo staff and perfect my creative kata. I have won a lot of times in the creative kata division but I want to take it up a notch and fix minor errors.

I really hope that when I pass my black belt test I can share it with my class and everyone will admire and respect me and some people might even look up to me for what I have accomplished.

This will make me want to even work harder to achieve more goals. Karate has changed my life and I hope to go higher in karate and pass my black belt testing.

I never gave up, and I never surrendered.

Very truly yours,

Adriana Shannon

Age 10

I thought receiving my junior black belt was the best thing ever, and then I received my letter to test for senior black belt. It made me think again about what a black belt means to me.

It means I have taken another step towards black belt excellence. I have been working my entire life basically to get my black belts.

I started karate at Amerikick when I was three years old because there was nothing in my town for me to do at that age. I thought it would be a short process and I would quit within a few months. Here I am nine years later testing for my senior black belt.

My black belt has helped me in so many aspects of my life, like baseball, school and everything else in some way.

I started baseball when I was nine years old and couldn’t throw the ball from second base to third base. So I applied myself, practiced and built up my strength. Now I play on the same size field as the MLB players and I am an excellent third baseman.

I never stopped trying and working hard and that’s what black belts do. They never stop learning and working towards new goals. A few months after I received my junior black belt, I approached Sensei Nick and asked him if I could help out in classes. Right now I keep lines straight, sometimes hold bags and learn from watching how the other sensei’s work with the kids. Eventually I’d like to lead the kids in katas and techniques and teach my own class.

My interest in helping out all started with when my little sister, who is a red right now, asked me for help with her katas and techniques. I felt so good being able to help her, I realized that’s what a black belt does; uses their knowledge to help others.

Another direction I am going in my black belt training is performing at belt graduations. I have always looked up to one of our sensei’s who uses the bo staff. He would perform and I would stare in awe of him.

Now that I perform as I look into the crowd and see the little kids looking at ME in awe like I used to look at Sensei Duncan. It is such a good feeling when kids want to be just like you, and you can tell by the way they look at you.

As a black belt you become more of a role model to the younger belt levels. It’s an honor knowing I’m one of those role models. In all my training one of the main things I have learned is that if you put your mind to it something it can be done no matter how challenging.

You can always achieve your goals through hard work and perseverance. I would like to thank all of my sensei’s for all of their help and support they have given throughout my martial arts career this far. Thank you from Aaron Swift.

Address: 117 Washington Ave. North Haven CT 06473

Phone: 203-239-2200

Email: bonniezitomer@yahoo.com

Amerikick Karate Pittsburgh
2340 E. Carson St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
1-888-434-0104

For parents who want to help their children to be their best in life often want to encourage them to excel. There are many areas a child can excel in, much of this depends on their passions and skills. While some parents may not know exactly what areas are best for a child, others can see quite early one where their child’s gifts are.

Some children may be very active, but show no definitive sense of drive in any particular area. But other children do show a particular affinity for sports, or the more creative outlets. However, most children can find a world of enhancement in their physical skills and the mental discipline if they become involved in some type of organized activity that involves movement.

For children who hunger to become involved in something exciting that will bring them to a whole new level of skills, Karate Classes is the answer. Karate is a wonderful way for children to learn self-discipline, drive, and skill. In fact the benefits of Karate for the average child can be many. It is a widely known self-esteem builder, self-discipline builder as well as being great at enhancing a sense of physical well-being for a child. Try free karate classes today!

With the multi-level skill building in Karate, children have many opportunities to grow into excellence. With each acquired Karate belt level, children have many opportunities to feel a sense of accomplishment and grow in their sense of self-discipline. No matter what age a child is when they start Karate, it can be the “right” age. Groups in differing levels consist of children of all ages, so no child feels left out, or left behind. The focus of the instructor is to always enhance each child as an individual for their particular level of physical ability. No child is ever ostracized, no matter what their level of skill is. This fact alone can help any child feel welcome and accepted in the circle of Karate teachings.

Karate lessons were the first steps to a new outlook on life. When I was a child, I took Karate to be able to defend myself. As I got older and continued to practice what I learned, I begun to realize that it had a larger impact on my life. It built up my muscles and kept me strong. However, my brain got stronger than my body.

A Karate lesson is similar to a fun workout that involves important lessons behind what you are doing. While I was working out, I would release all my frustrations and stress in a safe manner. Exercise is a natural form of stress relief which helped me develop my calm demeanor that I now have. It was great as a kid due to being able to vent my stress and learn patience. Karate teaches you more than any workout ever will about patience, respect and hard work. It was a founding block in my childhood for becoming who I am today.

By the time I attained a black belt, I had learned to treat people who were much different from me with high levels of respect. It had taught me to work under someone else and with them for our similar goals. All of this started with a free class that I had attended at the local dojo. Anyone can start with Karate to attain a black belt as I did. You will learn everything you need to succeed through Karate. The work will be fun, so you won’t find yourself being bored during your classes. Often, you will be wondering where the time went. You can find out more, sign up today! It will only take a couple of minutes of your time. If you submit a contact form, you will receive a free karate lesson to give it a go.

I want to be remembered as the one who gave his all whenever he was on the field. – Walter Payton

Work on a fast and exciting kick combination. It’s one of the most dynamic weeks we do, because to be a great kicker, takes a lot of work and practice. Here are a few things you can do to improve your kicks.

1. Stretch – Don’t just save stretching for when you are in karate class. Do the stretches as soon as you wake up, right after school or work and once more before you go to bed. Your improvement will be dramatic!

2. Chamber – Great kicks start and finish with a great chamber. On every kick focus on puling your chamber in as tight as possible. At home practice holding your leg in a high chamber position for as long as you can.

3. Pad Rhythm Drill – When you are kicking the paddles, you should “hear” a quick slap with each kick. Try to listen to that rhythm and work hard to create a faster beat. The important part is in between kicks, get the first kick down quickly and “pop” the next kick up as fast as you can.

ARE YOU AN AMERIKICK BLACK BELT?
Then you are invited to Amerikick Black Belt training 7:30 pm Monday at the BRAND NEW Amerikick Warminster 1047 County line Rd Warminster PA 18974  215-343-2378

AMERIKICK BLACK BELT EXTRAVAGANZA
Sunday Dec. 2nd  230pm  Collingswood NJ  Scottish Rite theater.  Tickets $5, $10 and $15. Tickets on Sale Now 1-866-38- KARATE or 1856-757-0300