from the July, 2014 issue of Kiai!

TW Promotes Eight Junior Black Belts:
Photos & Essay Excerpts

 

 


Newly promoted Junior Black Belts between Jun Shihan Sarah and Sei Shihan Nancy are Bryce Wolf, Gabrielle Wolf, Kole Deighan (2nd degree black belt) Malia Washington, KJ Hogenson, Alexis Fernando, Aiden Grant and Charles Laszuk.

On Saturday May 10, 2014, seven kids were tested for, and promoted to Junior Shodan (1st degree black belt) and one, Senpai Kole was promoted to Junior Nidan (2nd degree black belt). All have been Thousand Waves students since they were very young.

Here are some photos from their test, along with excerpts from the essays they wrote as a promotion requirement.


In addition to their written test, the Junior Black Belt candidates answered questions on their testing day. In this photo they are lined up in order of how long they have been students at Thousand Waves with the senior, Senpai Kole, on the right.


Thousand Waves teachers looked on with rapt attention.

 

Kole Deighan

Senpai Kole was promoted to the second degree of Junior Black Belt. He was tested on his skill with the bo (long staff) which is taught at first degree Junior Black Belt.

I think that strength is not only something that is measured by how much you can lift or how big your muscles are, but by how you use that strength. If you can lift 5,000 pounds but you do not know how to use that power, you are not strong. But if you can lift only 1 pound but know how to use that to help others, you are truly strong.

True winning is something that you gain whether or not you beat your opponent. You win when you learn something from the match. For example, if you are sparring and every time you opponent strikes to your head your hands are down, you learn that you need to keep your hands up to beat your opponent. You will learn this lesson whether you beat your opponent or not. When you learn lessons like these, that is when you are truly a winner. – Kole Deighan, age 13

 

KJ Hogenson

It was very wonderful having teachers who were so nice but still tough because I knew it was okay to mess up but that I should still try my best. It was also nice to have that sort of atmosphere early on, because it made me comfortable in a relatively new situation. Karate makes you try new things and pushes you out of your comfort zone, which in turn allowed me to adjust to and have new experiences.

The community at Thousand Waves showed me I was beautiful, smart, and worth something. They helped me prove to myself that I was capable of whatever I wanted to do. They loved me and made me feel happy when I couldn't do it for myself. – KJ Hogenson, age 14

 

Charles Laszuk

Before karate, I was nervous around strangers on the street because I feared they could hurt me. Karate has given me the confidence and tools to face situations and also helped me see that there are good strangers as well as bad.

I noticed when I first came to the Thousand Waves dojo that everyone was welcomed. I like that no one is treated more special than anyone else. In fact, I feel that differences between the people at the dojo are celebrated.

When you learn to respect yourself, you learn to respect everyone.
– Charles Laszuk, age 10


Sei Shihan Nancy helps Charles prepare to break a board with his wrist.


Success!

 

Aiden Grant

Karate has taught me to respect other people. At the dojo I learn respect by trying my best and working hard. I respect myself by doing this. Karate has also taught me to get to know people and to get to know them for who they are. All students of karate are learning. Even black belts continue to learn. We respect each other as students of Seido karate. I have learned that there are many different people in the world. If people are caring, hardworking, and they try their best at what they like to do, I have learned to respect them for that.

What I like about Thousand Waves is that no matter how different you are, you all have something in common. We all share the study of Seido karate, and we all live with a code of ethics. Because of that, I have respect for all students at the dojo no matter how different we are from each other. – Aiden Grant, age 11


Aiden (front) and Gabrielle hold Horse Stance.

Click here for an essay by Senpai Aiden's
father on their family's relationship with the Thousand Waves community.


Gabrielle (front) and Aiden challenge
their balance with slow front snap kicks.

 

Gabrielle Wolf 

One time I was asked: how has karate changed your attitude towards others? For me it helped me feel more comfortable around others because now I know I can defend myself if something may happen. It has also helped me to become cautious around others. When I was little I used to say hi to everyone I saw. Now I know who to say hi to and who to steer clear of.

Karate helped me handle the [cyber-bullying] girls by helping me to stay strong and to tell them how I truly feel in a respectful way.

[Karate] is different from a health club. At a health club, you pay a fee and have others clean up after you. In a dojo you pay a modest fee, but you help clean up and everyone is treated the same. No one is superior. – Gabrielle Wolf, age 11


Gabrielle lets her strong spirit shine during her test for Junior Black Belt.

 

Bryce Wolf

Seido helps me to change my attitude towards my family, because I usually bicker with my twin sister. I Take Ten breaths to ignore my sister. This technique also helps with arguments with family members, friends and sometimes in school. If I see an argument, I will try to stop it. I use words for conflict resolution, and not physicality.

I embrace the act of sharing Seido because I like the idea of teaching peace and protecting those who may need help when being bullied or hurt. A great example of spreading Seido was last year in 4th grade, my sister and I shared similar ideas for an expository essay. The essay was about the ranks, sparring, and when you should and shouldn't use Seido Karate. Our essay inspired many to try martial arts.


Bryce is ready to spar.

Karate etiquette has shaped my character because it has helped me mature a little and be disciplined. It has done this for me because I can't be silly in class, which I can do sometimes without recognizing it. – Bryce Wolf, age 11


Bryce blocks Senpai Alena's kick.

 

Alexis Fernando

Karate has made more respectful towards others by having expectations of treating everyone fair, and overall it became a good habit. To this day, karate still has those expectations and I still continue to follow it, not just in the dojo.

[Karate] has helped me be "the bigger person" and see the whole picture in many situations so that things could be resolved in a peaceful way and so that a big argument would not start.

Karate has enabled me to be more relaxed during sparring so that no one gets hurt and everyone can enjoy this aspect of karate.
– Alexis Fernando, age 12

 

Malia Washington

Since starting karate, I am calm, compassionate, and kind. I can tell because I feel that I don't get as angry as fast as I used to.

Everyone at Thousand Waves is like a second family to me. I have become stronger, improved my coordination, and focus. I am able to do things like put my hands up faster when something is coming at me. I work hard to keep my body and mind healthy so I can learn and do more karate.

Karate is a sport because it includes exercise and competition. But karate is not about competition. It is not a sport because it takes a lot of discipline, concentration, and it is being part of a community.
– Malia Washington, age 12


At last, the four-hour test came to an end, and it was time to award the students
their black belts.


The newly promoted black belts turn to receive the applause of the Thousand Waves community.
Click here to see their official group portrait.