RANK is a symbol of status, station, position or class. Underscore the word symbol. What rank is not is a manifestation of excellence of what is symbolized as a high status. Simply stated, rank does not equate to excellence, nor does rank equate to a high level of ethics, morality, intelligence or common sense. In this age of COVID, there are some misguided, imperious individuals who erroneously perceive their rank to be an indisputable declaration of unquestionable power and absolute authority.

Ah! 21! It is, arguably, the first great Milestone in any of our lives. One of the Karate Institute of America’s own is adorable Hannah. She is lovely. She is tough. And now she is 21! Hannah’s birthday party was a smashing success. But how does one have a smashing success of a birthday party in this age of COVID? Simple. You have a Zoom birthday party, which is exactly what her parents and family organized for her.

BALANCE—a simple word; a critical concept; a must to master. One of the most important sayings of the Karate Institute of America is “Balance is Primary.” It seems like such a simple phrase, and it is, but it is also one of the most critical of concepts, not just in martial arts, but in every aspect of life. To be quite frank, if we want to have a good life, a positive life, then Balance is a must to master.

Barnyard critters climbing the Wall? What in the world is this all about? Well, it’s about strength, courage, persistence, determination and a relentless “Never-Give-Up” attitude that pervades the Kiado-Ryu spirit. The Wall? Ugh? Yes, the Wall—that vertical edifice that currently contains only 2% of the 3,300 students moving through the KIA’s 41 year history who have reached the level of Black Belt. That percentage translates to only 64 students: 56 males and 8 females.

This is a classic scenario—an Antifa punk attempts a cowardly sucker punch when the man he is accosting turns his head. What happens next is astonishing. It is powerful. Must see. Be sure to read the comments. They’re very cool. As you’re watching this video, ask these questions: What mistake(s) did the Antifa punk make? What mistake(s) did the marine in the white shirt make? What positive thing(s) was the marine in the “Repent” shirt doing?

The Karate Institute of America and the Kiado-Ryu system of martial arts welcome Nolan B., aka “Viper,” to our karate family, as well as his Dad, Eric, his mom, Melissa, and his younger brother, Reed. In one word, Nolan is a stud. Only eight years old, he can knock off 100 sit-ups with aplomb. He loves challenges and defies any thought that he cannot succeed in anything he wants to do.

Steven J. Vertun, aka “Coyote,” is the 39th Black Belt of the Karate Institute of America and the Kiado-Ryu system of martial arts. His performance excellence led him to become the North American Sports Karate Association (NASKA) National kata (forms) Champion in 1993. To achieve this esteemed goal, Steve traveled to thirteen venues throughout the United States, compiling victory after victory, which ultimately led him to be the Best of the Best at his rank in the entire country.

Stavroula Avramidis, “Stav” to her friends, is not just a gal with a gun, she’s the Instructor and Founder of “She Equips Herself”—a business Equipping women with the tools they need to feel safe and confident no matter the situation. https://www.sheequipsherself.com/ Stav is not just a pretty face, she’s an expert shooter with lethal firearm skills. Don’t believe it? Check out this instructional YouTube video where she and her boyfriend, Robert MacQuarrie, aka “Mac,” a former range coach and primary marksmanship instructor for the Marine Corps, discuss sight alignment, trigger control, accuracy and more.

Shaw “Wind” Shahriari is the newest member of the Kiado-Ryu family. Heralding from Tehran—the largest city and capital of Iran—Wind is an extraordinary individual. A business man in the automotive field, Shaw has extensive experience in other martial art styles and is now a solid student of the Karate Institute of America. In the following photo Wind is adorning a white belt as his KIA journey begins. Notice the smile.

It’s awesome how KIA Black Belts remember what they learned during their Kiado-Ryu journey. Here’s a prime example. It’s funny, cogent, but a tad painful to watch. Liz Avram, aka “Quasar,” is the 46th Black Belt of the Karate Institute of America. She received her first dan Ranking on 10 August 1996, not exactly yesterday, but her memory is as sharp as a chef’s cooking knife. Quasar forwarded the following GIF image of a man attempting to mount a horse from the rear.