Here’s a wonderful flashback to the early 1980s and a Saturday morning KIA kids class with instructors Greg “Maddog” Bendel and Rose “Renegade” Hoberg. Rose became the 12th KIA Black Belt; Greg the 14th. How cute these kids were! And they could never be tired out! The ages of these children were 5 to 7. Simply adorable. A couple things of note: This photo was taken at the main studio on the corner of Lambert and Aspen streets in Lake Forest.

KIA Black Belts are diverse individuals. Mike “Shooter” Benedict is one such person. One of his hobbies is being a biker, and he’s placing that “Benedict focus” into a fun and healthy passion. Shooter is the sixty-second Black Belt of the Karate Institute of America. He is also a second dan. His youngest son, Greg aka, “Earthquake,” is the fifty-ninth Black Belt of the KIA—another terrific father/son Black Belt duo.

What in the world is “A Black Belt Pinky Champion?” It is a rather interesting question, is it not? Well, the Karate Institute of America has its own one-of-a-kind Black Belt Pinky Champion? He is Doug “Pinky” Krause, KIA Black Belt #48, who received his first dan rating on 1 February 1997, nineteen years ago! Pinky’s National Championship was earned in 1993 on the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) circuit, which consisted of 13 cities in the United States hosting open, all comers tournaments.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Five Star General & U.S. President The following quotation is from one of America’s greatest men, Dwight D. Eisenhower. It is highly germane to today’s environment. It is also important for millennial children to understand because America’s future will one day be in their hands. If all that Americans want is security they can go to prison. They’ll have enough to eat, a bed and a roof over their heads.

From The Black Belt Book of Life: Secrets of a Martial Arts Master. In the wisdom of time with its messages ageless, the pinnacle of all is that Character Must Precede Prowess. If we are to live with a noble and elevated spirit, regardless of our personal comfort, it is axiomatic that we realize that Character Must Precede Prowess. In other words, character must come first before our martial arts rank, status, championships, name, fame, skill, billfold, bank account, titles on the door, trophies on the shelf, name plates on the desk, headlines in the local society column or records in the record book.

There is only one “Chief” in the annals of Kiado-Ryu history, and there always will be only one. That “Chief” is Dr. Tim Huston, whose call sign fits his persona. A graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Huston is the 29th Black Belt of the Kiado-Ryu, receiving his 1st Dan rank on 12 February 1994. In fact, he is the patriarch of the inaugural father/son Black Belt duo at the Karate Institute of America.

Wow! Check out these beautiful ladies from the 1994 Karate Institute of America pictorial annuals. Kneeling in the front row is Orange Belt Nicole “Goldilocks” Hackler (now a Brown Belt). In the back row from left to right are Heather “Burner” Corn (now Riggs), the 37th Black Belt of the Kiado-Ryu; Liz “Quasar” Eckes (now Avram), the 46th Black Belt of the KIA, and Purple Belt Christa “Commander” King (now Jacob).

This is an inspirational story, the kind that warms your heart, the kind we need more of, the kind that all parents should share with their children. Selfless Acts of Generosity Jon “Stretch” Vail studied at the Karate Institute of America back in the 80s before he headed off to college. He and his lovely wife, Janice, have twin children—Jenny and Ryan. They’re cool kids, really cool kids. After looking at these photos, check out their amazing story of entrepreneurialism and generosity at this link.

From The Black Belt Book of Life: Secrets of a Martial Arts Master. Kiado-Ryu Passages & Principles There can be no excellence without effort. We live in an age with effort waning With riches expected sans work, But in all reality and actuality There can be no excellence without effort.

Greg “Maddog” Bendel executes a pose during his Green belt test in 1987 at the KIA. He attained his first dan Black Belt on 15 December 1990, becoming the fourteenth Black Belt of the Karate Institute of America. Greg continued his studies and earned his second dan Black Belt degree. Maddog was an instructor at the KIA, as well as being a martial arts open tournament champion. He was a stickler for detail and precision, which no doubt assisted him in his professional career.