How beautiful is this … on many levels! Hannah, a KIA martial arts Purple
Belt, is also a proficient artist in American Sign Language (ASL). She has
been studying Signing in high school for two and a half years. In her own
YouTube video, she beautifully performs “Praise You In This Storm” by Castings
Crowns. Her performance is highly artistic, emotionally moving and
dramatically inspirational. Thank you, Hannah, for this wonderful performance
of “Signing!” You are one awesome talented young woman! We are all so
extremely proud of you!
Judy “Striker” Gompf, aka Laguna Beach Surfer Chick, catches a Purple Wave
propelling her up the ranks of the Karate Institute of America after passing
her Purple belt test on 24 November 2017.
Judy is a professional real estate agent, mother of two, possesses multiple
collegiate degrees with a résumé heralding nearly two decades of work as a
paralegal.
A gifted surfer, Striker has applied her athletic skills of strength, balance,
timing and concentration to her martial arts discipline. She has developed
excellent hands, both offensive and defensive. Her kicks are extremely
powerful—daunting weaponry to any would-be assailant.
Feature of the Week: Helen Keller, Martial Artist and Warrior?
Helen Keller a martial artist and warrior? Not in today’s lexicon. However,
Helen Keller is one of the greatest, strongest, most courageous, and
accomplished fighters and warriors in world history.
At nineteen months of age, Keller was stricken with a disease leaving her both
blind and deaf. Yet, she became a highly educated luminary of the human
spirit, a truly shining example of what it is to struggle and triumph. A
little online
research will
reveal her extraordinary life challenges, the intensity of which would dwarf
many of today’s vaunted athletes and personalities.
Feature of the Week: The Positive Side of Suffering
Studying martial arts certainly has its sufferings, especially if one
dedicates his life to it. In this light, one would be well-served to remember
the famous words of Lebanese-American author, painter and poet Khalil Gibran.
Feature of the Week: Character Must Precede Prowess
Kiado-Ryu Principle #9
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.
The first essential step to a spiritual life is character. One may deceive
one’s friends, relatives and even oneself, but the Power within is not
deceived.
For he who is honest is noble, whatever his fortunes or birth.
