She’s known to her friends as Lauren; to her former AP teachers as Ms. Haller; to her boyfriend, Kiado-Ryu Black Belt #64, Tristan “Raptor” Ligtvoet, as his gorgeous girlfriend. However, to the Karate Institute of America she’s known by her call sign, “Nuke.”

Why “Nuke?” Just take a couple of her back kicks to any part of your body and you’ll know why, painfully, if not worse! That is if you’re still standing … and conscious.

This is fun. Mike Shamassian, Hannibal’s father, applied a little Picasso artistry to several photos of his daughter’s Purple Belt test. They’re very unique! Enjoy.

Hannah “Hannibal” Shamassian has been spying a Purple Horizon for some time now. On 21 July 2016, she crossed that horizon through great determination, persistence and an undying will—all met to the thunderous applause and approval of those who witnessed her accomplishment. Way to go, Hannah! Great job! You are truly an inspiration, the epitome of persistence and the manifestation of the great British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s eternal words: Never, never, never, never give up!

As a follow up to last week’s feature of the week, “Wildcat On The Move,” Anna Griffin sent a few stunningly beautiful photos of Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They are breath-taking! Enjoy the photos and all KIA features of the week at the Kiado-Ryu website.

As nature has her wildcats, so does the Karate Institute of America, and our Wildcat, like Nature’s, is on the move!

Anna “Wildcat” Griffin is the 55th Black Belt of the Kiado-Ryu. She began her KIA journey at age 11. In 1998 she earned her 1st Dan Black Belt rating. True to her call sign, Wildcat is as tough as they come and a true legend in KIA history.

Anna, a former United States Army veteran of eight years, relocated from the central plains of the U.S. to the Northwest where she is now working in the insurance field. Last week she paid us a visit when she traveled to SoCal to help her parents relocate to her neck of the woods, where much of her family is now living.