Awesome Twin Kids and Their Selfless Acts of Generosity
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. You’ll stand up and cheer!
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.
These times we live in are getting scarier and scarier by the day.
Are you prepared to defend yourself or your loved ones?
Would you know what to do and how to do it?
Are you simply living in hope that you’ll always be safe?
Are you prepared to be in the “I-wish-I had-taken-a-self-defense-class”
category?
One of the mottos taught at the Karate Institute of America is, If you fail
to prepare you prepare to fail. If you don’t prepare, you will fail. As we’re
seeing day-by-day, attacks on regular people at common shopping places and
social gathering sites are no longer a rarity.
This week’s photo features not just any psycho, but the KIA’s own Psycho,
which is the call sign for James Griffin, the sixtieth Black Belt of the
Kiado-Ryu. James’ sister is Anna “Wildcat” Griffin, the fifty-fifth Black Belt
of the Karate Institute of America.
Pictured with Psycho and Mr. King is Mr. Griffin, the patriarch of the
wonderful Griffin family, and partner with Mrs. Griffin, its matriarch. The
Griffins have been stalwart supporters of the KIA for decades, and we are
eternally grateful they have shared their hearts, minds, spirits, character
and lives with us. This photo was taken after the latest Black Belt coronation
of Messrs. Thomas and Ligtvoet.
Congratulations to Kim “Cultivator” Thomas and Tristan “Raptor” Ligtvoet for
their extremely noteworthy accomplishments on 15 December 2015, Tuesday.
Kim Thomas has now earned the distinguished title, “Master Thomas” for
achieving the rank of 5th Dan Black Belt. He is the first student in the
history of the Karate Institute of America since its founding in 1979 to
achieve such an enormous goal. Kim began his KIA journey in August of 2001 at
the age of 45, received is 1st Dan Black Belt rating in July of 2007, and has
not let up since, finalizing the “Master Dan” phrase of his journey at age 59.
Remarkable!
