This is a milestone fewer than 5% of a given class will achieve!
Karate is not just a martial art. It’s a journey of self-discovery, discipline, and personal growth. Earning the Black Belt is very special. Ron Guirreri recently earned his Black Belt, and he is the first student at Quail Creek Dojo to do so.
Ron started his karate journey at the Quail Creek Dojo in 2019. His formal training was interrupted for a year during the COVID lockdown during which he trained in his garage, initially by himself and later was joined by Sensei Herum (4th Degree Black Belt and head of the Quail Creek Dojo). Ron comes to Shotokan karate with a background in Sun Style Tai Chi, which focuses on breathing, balance, flexibility, footwork (stances), and core strength (fall prevention). All are excellent qualities to apply to Shotokan karate. COVID slowed things down, but Ron was not deterred.
Ron finds Shotokan karate is a great fitness workout. Its full-body training improves balance, core strength, flexibility, aerobic fitness, and hand-eye coordination. Training sessions are enjoyable and not mundane or arduous. You experience a sense of accomplishment when you use your mental focus to study and apply your abilities in order to successfully perform the various Shotokan skills. Could you do it? Ron thinks so and believes that the average person at Quail Creek can go from a White Belt to Black Belt. “However, they need to apply themselves, be persistent, and practice on a regular basis. Our program at Quail Creek can accommodate students of all experience and fitness levels. The key is to improve a little bit each day and avoid getting discouraged.”
A karate Black Belt must know a variety of techniques and how to execute them. Kihons and katas are Japanese terms to describe karate movements. Kihons are basic stances, punches, kicks, blocks, and fundamental techniques such as effective body movements and proper structural alignment. Katas involve detailed patterns of movements executed as a specified series of moves with stepping and turning while maintaining perfect form. Proficiency in Kumite-Sparring is demonstrating your techniques in fighting opponents.
Reaching Black Belt level is a significant achievement, but it’s not the end—it’s a new beginning. It’s a point where the practitioner starts to understand the philosophy and principles behind karate. Earning a Black Belt is a physical, mental, and spiritual journey reflecting dedication to self-improvement and the martial arts.
Why is a Black Belt the symbol of such achievement? The legend says students were given a White Belt when they began training. Over many years, the belt became stained and dirty. Students were told never to wash their belts. After many years, the belt became … black.
Please join us to congratulate Ron on his accomplishment! The Quail Creek Dojo welcomes new students. If you’re interested, classes are held Mondays and Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m., Thursdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m. You can watch a session or participate and try it out!