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Most of what is included in this newsletter are the achievements earned by students and instructors at the 2018 formal promotions and awards ceremony. We hope our job has been thorough. Anyone who may have been left out, we’ll catch you next time.
Earning one’s black belt is considered one of the most significant achievements a person can make in their martial arts career. Four TAK karate-ka earned their black belts at this year’s ceremony. They are Sensei Andy Popka, Katie Bratton, Eric Holden and Nicholas Kaderabek. TAK applauds Rodney Jones who achieved black belt in June. Congratulations to all of you. We also want to welcome Sensei Andy Popka onto the Traditional American Karate black belt panel. Two additional fine achievements include Eden Olivas becoming a two time Starfighter Grandchampion, and Katie Bratton who was student of the year. Following is a complete list of the promotions and awards.
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SPECIAL AWARDS
STUDENT OF THE YEAR (Santee) - KATIE BRATTON
STUDENT OF THE MONTH RECIPIENTS
Aiden Turnbloom, Aiden Pringle, Kyla Poore, Jillian Caudle, Elle Capati, Aaliyah Prest, Alexa Brasil, Ke’Mari Carter, Michael Reynolds II, Gavin Coleman, Gwendylan Ciota, Hanel Sako, Lucas Thomas, Pyper Hodge
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KNOWLEDGE, SKILL & ATTITUDE AWARD – Gavin Lowry
MARTIAL SPIRIT AWARD – Lucas Evans
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INSTRUCTOR & MILESTONE AWARDS
INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR – Sensei Mike Clarke
JR ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR – Claire Popka
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5 YEAR MILESTONE - Sensei Andy Higgins, Sensei Alee Winters
10 YEAR MILESTONE - Master Rob Bowman
20 YEAR MILESTONE - Sensei Jane Velarde, Master Tyler Dewey, Master Pete Ferguson
25 YEAR MILESTONE - Master Amber Craig
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INSTRUCTOR TITLES
SEMPAI – Evan Clarke (June), Heath Aeria, Sunny Elmore, Patricia Hodge, Katie Bratton, Claire Popka, Todd Szilard
SENSEI – Ryan Szilard (August), Andy Popka, Andy Higgins, Chloe Garrett
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER PROMOTIONS
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YELLOW BELT – Allison Johnson, Genevieve Helewa, Shandree Helewa, Abbie Melvin, Lisa Melvin
ORANGE BELT – Yusef Helewa, Nas Helewa
PURPLE BELT – Harper Novotny, Reece Royball, Lily Hatchell-Viviani, Charlie Hatchell-Viviani, Caleb Thomas, Lucas Thomas
BLUE BELT – River Ciota, Ke’Mari Carter, Aaliyah Prest, Jaxon Rice, Alexa Brasil, Natalie Aeria, Liam
Aeria, Kim Aeria
ADV. BLUE BELT – Elle Capati, Pyper Hodge, Oliver Ranson, Andy Guerra, Joshua Sako, Hanel Sako, Gavin Coleman
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GREEN BELT – Aiden Pringle, Jeff Lutes, Jennifer Bratton
ADV. GREEN BELT – Tucker Eagle, Kyla Poore, Eden Olivas, Andrew Fabela, Donovan Sainz, Xavier Sainz, Haley Derieux, Danica Harris, Lichen Cao
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BROWN BELT – Emily Haynes, William Reinstein, Leilani Lawrence, Jillian Caudle, Gwendylan Ciota, Harmony Elmore, Sunny Elmore
INT. BROWN BELT – Kaelyn Williams, Zoey Carrillo, Sierra Carrillo, Zachary LaBarr, Ryan Albano, Christian Albano, Claire Popka
ADV. BROWN BELT – Jack Swanson, Claire Popka
MASTER BROWN BELT – Kate Kaderabek, Mia Bruso, Lucas Evans.
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1st DEGREE BLACK BELT
Sensei Andy Popka, Katelyn Bratton, Eric Holden, Nicholas Kaderabek
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2nd DEGREE BLACK BELT
Tabitha Bratton, Drew Phillips, Ashley Lutes
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4th DEGREE BLACK BELT
Sensei Kevin Senior
5th DEGREE BLACK BELT
Master Rob Bowman
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8th DEGREE BLACK BELT
Master Ron Velarde, Master John Ben-Judah
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PROMOTIONS THROUGHOUT THE 2018 CALENDAR YEAR
(Beginning with the most recent)
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OCTOBER 2018 PROMOTIONS
YELLOW BELT – Cameron Maltbie
SEPTEMBER 2018 PROMOTIONS
ORANGE BELT – William Wuest, Daylyn Rivers, Heston Novotny, Charlie Hatchell-Vivani, Lily Hatchell-Viviani; PURPLE BELT – Alexa Brasil, Michael Reynolds II; ADV. BLUE BELT – Aiden Pringle, Asaf Juarez; GREEN BELT – Bryan Caudle; ADV. GREEN BELT – Leilani Lawrence; BROWN BELT – Patricia Hodge, Corbin Poore; INT. BROWN BELT – Sydney Hodge, Zachary Teng, Kara Neal.
JULY 2018 PROMOTIONS
YELLOW BELT – Daylyn Rivers, Charlie Hatchell-Viviani, Lily Hatchell-Viviani; ORANGE BELT – Reece Royball, Paul Marshall-Enriquez, Ragan Novotny, Harper Novotny; PURPLE BELT – Heath Aeria, Kim Aeria, Liam Aeria, Natalie Aeria, LeManuel Jones, Jaxon Rice, Ke’Mari Carter, River Ciota; BLUE BELT – Andy Guerra, Gavin Coleman, Hanel Sako, Joshua Sako, Elle Capati, Pyper Hodge; ADV. BLUE BELT – Jeff Lutes, Lichen Cao; GREEN BELT – Xavier Sainz, Donovan Sainz, Eden Olivas, Kyla Poore; ADV. GREEN BELT – William Reinstein, Gwendylan Ciota, Sunny Elmore, Harmony Elmore, Solomon Caesar, Jillian Caudle, Emily Haynes; BROWN BELT – Jaden Rios, Alex Turnbloom, Aiden Turnbloom; INT. BROWN BELT – Kendra Smith, Giovanny Estrada, Perla Estrada; MASTER BROWN BELT – Eric Holden, Connor Haynes, Michael O’Malley, Megan Williams.
JUNE 2018 PROMOTIONS (Alpine Dojo)
YELLOW BELT – William Wuest; ORANGE BELT – Michael Reynolds II, Monique Guerrero, Alexa Brasil; PURPLE BELT – Aaliyah Prest; BLUE BELT – Chase Kramer, Oliver Ranson; GREEN BELT – Makenna Prather, Andrew Fabela, Isabella Gulla, Brayden Meyers, Tucker Eagle; ADV. GREEN BELT – Logan Falk, Justin Prather; BROWN BELT – Sierra Carrillo, Zoey Carrillo, Claire Popka, John Popka; INT. BROWN BELT – Jude Holmes, Jack Swanson; ADV. BROWN BELT – Mia Bruso, Kate Kaderabek; 1st DAN BLACK BELT – Rodney Jones; 2nd DAN BLACK BELT – Sensei Evan Arnold. Instructor titles: Sempai – Rodney Jones; Sensei – Evan Arnold.
MAY 2018 PROMOTIONS (Santee Dojo)
YELLOW BELT – Connor Thomas, Lucas Thomas, Caleb Thomas, Logan Simmons, Heston Novotny.
APRIL 2018 PROMOTIONS (Alpine Dojo)
YELLOW BELT – Monique Guerrero, Michael Reynolds II, Alexa Brasil, Paul Goldsmith; ORANGE BELT – Aaliyah Prest; BLUE BELT – Cooper Hagood, Aiden Pringle; GREEN BELT – Patricia Hodge.
APRIL 2018 PROMOTIONS (Santee Dojo)
YELLOW BELT – Reece Royball, Paul Marshall-Enriquez, Ragan Novotny, Harper Novotny; ORANGE BELT – River Ciota; ADV. BLUE BELT – Bryan Caudle; GREEN BELT – Leilani Lawrence; BROWN BELT – Wyatt Smith, Zachary LaBarr.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 PROMOTIONS (Santee Dojo)
ORANGE BELT – Heath Aeria, Kim Aeria, Liam Aeria, Natalie Aeria, Jack Davenport, LeManuel Jones, Jaxon Rice, Ke’Mari Carter; PURPLE BELT – Gavin Coleman, Hanel Sako, Joshua Sako, Elle Capati; BLUE BELT – Jeff Lutes, Susie Winters, Lichen Cao; ADV. BLUE BELT – Eden Olivas, Kyla Poore.
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 PROMOTIONS (Alpine Dojo)
ADV. BLUE BELT – Makenna Prather, Andrew Fabela, Isabella Gulla; GREEN BELT – Justin Prather, Logan Falk.
JANUARY 2018 PROMOTIONS (Santee Dojo)
YELLOW BELT – River Ciota; ADV. GREEN BELT – Patricia Hodge.
JANUARY 2018 PROMOTIONS (Alpine Dojo)
YELLOW BELT – Aaliyah Prest, Lucas Arana.
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2018 STARFIGHTER XVIII SERIES
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OVERALL GRAND CHAMPION
Eden Olivas
STAR EAGLE CHAMPION
Tabitha Bratton
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TIGER CUB
1 Eden Olivas, 2 Elle Capati, 3 Kyla Poore, 4 Ke’Mari Carter, 5 Pyper Hodge, 6 River Ciota, 7 Michael Reynolds II, 8 Emily Haynes, 9 Aiden Pringle, 10 Ragan Novotny
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MIGHTY MIGHT
1 Leilani Lawrence, 2 Gavin Lowry, 3 Corbin Poore, 4 Kara Neal, 5 Gavin Coleman, 6 Lucas Evans, 7 Sydney Hodge, 8 Kaelyn Williams, 9 Jude Holmes, 10 Jaden Rios
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JUNIOR & ADULT
1 Katelyn Bratton, 2 Gwendylan Ciota, 3 Eric Holden, 4 Daniel Webb-King, 5 Jack Swanson, 6 Zachary LaBarr, 7 Lucas Thomas, 8 Michael O’Malley, 9 Connor Haynes, 10 Megan Williams
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BLACK BELT STAR EAGLE
1 Tabitha Bratton, 2 Ellen Green, 3 Joseph O’Malley, 4 Damon Evans, 5 Andrew Higgins
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MASTER BURK - Black Belt Magazine Articles in 2018
Your Sensei has been writing for Black Belt Magazine since 1994. In 2001, Master Burk became a regular columnist and contributing editor for the publication and over the years has penned more than 300 columns, feature articles and Hall Of Fame pieces. Following are his 2018 contributions to Black Belt.
FEB/MAR 18 Feature – Bill “Superfoot” Wallace. WALLACE ON WINNING. Analysis and advice on the Top 10 actions Superfoot says you need to become a champion.
JUNE/JULY 18 Column – Company Spotlight. Floyd Burk insists that instructors can achieve greater
success by staying motivated and energized.
AUG/SEPT 18 Memorial – In memory of Grandmaster Frank Trejo, a legendary kenpo karate expert
who passed away on April 11, 2018.
OCT/NOV 18 Internet Article – Apolo Ladra. This article introduces Filipino kali expert, Apolo
Ladra to the readers of Black Belt.
OCT/NOV 18 Column – Company Spotlight. This installment of Company Spotlight offers some unique ways to use the BOB (body opponent bag) at the dojo.
DEC/JAN 18-19 Column – Company Spotlight. This installment of Company Spotlight is a sequel to the last Company Spotlight story which provides even more ways to use BOB (body opponent bag) to help students to improve their skills.
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EVENTS FOR 2019
February 23, Starfighter Dojo Tournament, Santee Dojo
April 6, Starfighter Dojo Tournament, Santee Dojo
May 11, Mother’s Day Weekend Tournament, Upland M/A - Rec Center
July 12 – 14, Mountain Retreat and Training Camp, Mt. Laguna California
August 10, Samurai Tournament, Location TBA
TBA, TAK MEGA Self-defense Seminar, Santee Dojo
October 5, Starfighter Dojo Tournament, Santee Dojo
November 9, 38th Annual Holiday Tournament, Santee City Hall
December 14, Formal Promotions & Awards, New Heights Church
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