The 8th Degree Black Belt

FINALLY! FINALLY! FINALLY! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is NO reason why this woman's journey had to be an uphill battle. Or maybe there is symbolically. Maybe they are underlying. But on the surface, there is not one sensible reason why a person of Master Katherine Wieczerza's caliber had to fight an uphill battle to test for 8th Degree Black Belt.

The Wiz can still perform with such grace and amazing power. She is a master technician and a smart fighter. She has a plethora of knowledge that she passes down to everyone she meets who want to learn from her. She has the energy, motivation, and enthusiasm that keeps you engaged and excited. She also continues to push herself to grow constantly and holds herself accountable. The Wiz is also as humble as they come yet as fierce as can be.

Master Kathy is everything an 8th Dan Black Belt should be and THEN some, for any kind of martial art. She takes care of her own, and she takes care of others. She rekindles passion inside of a person who is lost, she excited the hungry and eager. She perseveres despite trials and tribulations that have come her way. She stands up for what she believes in with integrity and respect. She shares and passes knowledge everywhere she goes.

Master Kathy has a gift to be able to bring the best out of the people she meets. You walk away a better person. I have said over and over, that is her greatest gift. She is a servant leader, never asks for anything in return. She takes her responsibility seriously as a high rank and holds her own students accountable. Master Kathy is also constantly evolving herself which in turn helps her evolve her students. That is the key to any great teacher.

So I believe these are the qualities seen by her own Instructor, Soke Dave McNeil, head of the Goju Shorei systems, 9th Dan Black Belt. This man inspires the Wiz. Nuff said! That in itself makes him qualified to pushing her into this new level. IF there was anyone who could produce a test that would hold up the integrity of testing someone for this rank, especially of someone of the caliber the Wiz is at, it would be Soke McNeil. To further validate this rank, a panel of some of the greatest martial artists of high ranks and esteemed instructors from various disciplines were put together to judge Master Kathy on her test. Including 10th Dan Grandmaster Alexander Archie, 8th Dan Professor Bill Dewart, Master Andy Tourin, Master Ken Mammen, and Master Ross Briggs.

Master Kathy demonstrated all her forms, explained applications to the forms, she did self-defenses including self-defense material with the flashlight and carabiner like she did when she came to New Jersey . Then she did her breaking while also explaining her metaphor of breaking, and she answered questions given to her by the panel to demonstrate her philosophy, wisdom, and goals as an 8th Dan. And she presented her thesis on the Subjective Object. Her blog on it is a must read to all martial artists.

We were ALL so excited for Master Kathy. Her family and students all throughout Tennessee, all of her students and grandstudents in Florida, as well as Georgia, all of us here in New Jersey, and all over the country, Master Kathy has so much love and support going her way that day. But that kind of love and support has been given to all of the people who has ever come in contact with Master Kathy. I sometimes really don't know if she realizes how much she has done for people and  how much love and respect there is for her.

ON behalf of EVERYONE who knows Master Kathy, we are THRILLED and absolutely ECSTATIC on June 4th that Master Kathy Weiczerza had successfully passed her Black Belt test  and promoted to 8th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo. I wan to personally thank Soke Dave McNeil for giving her the opportunity to test  and testing her fairly and upholding the integrity of her rank. Thank you to the panel for recognizing and endorsing her they way she deserves. Well all wish a warm congratulations to Master Kathy, the 8th Degree Black Belt!

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO