The Year of 5th Dans!

                           

THIS was the year of 5th Dans! Eleven, count it, ELEVEN, people tested for their 5th Degree Black Belt this year. I did my best to support as many of them as I could this year. This many people testing for such a high rank is virtually unheard of, and what makes it even better is THIS: all these people are PHENOMENAL martial artists! And that makes it even better!

First up, both testing on the same day of May 28, 2016 was Master Glenn Ames in Maryland, and down in Dacula, Georgia was Sahbumnim Kelley Hardy. Master Ames testing in Maryland. I met Master Ames in the AAU Taekwondo. My earliest memory of Master Ames was us studying together for our officiating upgrade in the summer of 2015. Master Ames is a very good official and great martial artist. He is very precise which we are both very similar on in our training styles. He's excellent at mentoring, a supportive team captain, and has one of the best senses of humor I know of! He always keeps up laughing and smiling! I called him the morning of his testing, and the night of to wish him luck and hear about the testing! Needless to say, a great martial artist like Master Ames needs no luck!


Down in Georgia, where I was, Miss Kelley Hardy was testing. She had a phenomenal attitude from beginning of the testing right to the very end. She remained positive, excited, and strong. Her focus was sharp, and I was so happy to be there for her. Kelley and I first met officiating in my first nationals. We hit it off right from the beginning. But also testing alongside her for 5th Dan was her very own daughter Victoria Hardy and another woman warrior, Master Cathy Brown, a school owner in Georgia who had claimed Master Stone as her instructor. Victoria serves in the military for our country which is the greatest sense of servant leadership I can think of. Master Brown was wonderful to watch test and be acclimated into this family, with support and enthusiasm, and great to see her transformation during the testing.

Miss Kelley Hardy (GA) and Master Glenn Ames (MD) received their 5th Dans May 28, 2016 

Master Ames breaking on his 5th Dan test.

Victoria Hardy tested with her mom in Georgia, both 5th Dans!

Cathy Brown (center) tested for 5th Dan unde rher instructor Master Bobby Stone in Georgia.

In the ATA, I have a friend named Victoria Valentino. Victoria is a PHENOMAL martial artist. She is physically very talented, mentally strong, and also has a strong spirit. While attending school, getting a thousand degrees, still teaching and training, pushing herself all the time, Victoria tested for her 5th Dan with the ATA during their World tournament at the beginning of July, during 4th of July weekend, down in Arkansas. I was at AAU nationals in Florida, but was corresponding with her the entire time and texting with my own mentor, Ms Gedman to see how things were going. She found out weeks later that she indeed passed her test, and no wonder!

Next up on July 16th was my very own 5th Dan Testing at my school in front of my students under my mentor Master Kevin Balon, with my testing board being mentor Master Samuel DeJesus, my brother Master Bobby Stone from Georgia, and surprise guest Master Kathy Wieczerza of Tennessee. You can read that blog here. A week later at Fastkix Taekwondo, Master Balon's student Nick Carbley tested for 5th Dan. I met Nick when we tested for 3rd Dan together, it was the first time I ever tested outside my organization/school. Nick and I also tested together for 4th Dan, and that test I will treasure sharing with him. He once again tested and did an amazing job after a very difficult year personally, I was so proud of him to persevere and join the 5th Dan Club!

Victoria Valentino tested for 5th Dna in Arkansas at the ATA World Championships.

My 5th Dan testing under Master Kevin Balon in Saddle Brook, NJ.

Nick Carbley tested for 5th Dan July 23, 2016 at Fastkix Taekwondo in Spotswood, NJ. 

                                                                                   
August 2016 was Grand Master Kathy's last bi-annual testings. She will be going a different direction with the bi-annual gatherings. But at this testing for 5th Dan was Miss Taylor Wauford. Taylor, who was prepping for a wedding at the same time, was also training for 5th Dan Black Belt. I was in Chicago with MLK. All day I was getting updates through text of on Facebook of how she was doing. Everyone said her forms were impeccable and testing was impressive! I may have been on the phone with her literally an hour, maybe less, after her testing was done, waiting for my bus in Chicago getting ready to go back to New Jersey.

Then, third weekend of September I found myself in Nashville, Tennessee at Family First Martial Arts. I attended their first Black Belt testing the year before and totally invited myself to return the following year. Weeks before this testing Miss Dani Carroll-Kooyman, wife to Master Larry Kooyman gave birth to their beautiful daughter. Reading her essay, training and preparing for 5th Dan Black Belt testing was a real challenge for her, and rightfully so. There's not many people who would push themselves, or know to what extent to train for a 5th Dan Black Belt test, and while pregnant?! That in itself was amazing and her indomitable spirit got her through rigorous training that she appropriately allowed herself, the mental and emotional challenges, and then of course giving birth, made her 5th Dan a treasured event.

Taylor Wauford (now Hooper) testing for 5th Dan in Tennessee under Master Katherine Wieczerza.

Dani Carroll-Kooyman received her 5th Dan at Family First Martial Arts Center in Tennessee, only a couple weeks after giving birth to her beautiful daughter!

This past weekend was the 20th Anniversary of the D.C Turnbull Taekwondo Black Belt Camp! 44 Black Belts tested, two of which were testing for 5th Dan were fiances's Jessica Wauford and Joey Curtis. The camp in itself is a phenomenal experience, but the testing process these guys went and had the opportunity to share with their fiance I know is something that will go deeper for them. I was privileged to be present for them. I felt Joey broke through a lot of barriers during his testing, and physically showed it when he did a four slab concrete break (one of my favorites during the test) and Jessica pushed through and allowed herself to JUST BE and LET IT BE which allowed so much to flow. And yes, Jessica, it is OKAY to express that happiness, as you earned it and deserve it. I was happy to be there for my family.

Fiances Joey Curtis and Jessica Wauford were the last two to receive their 5th Dans this year in Orlando, FL!

         
Even though this blog is about the eleven 5th Degrees of the year, there were some VERY high ranks that were tested this year I think I should make mention. I never witnessed a 6th Dan testing before and it was my privilege to see Sahbumnim Matt Bucci and Master Peter Vargas test for 6th Dan last week at the Black Belt Camp in Orlando, Florida. Also June 4, 2016 in Reno, Nevada was the test for Master Kathy Weiczerza for 8th Dan Black Belt. You can read about it here or in her words here. And Febraury 2016, my very own Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee achieving his 9th Dan in Hung Ga Kung Fu before being appointed World President for Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Association on June 13, 2016. I bleieve he is the only 9th Dan in the system in the world, and his Sifu, my Sigung, voted in to 10th Dan.

In this industry, people in mass martial arts get Black Belts too easily, and many people the standards and quality  falls and distills the arts. I can vouch that these martial artists mentioned in this blog are top quality martial artists that keep the standards, values, and the deep meaning, worth, and tradition of the martial arts strong and alive. It is a great comfort that these individuals represent what the martial arts is all about. I am honored and privileged to know them all and extend my most sincerest gratitude to knowing you all and congratulating you all on your achievements and accomplishments.

This Blog is dedicated to my fellow 5th Dans of 2016!: Glenn Ames, Kelley Hardy, Victoria Hardy, Cathy Brown, Victoria Valentino, Nick Carbley, Taylor Wauford, Dani Carroll-Kooyman, Jessica Wauford, and Joey Curtis.

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Trento's Travels

I haven't blogged much. But I have kept VERY busy! I have been training hard, working hard, getting things done, accomplishing projects, competing in-completions, making time for important things to me and people who are important to me, and a lot of it required TRAVELING.

My mother is a travel agent and I practically grew up on an airplane. I am very grateful for all the opportunities I got to travel, but at one point in my life it was just too much for me. It actually became a problem for me at one point, so I took a looooong break from traveling. However, in the last year or two, I made up for all the years I ever traveled. Actually, I don't think I EVER traveled as much as I did growing up as I have in these last two years alone!

And guess what? I'm LOVING it! However, one of my major goals for the next five years requires A LOT of traveling. But I've been a part of some majorly awesome things since the end of August. Many of them will be blogs in themselves, but this is just to capture a small glimpse of my traveling adventures, which has been every week or weekend since the end of August.

I began with me going to Chicago, Illinois for the Tactical Offensive Warfare (T.O.W) Blade Warrior Certification with Mike Lee Kanarek. It was a fantastic experience! I even ran into my buddy Tyler Mineo from Georgia there! It was my first time in Chicago and I really enjoyed it. But what I enjoyed even more was the fabulous training that I always get a thrill from with Mike Lee.

The following weekend I went to one of my most favorite places ever, Georgia! For my best friend Stacey Stone's 40th birthday! She doesn't look a day over 28! She doesn't act a day over 28 either! She won't agree with that first statement. She WILL agree with that second statement! LOL! She and Bobby are family to me and I wouldn't have missed the occasion for the world.

The following week, I went to Ft. Lauderdale with Master Balon for the AAU Taekwondo Team Trials. This is one of the biggest events the AAU Taekwondo runs. All the gold medalist Black Belts from Junior and Cadet age divisions competing and fighting for the spot on the national team for elite training and competition experience on the international level. The greatest coaches, athletes, and referees. I was happy to have the experience with my mentor, Master Balon, to spend time with my AAU TKD family, and for the experience of refereeing at that level.

The next weekend I was in Pennsylvania for the HaganaH Ground Survival Certification. It was one of the last certifications I was going for in the system. The following weekend, I went to Nashville, Tennessee for the Family First Martial Arts Black Belt testing. I spent my time with the great Master Kathy and the wonderful Jo Wright. I also got to spend time with their son Grisha and had a great time. But I also loved my time with Masters Larry Kooyman, Richard Winston, Master Andy Tourin from Nevada, and Soke David McNeil, who I also had the opportunity to interview.

Then I went to LBI for my traditional trip for the Chowderfest for a little getaway after my school's belt testings, and the following week TMAFC had it's own Black Belt testing. Then the next weekend was a doozy. I drove an hour down in New Jersey for part 1 of my best friend, Nina Harkhani's, wedding. I got home 1:30am. Woke up 6:30am, to leave at 7:30am to be in Pennsylvania 8:30am for the Mike Lee Kanarek seminar, left early at 1pm, drove four hours down to Baltimore, Maryland for part 2 of the wedding where Nina and her new husband live, left at 12:30am, drove three hours home with Robert on the phone and arrived 3:15am, woke up 6:30am, left 7:30am to be back in Pennsylvania 8:30am  for training all day with Mike Lee Kanarek and the Striking Militia where we sparred and did sparring drills all day.

The following weekend I had the honor and privilege of going to Nashville, Tennessee again to be a groomsman for Taylor Wauford and Jacob Hooper's wedding. It was an absolutely beautiful wedding. Spending beautiful time with family and dear friends. The next weekend (this past weekend) I was in Orlando, Florida with MORE Taekwondo family for DC Turnbull Taekwondo's 20th Black Belt Camp Anniversary, to participate and support and experience this camp I've heard so much about! (later blog).

Next week I'll be in back in Atlanta, Georgia for Thanksgiving week, and I'll have a little breather until February. Then February to June, just about every week I have adventures all over the country. I am NOT complaining by any means. I am so grateful and blessed to have these opportunities to be doing such great things, being with beautiful people, and having the time of my life right now. Times are good. Tears of gratitude come when I think of the wonderful things I am privileged to experience. And I feel good, for the most part. Movement is life. And you can never hit a moving target. And God knows, I am one!

The comical parts of my travels? Oh every trip had one. A plane having horrible turbulence, flying through lightning clouds, delays because parts broke on the plane, fire alarms going off at airport, security line delayed because of faulty technology, all those things still happen. But they just make for funny haha stories for later! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO