THE NEXT LEVEL 1972 was an eventful year for me. I got married...I had me a steady job...and I got beat up on the side of the road in front of all of my co-workers...and I saw an ad for a karate class. The cost was $15.00...and was taught by someone that I knew...Newton Harris. We met in the basement of Crichlow School. I was introduced to a style of Karate (empty-hand) called WADO RYU...the way of HARMONY and PEACE.

At that time the climate was hot for karate. Bruce Lee was making a name for himself as Kato...in the Green Hornet, guest shots on the T.V. show LONGSTREET.. movies like Marlowe. Billy Jack with Tom Laughlin was all the rage as he took his foot and placed it on the right side of Mr. Posners face...telling him there was not a thing he could do about it...and then used a crescent kick Hapkido style. Carl Douglas was singing that everybody was KUNG FU fighting...and Kung Fu was the hit T.V. show showing how a pacifist could kick butt.

I signed up for karate with a few friends...and we were having a ball. We would practice kata together, stretch out...and practice kicking and punching. The school moved over to Vine Street...and we would practice for hours. In those days you could go 6 days a week...and classes would go for 2-3 hours. It was hot...sweaty...tiring...and fun. The floor was hard linoleum...and when we sweaty, it would become slippery. We would do push up on our knuckles until they bleed. When you were laying on your backs...with your legs raised in the air...the teacher would jump from stomach to stomach. As you would go down the floor with techniques...the teacher would kick you when you would least expected it.

I was young...flexible...and eager to learn...so I would not be the punching bag for some redneck from the V.F.W. on the side of the road.

At that time...I went through the ranks...up to getting ready to take my green belt exam. Through a series of circumstances...I dropped out. Money...time...desire...etc...all fizzled. By that time Mr. Harris sold the school to Mr. Bill Herzer. He was a great teacher...and an intense individual.

For the next few decades...I would always...have a desire to get my black belt. I would watch karate movies...I would go over in my mind the things I had learned...but never could get back to it. It was over 30 years before I would walk back into a dojo.

I would always tell my wife Brenda that when I was 50 years old...I would return to karate. I was saying that when I was in my 40's. When I was 48 I took my son to a Wado Tournament in Columbia...and told him that I would someday be down there competing. 3 years later I was competing.

I ran into Sensie Bill Taylor...who now owned Bushido School of Karate...at Quiznos by accident. I told him that I was turning 50 and was thinking about getting back into karate. NOTE: I remember when Mr. Taylor first came to Bushido when he was a young teenager. I rememeber well...blocking a kick and the pain.

I told him that I think I may be too old to start back...and he told me there was a lady that was 70 years old and had her black belt...and then he asked me..."What's your excuse?" That lady was Ms Colemnn..the mother of Senpai Ned Coleman. I did not have any excuses...so I was 50 years old when I started back...with a dream of having my Black Belt by the time I was 55 years old.

I am now 55 years old...and I just got my 1st degree brown belt. The next test will be for Black Belt. It may be in April...or may be in the fall. I am not currently in the cardio shape I need to be...so when I take the test will be determined by me. At Bushido the testing for Black Belt comes in three stages (1) the written test (2) the endurance test (a killer) (3) the next day the Federation test.

Well...I have come this far...and I ain't giving up yet.