KarateBuilt logo
(602) 737-2098
Categories
Blog Our Community

Braver, Stronger, and a Little Nervous – Two Black Belt Journeys

September 28, 2026 by KarateBuilt Staff

Every student at KarateBuilt Martial Arts who tests for a black belt first writes an essay about what karate means to them. In this post we’re sharing two, written by students training for their black belts. Both essays are honest and full of heart, and both show how much a young student can grow on the mat.

Liam Lyda started karate at three years old and describes that younger self as “very shy.” Years later Liam wrote this essay shortly before testing for a first-degree black belt. Liam writes about pushing through the moments that felt like quitting time and about standing up for friends, family, and anyone being bullied. There’s a bigger goal in there too. Liam wants to be a scientist and believes the discipline from karate will help with school projects and grades.

Gavin Rogowski is eleven and already working toward his second-degree black belt. His essay opens with a friendly hello and closes with the hope that you enjoyed it. In between, he explains that karate is fun because he learns something new almost every day, from Korean words to “new strengths that I hadn’t unlocked yet.” He also admits that knowing you’re reading his essay makes him a little nervous. We think that honesty is exactly what makes it worth reading.

The two students came to karate in different ways, and each has a voice of their own. Both give credit to Leadership class for teaching them to speak up in front of others. Both are proud of how far they’ve come. Here are their essays, in their own words.

 

What Black Belt Means to Me

Liam Lyda

Since I started Karate, it has made me braver and stronger. Also, Karate gave me courage. Karate has given me the ability to work harder and not give up when things are hard. When I started training, I was three years old. I felt very shy. After training for a while, I began to have courage in myself. Leadership class has helped me get courage in front of other people. The courage made me want to stay in Karate and become a Black Belt.

Becoming a Black Belt will help me face my fears. I will also stand up for people who are getting bullied. I will stand up for family and friends. During training when I thought to give up, I kept going, and the hard work paid off. The belt I have today is Recommended Black Belt. I have one more belt to go, and then I will be a Black Belt. I hope to become a Black Belt leader after the tests. I will work very hard to become a Black Belt and higher.

If I become a Black Belt, I would like to help others learn. Helping other students makes me happy. Hopefully I can help the instructors with classes to help new students become Black Belts one day. I think becoming a Black Belt will help me achieve other goals. I want to be a scientist. The confidence I get in Martial Arts can help me in school. The discipline I get from Martial Arts will help me do my projects and make good grades.

Becoming a Black Belt will make me more responsible. It will help me achieve my goals in life. Becoming a black belt has been a goal of mine for six years. I am excited to have this opportunity Saturday to achieve one of my dreams. I will do my best at the testing. Thank you for considering me.

 

What Karate Means To Me

Gavin Rogowski, Age 11 

Hi I’m Gavin Rogowski, and this is the essay I have written for my 2nd Degree Black Belt. I hope you enjoy. What karate means to me to me is that karate is fun, it protects me from the outside world and makes me feel confident.

I do it because it’s fun. It’s fun because you learn new things almost every day. Not just moves, but also Korean words, new skills, and new strengths that I hadn’t unlocked yet. It’s also fun because I get to make new friends.

It can protect you from the outside world. It protects me by preparing me in case something bad happens. I feel that if I am on my own in the world, I can protect myself, and if I have a family, I can protect them from threats. It helps me prepare to stand in front of people and perform.

It makes me feel confident about myself. One of the biggest fear people have is public speaking. Karate helps me get rid of that fear. In Leadership, we speak in front of other students and teachers all the time. If you’re reading this essay, it’s also making me nervous because you could share it with anybody. Karate makes me feel confident because when I come home from class I have a big fat smile on my face. I feel more confident because I have accomplished something many people haven’t.

Karate means many things to me. I love karate, and I plan to do it for a long time. So I hope you like this essay.

Congratulations to Liam and Gavin on reaching this point in their training, and thank you both for letting us share your words. Liam hopes to one day help instructors guide new students toward their own black belts, and Gavin plans to keep training “for a long time.” We can’t wait to see what they do next. To answer Gavin’s question, yes, we really did like your essay. If your child is ready to find some courage of their own, come visit us for a class and meet the students and instructors who make KarateBuilt feel like family.

 

Sincerely,

Karate

Chief Master Greg Moody, Ph.D. holds a doctorate in Special Education, is a licensed psychotherapist (LAC), and is an 8th Degree Black Belt with over 30 years of experience teaching children. He’s taught over 18,000 students, over 1,800 of them Black Belts. He has been recognized as the nation’s #1 martial arts school owner eight times, and he’s a four-time #1 Amazon Bestselling Author.

P.S. Get Dr. Moody’s Book on Bullying – Click Here

KarateBuilt.com and KarateBuilt Martial Arts have been selected as the nation’s #1 martial arts schools for EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW!

KarateBuilt L.L.C. was founded in 1995 by Dr. Greg Moody, an 8th-degree Black Belt and Chief Master Instructor, KarateBuilt Martial Arts and Karate for Kids offer lessons for pre-school children ages 3-6 and elementary age kids ages 7 and up are designed to develop critical building blocks kids need – specialized for their age group – for school excellence and later success in life.

KarateBuilt Martial Arts Adult Karate training is a complete adult fitness and conditioning program for adults who want to lose weight, get (and stay in shape), or learn self-defense in a supportive environment.

Instructors can answer questions or be contacted 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week at 866-311-1032 for one of our nationwide locations. You can also visit our website at KarateBuilt.com.

About Dr. Greg Moody:  Dr. Moody is an eighth-degree black belt and chief master instructor.  He has a Ph.D. in Special Education from Arizona State University (along with a Master’s Degree in Counseling and a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering – he actually is a rocket scientist). He has been teaching martial arts for over 25 years and has owned eight martial arts schools in Arizona and California. Chief Master Moody is a motivational speaker and educator and teaches seminars in bullying, business, and martial arts training, around the world. See more at DrGregMoody.com.

Dr. Moody is also a licensed psychotherapist and maintains a practice at Integrated Mental Health Associates (IntegratedMHA.com) where he specializes in couples therapy and men’s issues.

The KarateBuilt Martial Arts Headquarters at KarateBuilt LLC is in Cave Creek, Arizona at 29850 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite 105, Cave Creek AZ 85331. You can locate the Chief Instructor, Master Laura Sanborn there directly at ‭(480) 575-8171‬. KarateBuilt Martial Arts serves Cave Creek, Carefree, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley Arizona as well as Grand Rapids, MI.

Also, check us out on Today in Business and Educators Observer!

Here is Dr. Moody’s Amazon Author Page with over 16 of his Amazon Bestselling books: Click HERE

P.P.P.S. From a parent:

“Since joining this program, my son Herman is more disciplined, motivated, and unstoppable in every challenge he faces!” – Emily Green