Congratulations on starting the black belt challenge. It is great that you will have your friends doing it with you. The support and encouragement you get from them will help you along the way. I am around if you need advice or support also. See you in the dojo.

You’re such an important part of the dojo family Avi! And this test makes it even more so. The whole dojo is behind you!

Celebrating your courage and long-term vision, Avi!

So excited to do this together!

That’s an awesome picture with you and your friends getting certificates. I hope you do well on your finals. Summer will give you more time to catch up on numbers. You are entering your last quarter of the challenge. Keep up the good work.

You’ve had a lot on your plate with school, work, and the OneHeart Challenge! You’ve managed your time and the stresses of it all well.

Olivia, is that Elinor standing next to you? It appears you both have a lot of “fruit salad” (ribbons) on your JROTC uniforms! It appears you two like to excel no matter what you do! Good luck with finals!

So excited to see you go through this journey!

Congratulations on starting the black belt challenge. The first week is difficult because your body has to get used to all the extra exercise you are doing. Your body will adapt. You just have to give it time. I am here if you need advice or support. See you in the dojo.

I can already see your commitment to this test in your training in class and also the extra work you are putting in by coming to the dojo early, on the weekends, and staying after class to get your numbers in. You won’t always be excited to put the work in, but if you maintain this consistency in your self-discipline, it will carry you to the finish line for sure!

Woohoo! Way to get through week 1, Elinor! Great effort to start the challenge! Remember, we will be doing this quite a while. We simply have to pace ourselves 🙂

Congratulations to Avi and Elinor. This is very exciting for both you and them. It will be helpful to have them training with you your last four months. It will also be encouraging to them to have you.

I’m glad that you have training partners now as you head into the final stretches of your test. This whole process is an ordeal that very few have gone through–these are special memories that you are making with your friends and karate family.

A special bond is made when we train for a black belt test with others. I am so grateful for the two young men I trained with. Though I rarely see them or talk with them (I moved to another state), we have a lifelong bond that is unique and a gift. May you three share this special bond as well!