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***image1***Eight-year-old Grace Forbes defended herself Saturday from a baseball
bat, stick, knife and pistol to become the youngest Karate Tech black
belt in the KMC.
But, that’s not all she did in the hour-long belt testing.
She demonstrated 150 self-defense maneuvers, sparred opponents –
one-on-one for two minutes, answered questions on an essay she wrote
and showed seven forms, one of which she had to create.
“My form was called Combination Seven,” said Grace, who has been in
Karate Tech for two years, taking four classes a week and assisting
with two others.
Again, that’s not all she did.
“She had a lot of prerequisites that she had to get out of the way,”
said her dad, Lt. Col. John Forbes, the 435th Medical Group’s child
psychiatrist.
These prerequisites had to be done one week prior to the actual test,
said Grace’s instructor, Grand Master Jorge Ordonio, president and
founder of Karate Tech International Association.
What Grace had to get out of the way was running two miles in less than
25 minutes and a 50-yard dash in less than 10 seconds, sparring five
opponents – three minutes, 30-second rest, doing 25 pushups, 25 sit-ups
and all the kicks she learned from white- to black-belt levels.
“That’s the physical fitness test,” said Grand Master Ordonio, who founded Karate Tech in Landstuhl on Sept. 16, 1997.
Still, that’s not all she had to do.
She had to know all the Karate Tech school rules by heart. Grace, who
is home schooled, had to show report cards to Grand Master Ordonio as
proof that she is doing well in school. She couldn’t get in any kind of
trouble. She had to demonstrate self-discipline, self-respect,
self-confidence, self-esteem and self-control.
“It’s not just kicking and punching,” said Grand Master Ordonio. “A
black belt is everything you do in life. It stays with you the rest of
your life, and you’re setting an example for the citizens – they want
to be also like that.”
Grand Master Ordonio said the most he qualifies for black belt is six or seven per 500 students a year.
“We’re extraordinarily proud of our little Gracie,” said her dad. “Her
being so young – yes, that’s excellent, but this gives her something to
shine in, and that’s what I think is really extra special in our
family.”
Karate Tech is the creation of Grand Master Ordonio, who said it is
American Karate coming from traditional Karate and is mixed with “all
the art” he has studied through the years.
As for little Gracie, she said, “It’s really good to defend yourself.”
