As you can see in the picture, my journey started just after my 6th birthday when my Mum and Dad took me to a karate lesson at a club called EWF Martial Arts in Kenilworth.

At first, I was quite nervous about joining because it was new surroundings and a big group of other children that I had never met before. But because Mum and Dad thought that I had lazy Saturdays, and they wanted me to get some more exercise, as well as wanting me to get a bigger friendship group and increased self-confidence.

I have not had a “lazy” Saturday morning now for nearly 4 years and I do not mind at all since Karate is one of my favourite activities.

Karate teaches me lots of things like respect for the teachers and students. It was hard work at first and some of the moves are complicated, but is also so much fun learning with friends.

At each stage of my journey, I had to take a test or “grading”. All students start as a White belt but if you pass the gradings, you move up to the next belts, and these are: - Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, Brown-Red, Brown-Red-Red, Brown-White, Brown-White-White, Black-Brown, Black-White, Black-Red, and then at last, Black Belt. No wonder that it took me nearly 4 years!

This December, I went to the EWF Centre in Leicester to take my Black Belt grading. It was so nerve racking because I knew that it was going to be tough! The grading assessment lasted for an hour and a half and we had to show that we could do: -
• 50 press ups
• 50 sit ups
• 50 crunches
• 200 drop side kicks
• 100 leg lunges
As well as this, we had to perform 2 “Katas”. These are sequences of kicks and punches.

I passed!!! On 4th January, me and others, received our Black Belts and a red rose of gratitude (which I gave to my lucky Mum). At the graduation ceremony, we had the chance to meet with Mr Khorsan, the Karate Master. I felt so proud of myself!

Achieving the Black Belt is has not only made me more confident, but it has also taught me to be more determined and disciplined. I have also learned more about respect and belonging to a group of people outside of school.

The journey goes on now. My next target in Karate will be to be awarded Black Belt, First Dan. This can take another year, but it will be worth it.

By Benjy, Year 5