Why I Want to Do Karate?

Why do I do karate? Because at first, when I was 5 years old, I thought that sports didn’t really matter. I was never really interested in basketball or football. But, when I heard about martial arts I thought it was interesting, so I tried it and I liked it. When I tried the other sports they were not as good as karate.

December 20, 2009

I left Mexico where I started my karate. Mama told me that I was going to Minnesota. At first it was new for me. I hated Minnesota at first, but once I got used to it. I loved it.

The food was super good. The weather is not as hot as it is in Mexico and there are not a lot of dogs that run around without leashes either. When I was in Mexico, my sister Lizzie Lion just learned how to walk and a dog charged at her and bit her. I was really mad at the dog even though l’m usually a dog person.

January 11, 2011

I just turned 6 and I missed karate so much that I asked my mom if we could go into town and look around for any sports. She said no at first. But I finished my schoolwork super quick and we got in the car and went to a karate school that I saw. The first place we went to I thought was violent and I didn’t like it and the instructor looked like he wasn’t really cool.

January 15, 2011

We finally found a place called Ultimate Martial Arts. It had a cool name, and it had pads to shield the body. UMA had a funny instructor but he was also serious each time I was there. I felt like I was home.

April 10, 2011

It was my first tournament. I was a white belt and I was nervous, but after I won second place I was really happy. I even got my picture taken. I felt like I was alive and I even cried because I was so happy.

November 5, 2011

I went around the house and said today is my birthday. I was really happy because I knew something good was going to happen that day. Some people said I was weird, but to me it was normal. I went to karate that day just like I always went. But this time, I would graduate to a purple belt AND it was my birthday on the same day!

September 11, 2012

I was getting better and better each time I went to class. I got my purple belt a while ago, but I had to stop going for a while because my family lived overseas. By then I learned a new form. And, I learned new self-defenses and learned new kicks. I was very happy with my advanced class.

October 5, 2013

I got my Brown belt. I was so close to my Black Belt, but I didn’t get my black belt at 8 because we had to move to Saudi Arabia.

April 10, 2015

When I was 10 my teacher came over and had a talk with me. He said if I don’t practice I won’t get my black belt and if I don’t run back to my spot quickly enough l’ll be late. His eyes stared at me as if he was looking for a lie. And then he said, “All right Mr. Haney see you at the graduation.”

May 8, 2015

I was invited to graduation! The Black Belt graduation in Minneapolis!! I would graduate and be a black belt! Then I knew that I had to work harder and practice because if I don’t l’ll make my teacher look bad. Today was the day where my mom was taking me. While I was in the car I learned why Master Nelson was so hard on me. He doesn’t want me to make him look bad. My Mom said that wasn’t the entire truth. She said that Master Nelson wanted me to feel like a black belt had meaning. I said if I didn’t look good that I would be making the entire school look bad. I was the only candidate there from my school. I felt nervous and I thought that I couldn’t do this, but I did it anyway. I did it not because of the black belt but because of what I had to prove to myself and to the school. When we finished all the forms and all of the multiple attackers, I felt proud when my own Master came and congratulated me. I also created forms of my own, not for the requirement, but for myself that is what I really learned. You don’t get your black belt just because you think you are one of the best. You get your black belt because you work harder and harder each and every day.

July 19 2015

I created my first business. I called it ‘The Black Belt Foundation.’ I created it because a lot of people make excuses that they won’t go to tournaments because of time or money. So, I thought that if I could fix these problems, then they would be able to go. I was also thinking if I could get enough money I could rent a bus and then I could take people to those tournaments and they would see what is so great about these tournaments. I wished for my school to become a tournament school and have my own mega team. I also wished that all of my fellow black belts would help me with this and have practice days on Monday. I always wished to be a teacher on my own but I have to be older. But that dream is still there. I want to go to the top 3 tournaments in the world and see the winners. Maybe if I work hard I could even be one!

October 8, 2015

I was going to the Diamond Nationals! It was a big karate tournament that my teacher told me only the good students would do well at. I was very proud of myself. I didn’t have my black belt when I was 8 because I had to go to Saudi Arabia with my father. I got into really bad shape and I was never proud of myself and then when I got back everyone looked at me like I was some Brown Belt root beer kid. I felt very bad of myself and I didn’t want to become like I was in Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, I was always sitting on my butt and feeling bad that my karate was not as good as it was before. Sometimes I wished I had a genie so that I could become super strong and never lose that strength. But, I knew that wouldn’t happen. Things don’t happen just because you wish for it. When I was 9, I won the state county fair and I got to participate at the Minnesota state fair. I didn’t win though. I lost to some people who did ballet and they won 330 dollars and got to go to the championship.

January 18, 2016

This is not the end of my story. I have more to go and I wish for people who want to do karate to just do it. Right now, my brother and sisters and I have started practicing again for the next tournament in April. I am not in good shape again like I was just four months ago. But, I have a schedule, and I have goals. I don’t have my teacher here in Saudi Arabia. But I do have my black belt. I know I can be disciplined enough to get ready. Because I want to. Because it’s important to me. I can do this. And if you read this, I want you to know that I believe that you can do it too. I believe in you.

Written By Brent Haney

AKA The Mozart of Karate

#WhatsYourTake #BrentHaney