27 years ago, I was mike's student when I was 12 and 13 years old. I had to quit a little while after I became a Light Green belt. Then when I was 16 I joined one of his student's dojos for the next 4.5 years and was promoted to third degree brown belt, which they added the year I got my second degree brown belt. I never got an Isshinryu black belt, because I failed the test six consecutive times. I have defeated Jujitsu UFC second degree black belts who have a 90% win percentage using techniques I first learned from Mike Storms assistant instructors 27 years ago, even though I hadn't practiced in 18 years at the time I fought them. I was also a student of Mark Meyers for 4.5 years, and he was one of Mike's Students. I intend to rejoin an Isshinryu dojo, maybe this one, and this time I'm going to train to actually fight in the UFC, even though I am medically disabled and well past my prime. I know I can win it in my own weight class, and I'll even challenge the UFC heavyweights when I get back in shape again. I can beat them even with my nerve damage and muscle atropy, so If I can get back 95% of the damage, because my doctor has reversed the nerve damage, if I can retrain even half as good as I was 20 years ago, I can literally beat any UFC fighter. And it started with Mike Storms for me. He and hist instructors taught me counters and moves I used to submit real UFC fighters who had 90% win ratings and were Gracie Jujitsu Second Degrees. I could beat them in 10 seconds flat. I could beat them one handed, and I could even beat them using only my right PINKY, and I do not lie. I've mostly fixed my diet and medical problems and I know if I trained 6 months or so with someone as good as HIM, I'd be able to beat anybody else anyway, medical problem or no problem, because Isshinryu really is three belt degrees better than any other style. Thanks, Wade Smith I also would like to be taught more pressure points and acupuncture points. At Mark's dojo, there was a second degree black belt I sparred all the time who used those against me, and he beat me 9 out of 10 sparring matches, and the other on eof ten matches we would just call that a draw. But if he hit a pressure point or acupuncture point just right, it would make your arm or leg go limp like a noodle. I'd like to learn how to do that to UFC fighters so I could beat them effortlessly, because in all these years, I've never seen ANY of them use any of these points in a fight. I'm pretty sure Mike Storms knows these points. I'll sign a waiver or something for my medical condition, and I'll circuit train and stuff, I just need a refresher course on the pressure points and locks and such. I stil have wicked punches and kicks for my weight class, and I can get back a certain amount of what I lost too with some training.

To fully express the positive benefits of karate, I would first have to tell you a little about myself. I am an overweight, tired mother of four beautiful, busy children. I rise every morning at 5 A.M. to exercise. This is mainly for my mental health as my diet stinks! I signed on for 8 months as a buddy with my 3 oldest children. I would never ask them to do something that I would not do as well. They were not so keen on signing up. This was my brilliant idea, a way to empower them and promote self confidence. I quickly realized that I was completely out of my comfort zone. If I am completely honest I am still out of my comfort zone… However, as we are moving along this path as a family, we all have the same goal, “Black Belt Leadership Sir!” I now sleep a little later on karate days. I find it a lot more fun to exercise with my children! My husband stays home with our youngest child on our karate days, I love spending time with the older kids! We have all laughed at each other as we are perfecting our kicks, blocks, and punches! I am watching my children learn to use their words and their body language more confidently, as am I!! I am thinking twice about those late night trips to the pantry for Oreos, as I reinforce the “input = output” lesson we just discussed last week. I find myself replaying the lesson on “patience” as I sit in traffic, hurrying to our next piano, violin, gymnastics, lesson etc…. while these same little ears are listening. In short, I