Greensboro,Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Martial Arts,
Mr. Osterholt,
Hello Sir. I hope this message find you, your family and students doing well. I check up on your school from time to time on the web. I hope everything is ok because your websites have not been active over the last year. I am a former student of yours. I began my martial arts journey in 1984 under your instruction at your Market Street dojo. We moved away in 1989 and I have always regretted not earning my karate black belt in your school. I left you as a brown belt. I started training again in college, but stopped when I switched schools. I was a brown belt. College was tough and I didn't take care of myself, gained a lot of weight and didn't consider training again for many years later. Self-discipline I gained while training at your school helped me get back into shape. [Never give up] I started training again at a local ATA taekwondo school and worked hard to quickly attain again the rank of Brown Belt. I took a break after the birth of my son, but then had a string of injuries, a car wreck and subsequent health problems. I was in a lot of pain and day to day life was very difficult and the thought of training again seemed impossible. I thought I would be stuck as a Brown Belt forever! With the strength and encouragement of my wife to support me, I exercised hard for 3 years, re-built my body, and worked on balance and flexibility. [Never give up] I set a goal for myself last year. I would earn my Black Belt by then age of 40. Over the last year, I returned to my dojahng, I have trained hard, endured another string of injuries, and have become very involved in the instructor group at the school. I test for Black Belt this Saturday. I will be 40 in 2 weeks. We are down to the wire. [Never give up!] I have held myself to the same level of quality (I hope) in technique that you and Mrs. Osterholt demonstrated to me many years ago. I wanted to thank you for those formative years--you have no idea what impact your training has had on my life (martial arts and otherwise) and I hope to pass on those same principals to my students. Thank you Sir! Craig Frederick On Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 1:16 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: Dear Craig, What a great letter for me to read right at this time. Thank you for all your kind words. "The world steps aside and lets a man with a purpose pass" is the "key" for red belt, something to ponder as one prepares for his/her Black Belt test. We all get older, I will be 58 in July. I am currently a senior at Guilford College, double majoring in History and Education. The Karate class is doing good. Some students have been active for many years others have returned to practice. Craig Bowyer a student from the 80,s is back in class after 20 years and brought his 12 year old son with him. Thanks again for your kind thoughts and I am sure you will enjoy the experience of the test, I would say best of luck but it seems inappropriate for someone as determined as you. Enjoy and congratulations Bill Mr. Osterholt, The test was a success. I had no doubts that I would pass in the examiners' eyes. However, I did have doubts as to whether I could perform to my expectations. I could have taken this test months ago, but I waited until I decided I was ready to demonstrate the level of performance I felt was my "Black Belt" level. I posted some videos on my YouTube channel if you would like to see--Unfortunately, I am obscured during the form/kata part. Thank you for your support and the initial seeds you helped plant. I will share the knowledge. I do have a request. As part of helping my students I am working on a blog to supplement my classes that will include some philosophy, training tips, and demonstrations. I wrote a draft of an entry entitled "Origins" in which I give you and Diane credit for my beginnings. Do you mind if I use your names and include a photo of you? You have some very nice photos and I found one in particular that was taken around the time that you and I were introduced looks very cool. The draft entry is here:http://atacleveland.blogspot.com/2013/06/origins.html I would also like to blog about some of the training we used to do back in the '80s as well as my students are fascinated by the stories of how we used to train, especially about "the line of respect", which seems to be unique--I haven't seen that done anywhere else. Take care and Thank you, Craig Frederick This is probably one of the best emails I have received in a long time. I think so much of Bill and Diane. I praise Greensboro Karate Institute to so many people I come into conversation with. It truly is amazing how many people I talk to are involved in the martial arts community. I tell Audrey how much I want to get involved again, but work and more work plays too much of a roll at this time. I ran into Lenny Kaplin a couple years ago and he said he was still practicing. I will get back into karate again and only with Bill and Diane, but I need to find the time. If this gets forward to them, please let them know how highly I think of them both and I would not be the person I am if it were not for them both. I will be back again sometime soon!! Brandon Clendenin
Bill & Co. Happy '08, first of all! I thought I might drop a line and see how things were going in Greensboro and with GKI. (Hard to believe its been 14 years...) I found the GKI website recently after I had a conversation with a friend about how I used to take Karate classes when I was younger, and how much they helped my attitude and general physical fitness. I wish I could say I was still as flexible and lithe as I was when I was 14, but unfortunately, time has a way of making head high kicks nearly impossible when you're out of shape and out of practice. Things with me are going well, I live in Chapel Hill currently, after spending some time in Wilmington for college and in Chicago for training in comedy. Right now I work for UNC and I am teaching and performing Improv Comedy at the DSI Comedy Theater in Carrboro (http://www.dsicomedytheater.com) and really loving it . Your Friend, Jeremy Griffin |
Bill
I wanted to let you know that we got so much out of the family experience of being at the test yesterday, as we do in general from karate. It was not just my testing and the support I got from the guys yesterday and during the weeks of preparation. It was also Alex and Jordan's participation in the tough decision making that took place related to Alexander's test. I am relating this to something I read a while back about the challenge of raising boys and how boys are struggling in our society today. The author suggested that boys need a clan to lead them through adolescence. Being raised in a clan used to provide young males with much guidance, support and direction that they just don't get today in with our smaller families and lack of community in the old sense. The experience yesterday made me think of the GKI as a clan with culture, values, and traditions. The way things are done has been developed over the years, the practices have held up well over time, they work, and all of it comes together to move us towards our goals as a group and to teach us much about life, not just karate. According to the author of the book I read, boys in a clan had to earn their right to function as an adult in the tribe. They had different rites of passage to go through. In preparation, they would have to learn many things and then demonstrate what they learned. This took place in various stages as the boys developed. This was very important to the development of responsible young men. With the loss of what we used to have with the clans, we have lost much that our boys need. The author recommends that you find ways in today's society to build a clan for the boys you raise. We didn't really go looking for clan support, but we sure found it with the Greensboro Karate Institute. GKI has been an important part of the clan that has raised our boys. Alex and Jordan have been challenged, supported and taught by many caring and strong adults at GKI over the years. The boys learned to work hard and take risks, but they did this in a very supportive environment. Their biggest rite of passage was to earn their place among the black belts and now they are learning about the responsibilities that come with being part of these leaders. Yesterday they learned a good lesson about the importance of and the courage it takes to make a tough decision that is good for someone in the long run but very hard to make in the short run. They learned in a sense, about tough love and integrity. The school has taught them many important things, including courage, confidence, the value of practice and perseverance, discipline and finding and controlling their outer and inner strength. I just found the book that I am referring to. It is called A Fine Young Man by Michael Gurian. He also wrote the Wonder of Boys. Have you seen these books? Gurian writes: "males who don't have a larger, nourishing group-whether filled with blood kin or non-blood kin-have less ability to prove themselves, something they are biochemically, neurologically , and culturally wired to do, especially in adolescence. Males (and of course, females too) flourish when loving clans, mentors and friends help them along. The less clan the child has, the more isolated s/he feels. Despite the stereotype of the loner male, in fact, it is a rare adolescent male who doesn't naturally and instinctually seek a trustworthy clan in which to be loved." Gurian also writes: "If there is any single activity available to our males that could come close to satisfying nearly any adolescent male's need for physical integrity building, it would be martial arts. Martial arts, when taught by a person of integrity, teaches not only many of the aspects of physical integrity - respect of body, focus, enjoyment- but many of the other integrities as well (in the book he writes about the 10 integrities a boy needs to develop as he matures)." He continues to write that in his private practice as a family therapist, he often prescribes martial arts for many of the problems adolescent males face. He writes, "Good martial arts training is as much about teaching delicacy, fragility, and protection of brittleness as it is about raw muscular power." Thanks for doing what you do. It is VERY important to our family. We are extremely proud and glad to be a part of the Greensboro Karate Institute. Tracy Patterson Dear Mr. Bill Osterholt
Thank you for the CD covering the Blackbelt testing event for our son Richard and our grandson Alexander. Even though we endured a lot of stress at the time, watching the program, we still enjoyed it and are proud of what they have accomplished under your fine supervision. We especially thank you and your wife, Diane and your asssociate personal for the encouragement and assistance they freely shared with them. The respect, discipline and interest is well demonstrated in Richard’s and Julene’s family and also in all your students. You lead them to strive for perfection and it shows. We know that your organization is not a Karate belt factory of overnight Blackbelts. Your students earn their Belts by sheer hardwork and peer acknowledgement and acceptance. You ought to be proud and we are too, that you are not identified with such commercialism. The pride and dedication displayed in your classes is evident in the way your students react to the instructions from you and Diane. It wasn’t too long ago that we watched our other grandson John and his mother Julene receive the Blackbelt. Under your teaching leadership, You have brought out the best in all of them and it shows and it is also a very rewarding feeling to us. We wish you continued success with your exceptionally fine program. Yours truly, Lorraine and Dick Valitutto ____________________________________________________
This message is for Bill Osterholt who taught my son, Brandon Clendenin several years ago. Brandon still speaks of you, his once extended family and his 10 years of karate. He is 27yrs old now, has been married 2yrs to a beautiful young lady named Audrey, owns a nice home off Friendly Avenue, has a good job and is going to be a "Dad" in July. These years have been good to him and we owe his self-discipline to Greensboro Karate Institute. Let me know if you receive this message. Thank you!! Julia (Clendenin) Carter ____________________________________________________ |