Posts by Rick

Vinny ParthasarathyVinny first began his training at Mountainside Martial Arts in 2005. He achieved his black belt in the November of 2014 after nine years of intense training. In his thirteen years at Mountainside Martial Arts, Vinny learned focus and discipline and has devoted the dojo’s five precepts to his everyday life. In the summer…

Lydia LaFavorLydia studied Wado-Ryu at Mountainside Martial Arts Center from 1992 until she graduated from Mountain Pointe High School in 2003. She earned her black belt in 1999 and was honored to compete for Team USA at the Wado-Ryu World Cup in Tokyo, Japan in 2002. These years of training were a formative and powerful…

Adam BubenAdam began training in Wado Ryu karate under Sensei Rick Savagian in 1992, while a student at Mountain Pointe High School. Adam always saw karate as a way of life, as something that would inform all of his other activities, both physical and mental. Adam competed in tournaments throughout the US, and in Japan.…

Mike BarlowMichael Barlow started training at the age of 30 and earned his black belt at the age of 40. He has resumed his training at the age of 61. His four children studied under Sensi Rick and now one of his grandchildren is training. Mike has a 36 year career as a Senior Vice…

Joey SnevaJoey began training in Wado Ryu Karate with Sensei Rick Savagian in 1990 at the University of Arizona. She earned her black belt in 1995. Karate instilled many life lessons that have helped Joey throughout her life—dedication, perseverance, confidence, the rewards of hard work. Joey earned her B.S. in Wildlife Biology at the U…

Robert YangRobert began training at Mountainside Martial Arts Center in 2003. In 2009, he earned his 1st degree black belt. Through karate, Robert learned more than self-defense. He was taught discipline, determination, and spirit that he still carries with him. Robert graduated from University of Arizona with a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, B.S.…

Phil ColePhil began his Wado Ryu karate training at the Mountainside Martial Arts Center in 2007 as a father son activity with his son, Tyler. In 2013 at the age of 51 he earned his blackbelt, Shodan level. Phil has had a successful careers in both the aerospace and medical device industries. He has both…

Ian GoodsonIan Goodson started training at Mountainside Martial Arts Center in August 2004, that was the beginning of his 13 year journey with the amazing people at Mountainside Martial Arts and Sensei Rick Savagian. In November 2010 he achieved the rank of Shodan; in 2014 Nidan was all Ian could think about. In November of…

Tyler ColeTyler began his Wado Ryu karate training at the Mountainside Martial Arts Center in 2006 at the age of 9. He earned his blackbelt, Shodan level, in 2013 and continued to train at the dojo into his senior year at Desert Vista High School. Tyler was accepted into the Barrett Honors College at Arizona…

Nathaniel HusbandNathaniel graduated from U of A with a degree in Bio Medical Engineering, with honors, and went on to earn his masters degree in Physiology. He is currently attending medical school at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Although he is not actively practicing Karate, he lives his life based on the precepts…