Posts by Rick
Alumni Of the Week “Emily Thornton”
Emily ThorntonEmily began training at Mountainside Martial Arts Center in 2001. In 2008, she earned her 1st degree black belt, and in 2009 competed at a world championship in Japan. Emily’s passion for karate stems from her love of biomechanics and the spiritual focus of training. She cherishes Mountainside as a second-home that fostered her…
Read MoreAlumni Of the Week “Austin Farr”
Austin FarrAustin began training Wado Ryu karate under Sensei Rick Savagian as a 7 year old in 2001. In 2007, Austin earned his 1st degree black belt and in 2011 he earned his 2nd degree. For Austin, Karate was a way of life and taught him at a young age to have drive, determination, dedication,…
Read MoreAlumni Of the Week “Parker Frist”
Parker FristParker began his training at Mountainside Martial Arts in 2006. Through the program he learned the importance of hard work, dedication, and discipline. In 2013 Parker achieved his Black Belt after a long year of training as a “1st Kyu High” rank, a testament to the perseverance instilled by the dojo. In 2016, Parker…
Read MoreAlumni Of the Week “Robb Blackaby”
Robb BlackabyRobb began training Wado Ryu karate under Sensei Rick Savagian in 1990, while studying at the University of Arizona. Robb learned that karate was much more than a self-defense art, but a character improving discipline that can be applied to all aspects of life. Robb competed in karate tournaments at the highest level, and…
Read MoreSensei Says… Competition and Competitive Spirit
Many people believe that the purpose of competition is simply to “beat up” your opponent, to somehow demonstrate that you are “better” than them. I say that is not at all what competition or the competitive spirit is about. Instead, the competitive spirit should be a test against yourself, to raise your expectations, to test…
Read MoreSensei Says…Goals
The establishment of our definitive goals can be an important part of our academic, athletic and other growth endeavors. They are our objectives, aims and targets that we shoot for that will give us specific directions for our energies.Goals are our opportunities to keep us focused toward our target when obstacles and stumbling blocks intervene…
Read MoreSensei Says… Little by little, you are there
Little by little, you are there. As we have trained hard this past year our accomplishments were visible and little by little, we were there. The path we take is our journey, little by little. It is inch by inch, day by day, step by step, all the way, little by little you are there.…
Read MoreSensei Says… Get To Class Early
Having the opportunity over the past 40 years to teach students from pre-school to the university level, I have been asked on numerous occasions what are the main keys to a student’s success. After years of refining my ideas, it always comes back to these simple tasks; attend all your classes, be prudent, do not…
Read MoreSensei Says… Flow
When I think of all the traditional styles of martial arts that I have been able to read about, study and observe, I always seem to focus on the style that is most fluid, and not one that has a more forceful style. Shihan Osaka has always stated that we should flow with nature in…
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