BY KEN SUMNER
Sensei Grady Lakusta travelled to Red Deer for his second degree black belt test, Dec. 14. This test is one of the more uncommon tests as few students make it this far.
Grady, has been doing martial arts now for a number of years. He started training with Arashi-Do while he was young and has continued through his teenage years. He is now 17 and still training consistently. He has taken a role of assistant instructor, as well as the primary instructor for the competition team. Now, he's being recognized for his knowledge and dedication to karate.
The second degree black belt test is an extension of the black belt karate program. The black belt is not the end but just a stepping stone through the path of karate. The degrees, starting from one and going up to 10, denote further understanding, and mastery of the martial art of karate. The black belt symbolizes the understanding and knowledge of the basics. The further degrees denote further understanding, further knowledge, and dedication to be martial art of karate.
Grady, started out as a young boy, and has now matured into a excellent man. His courage, levelheadedness, and loyalty have grown and been nurtured through his path to the martial arts.
As a result Grady was invited to the black belt test in Red Deer. Through the two and half hour technical, and then the two hour Sparring test, Grady showed poise, grit, and relentless spirits. Then through the ceremony, was awarded his second degree black.
He joins a very small group of people from Sylvan Lake who have achieved this rank. The last person before Grady was Sensei Ken, the head instructor of Arashi-Do Sylvan Lake. Sensei Ken achieved this rank in 2009.
Both Sensei Ken and Sensei Grady continue to train Karate and Brazilian Jiujitsu in Sylvan Lake.