HOLLY HERNANDEZ / PVT Dojo denizens are, from left at back, Sensei Jose Hernandez and students Maggie Talley, Jerry Hall and Frank Maurizio; middle row, Tai Jade Saunders, Jana Burnthon, Steven McKnight, Scotty Taylor, Tom Wujek and Tisa Sawin; front row, Dylan Landsberry, Edwin Monge, Esad Mrkulic, Michael Marotta, Adam Leavitt, Reinani Baranowski, Michael McDougall, Deborah Talley and Jacob Sawin. Advertisement

On Feb. 28, Dragon Cloud Dojo USA proudly promoted 18 students to their next belt level of achievement.

Sensei Jose Hernandez addressed the large crown of parents, family and friends in attendance by stating that 24 students tested and 18 passed, enabling them to move on to the next level. He spoke of the commitment, determination, hard work and dedication by the students to advance through the program.

Hernandez compared Dragon Cloud Dojo's karate program to a road trip, with many stops and obstacles along the way, starting in white belt town, then through hard work to yellow belt town, then on to green belt town, followed by brown belt town.

Each stop along the way prepares and instills dedication and perseverance as students work their way to black belt town.

He went on to explain not all who start the journey will complete it for various reasons.

With great pride he presented each student with the hard-earned belt and certificate of achievement and accomplishment. He pointed out the potholes, detours and road closures many students overcame. Their patience, perseverance, hard work, commitment and dedication to move on to the next level brought much applause from those in attendance.

Brown belts obtaining their 1st Kyu or better understood as advanced brown belts were Jerry Hall, Steven McKnight, Scotty Taylor and Tom Wujek. Their next test, scheduled later this year, may advance them to the ultimate honor and achievement of black belt.

Two additional young men advanced to brown belt, Michael Marotta and Esad Mrkulic. Mrkulic, according to Hernandez, is the youngest student achieving this rank.

Six students advanced from green belt to advanced green belt. Reinani Baranowski (highest overall test score), Dylan Landsberry (highest score on written test), Adam Leavitt, Edwin Monge, Tai Jade Sanders and Maggie Talley (highest score on the physical test).

An additional six students were promoted from advanced yellow belt to green belt, including a mother and her son: Jana Burnthon, receiving the first ever perfect score on the physical test, Frank Maurizio, Michael McDougall, Tisa and her son Jacob Sawin and Deborah Talley.

Dragon Cloud's program does not just teach karate. School kids in the program are required to keep their grades and attendance in good standing. Education, self-improvement and the "best you can be" are major assets to becoming a successful, productive and integral part of society.

The Dragon Cloud karate program is an avid family affair. Enrollment consists of many different family associations, from mother and son, to father and son, to grandfather and granddaughter, sisters and brothers, wives and husbands, and entire families.

Jacob Sawin started the program while his mother Tisa attended a gym class for her workouts. After witnessing her son's progress and training, Tisa Sawin decided to take classes as well. This gives them quality time together whether in class, working out together at home or testing each other on karate history and style for an up coming advancement test or a tournament.

Tina Landsberry's son Dylan has been in the program for a couple of years. She likes the fact that Dylan spends time in class and at home he is busy practicing and studying, diverting his attention away from video games.

Each student has a different reason for taking Dragon Cloud Dojo's Chugoku Kenpo Karate program. For some, it is the physical work out, others find it spiritual. There are those that want to be the best they can be and find it gratifying and enjoyable. Each stop on the karate road trip gives them a sense of personal accomplishment and the will to set their goal on the next stop in their journey.

Hernandez has dedicated himself to the art of Chugoku Kenpo Karate for the majority of his life. Starting as a student, training continually to become a black belt, then proceeding to earn the title of Sensei which is a third degree black belt. He continued his training to become a Renshi, a fifth degree or higher black belt, meaning a "polished expert."

He has been inducted into many national karate and martial arts halls of fame and has devoted much time perfecting and developing his teaching technique's and programs to work for students of all ages, impairments and expectations.

Dragon Cloud doesn't stop at offering karate and martial arts but also teaches tai chi and offers yoga and pilates classes. They are located at 2160 E. Calvada Blvd. Call 751-0244.