Sensei Tyler Powell - Shodan

I’m an 8^th grader at Ridge Junior High School where I am in the Fine Arts  and  Honors Program, and participate on the Science Olympiad Team.   I have been doing karate for nine years after starting in the Lil’ Dragons program at the age of 4 to increase my self-control.  At 7 yrs. old, I joined the demo team where I remember vowing to myself that I shall never do extreme forms.  I also remember not wanting to go on stage and perform at all because I had stage-fright.  Fast-forwarding to 2006 and I am now immersed in “extremeness”.  I began tricking and came up with nine extreme forms based off of people like Steve Terada, Matt Emig and Marc Canonizado.

This past year, I also helped create Team Revolution along with Andy Sedgwick.  This is the Black Belt Competitive Demonstration Team part of Team KIXXX.  2007 has been the biggest year for me so far.  Most importantly Team Revolution won 4^th place at a huge national tournament behind the top three teams in all of North America.  I have also achieved 3rd and 4th Finalists ranking nationally.   My tricking list continues to increase although I maintain a strong respect for the traditional martial arts, especially after an injury forced me to ease up on the tricks and go back to the basics.  My plans are to go to even more national competition with my team and become more adept in sparring as well. I need to thank my parents and family for their support, Team KIXXX, all of the members in my skit, the dojo and my competitors.  It’s no fun without competitions!