Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1512887
W K C W O R L D K A R AT E C H A M P I O N S H I P S : 1 Overall Grand Champion title 8 world titles 6 silver medals 12 bronze medals Multiple top ten finalists W K C N AT I O N A L K A R AT E C H A M P I O N S H I P S : 28 national titles Qualification for Team USA in 58-plus divisions B R E A K D O W N O F T H E I R W I N S Rissa K.: I began martial arts training at five years old. By seven, I was competing; 10, assistant teaching; 13, teaching my own classes and creating demo teams. At 17, I'd earned my first competition titles. Martial arts have always been a big part of who I am. In 2017, I met Tim, an even bigger dreamer and one of the best martial artists I have ever met, and I discovered that we shared the same dream of opening a karate studio. We felt very prepared with our knowledge and expertise of our 25+ years in the martial arts industry, but one thing you can't prepare for is health complications. I had a stroke just months before opening NHK. The stroke affected my speech, memory, balance, and spatial awareness. There were only seven months between coming home from the hospital and opening the studio doors. Those seven months of recovery were one of my biggest challenges, as I had to re-learn how to speak and move at the level before my stroke. I was actually more determined to be better than I was before because as co-owner of NHK, I wanted to prove that with hard work and passion, nothing can stop a person from achieving greatness. As any entrepreneur knows, the first five years of owning a business are the most challenging. We opened a week before the statewide COVID-19 lockdown. We taught classes virtually and later opened the studio for small group classes. Now we teach a full program Monday-Friday. Any students ages three years and up can start their martial arts journey with us at NHK. All students start with learning the foundation of Taekwondo and Sport Karate basics: stances, kicks, strikes, and blocks. When Tim had the dream of bringing a team of students to represent Team USA, I was inspired and motivated to make it a reality. In the 10 months leading up to Worlds, Tim and I taught over 20 new forms of various styles (Korean, Japanese, Kenpo, Traditional Weapons) to these students, who had only been competing for two years. Some of the older team members trained before we opened NHK. Still, we had to build them up to be the champions they are today. Students come to the studio one to two hours a day at least four days a week, with the occasional weekend session, learning detailed conditioning drills and forms. The most important principles Tim and I try to impart to every NHK student stem from our life- and character- building skills, which we incorporate into our martial arts culture. F RO M T H E S T U D E N T S How doEs it feEl to be parT of TeAm USA? Madison S. "It feels amazing; I never thought I'd make it this far. I am super proud and honored to be on Team USA. I had to work really hard to be on the team, and I am so happy I have a chance to represent Team USA." Charlize D. "Great! I feel like a piece of a puzzle, a big, amazing team! We all hold it together." How has karate impacTed yOur life? Jasmine G. "Karate teaches us how to focus and channel our energy into something positive. We learn to be kind and patient, and it enhances our social skills." What's speciAl aboUt beInG an NhK sTudenT? Sadie B. "I am one of the older kids at NHK, and it's a great feeling to feel like a big sister. The teaching style at NHK isn't just moves; they teach you discipline, self-control, and many other life skills. I have done karate for only three years; it was a lot to catch up with people who have trained their entire lives. I was able to catch up by having discipline, working hard, and trusting my instructors." What's helped mosT in yOur atHletic careEr? Aanika D. "Both Mr. Conkel and Ms. Kilar have helped me so much throughout my taekwondo journey, and they are possibly some of the best martial artists in the world. Along with them, I would like to believe that my love for taekwondo has played a role, as well as the work I have put into my training." For more, follow New Heights Karate on Facebook and Instagram and visit maconmagazine.com. BELOW The 12 Team USA members, taken at their meeting with the governor of Georgia. Photo courtesy of NHK.