The new black belts will continue their training at Augustine's Martial Arts and will also instruct all lower ranked students. A ceremony was held at Augustine's Martial Arts 161 Madison St., Feb. 18.

But what makes Almasy and Chandler so remarkable is that they’ve received their adult black belts, at ages 14 and 10. Jim Pawlak opened Fair Haven Martial arts in 2007.

White says that in the mid-1970s, martial arts schools were largely staffed by ex-G.I.'s, who brought their training in karate and tae kwon do back from tours of duty overseas.

Kalamazoo Sports Kalamazoo karate instructor joins exclusive group with 10th-degree black belt Updated: Dec. 16, 2016, 1:19 p.m. | Published: Dec. 16, 2016, 12:19 p.m.

Dan Anderson started a karate school in Gresham almost 30 years ago. At 59 years old he earned his ninth-degree black belt, and is still at the school, teaching little ones the front kicks that ...