After high school I had a break from training to pursue my career but later returned to the dojo to continue training on a regular basis. Having a physically demanding job and a lower back injury, karate training helps me maintain the physical strength and flexibility to avoid injuries. Shihan Keleher has been a great influence in my life and is not only a Karate teacher and coach but a mentor who has been there even when faced with life’s biggest challenges. Karate training with no doubt strengthens the mind, body and spirit and encourages a healthy life.
To us, AAMA Karate quickly became a lot more than just punches and kicks. We started learning more and more about ourselves; AAMA Karate had become a journey of self-discovery. Shihan Graham Keleher’s ability to connect with his students is amazing. His method has taught us how to learn, practice, think and behave Karate. More than that, Shihan Graham Keleher uses Karate to teach us life skills.
We feel a lot more positive and confident about ourselves and that has made a tremendous difference in our lives, both at home and at work. We have learnt to appreciate both the martial aspect of Karate (dedication, discipline, respect and tradition) and the art aspect of it (the purpose, intensity and precision of the techniques).
I am not on my way to a 2nd Dan black belt… I am on my way to a better me! Ah, and earning a black belt in martial arts would be nice too!
I could not leave this message without sharing the most valuable lesson I have learnt so far: Do not awful-ise! Want to find out more about it? Well, then you better start your own AAMA Karate-Do journey…
I was fortunate to make the decision to take up Karate at AAMA after seeing the benefits to my daughter after she had trained for 6 years. I came to karate with little previous sporting experience, poor coordination and a lack of fitness. In spite of these impediments, Shihan Keleher and the instructors at AAMA were able to guide me to the achievement of my Black Belt. At AAMA I learned that I could accomplish much more than I thought. Now my fitness levels have improved and I understand what Sarah meant when she said she was going to training to ‘get her head straight’. Karate is one of the best ways I have discovered for clearing my head, relieving stress, and getting a better perspective on life.
A week after the children started their lessons, I also decided to join. I had been searching for a way of staying active that was constantly challenging AND enjoyable but that also accommodated my ongoing rehabilitation after major surgery. It was encouraging to see students at the dojo from a very wide age group. I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I look forward to going to every class and the timing of training sessions suit family life. Importantly though, I can see this as a physical and mental activity I will be able to participate in for a long time to come, with the added benefit of being able to train with my children as they progress.