It is with tremendous honor and pleasure that I make this unprecedented announcement for the first time in this lineage’s history:

   As the Senior Master Instructor, I have great pride in making public for the first time since July of 1977 that Soke John B. Burkhardt has ordered and promoted one of our students to the prestigious rank of 1st Degree Black Belt. This student is only the 8th person in our esteemed history to receive a black belt from him. Soke Burkhardt has been training students for over 48 years in two states, after being trained in the United States Army Airborne in Fort Bragg N.C.. He trained under the only International Commissioner of Karate, Henry Slomanski and became one of Slomanski’s seven Master Instructors.  Out of the many hundreds of students who were trained in Burkhardt’s Dojo’s only seven have ever obtained the black belt until now. The newest black belt should be honored and proud of their hard work and achievements. With their new rank comes a lot of responsibilities. One is that they carry on the most sacred and honorable traditions of our style with its training, customs and decorum into the future.

What makes this an even more extremely distinctive announcement is that for the first time in this style’s history, a woman was able to endure the training while working her way up the ranks for all “senior” grade belts.  Not many adult men have lasted in this traditional style of Japanese Marital Arts. This rank takes more than ones physical ability alone. It is consideration and judgment of their character as well as in leadership skills in all walks of life. It takes so much more to represent what this style stands for and what Henry Slomanski accomplished in his martial arts career. This rank is also not easily obtained because of the requirements and the full power contact, while never utilizing any kind of pads for protection.


  At this time, I have the exceptional opportunity to announce, not only as the Senior Master Instructor of this style, but also as the student’s father... that Daneen A. Whinna has been promoted from Brown Belt, to the rank and title of Sensei 1st Degree Black Belt effective October 1, 2011. Grand Master John B. Burkhardt, 10th Degree Red Belt, by his authority and handed down by Commissioner Henry Slomanski has reviewed and tested Daneen’s abilities, her character, and qualifications and has seen her competent to be promoted.  He has found her capable to represent all who have gone before her, and conduct herself with honor and an able to train others as well. 

During her training Daneen has sustained many injuries while working with her all male counterparts. She has broken bones, numerous harsh bruises, and received blackened eyes. Because of my position in this style, I have made it abundantly clear that I would take a hands off approach when it comes to Daneen’s advancements. I wanted to make it unconditional and assured she was given the credit for her ability, her character and not because of who her father is.

What made this an added outstanding ceremony in Coudersport Pa., and giving Daneen so much delight is that Soke John B. Burkhardt personally designed and ordered her first embroidered black belt. He and his wife Judy paid for this beautiful belt too.

I can by no means give all the accolades to Daneen without mentioning Mrs. Judy Burkhardt who has been a major influence on Daneen, and she given her tremendous encouragement and has been a positive roll model in her entire training career. Judy was the first person to congratulate her at the ceremony that took place on October 1st 2011, in Coudersport PA. I sat by respectfully and proud as I watched my daughter and the newest black belt, Sensei Daneen A. Whinna, dawn her black belt and black gi, the symbol and right of only a black belt in this style.

Congratulations Sensei Whinna from your Senior Master Instructor and father. Continue to train, for we as students will always continue to learn everyday. Have the unrelenting thirst for knowledge and history in the annals of this art.

Hanshi Lester A. Whinna
7th Dan Black Belt
Slo Ryu Karate Do Federation
 


Comments


Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply