Information overload

"Jujitsu-themed pornography website" ...? Am I missing something here? Something perhaps a wee bit on the naughty side?

Story:
In some cases, it’s the online users who are reaping the digital revolution’s benefits.

When my little sister’s English class wanted dirt on their teacher at Scarsdale Middle School, they Googled her name, and voila! — topless photos from a jujitsu-themed pornography website. The teacher was axed (or karate chopped, if you will) a few months later.

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Not everyday business

An attempted robbery turned ugly for one of the robbers when he was allegedly stabbed by the owner of a garment factory in Lautoka who fought off the robbers to defend his family.

A police spokesman confirms to Village News that six masked men entered the businessman’s house after smashing the sliding door and attack the 45 year old owner.

The owner who has a black belt in karate told police that he fought of the invaders and in the process stabbed one of them with a penknife in self defense.

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Judo politics?

The final round of the Judo European Club Championship will not be held in Tbilisi, the Georgian Judo Federation informed yesterday. The European Judo Union (EJU) sited the recent escalation of the political turmoil between Georgia and Russia and moved the tournament to Budapest, Hungary.

"This decision is final and it won't be altered. The members of the board have unanimously voted for it", the Judo European Federation president Marius Viser of Romania told the Georgian journalists.

The Georgian Judo Federation believes that Russia is behind the controversial decision.

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Mano-A-Muzzle

A tae kwon do instructor is nursing some broken ribs after going nose to nose with a black bear.

It was late Wednesday night when the 18-year-old heard something rustling in a shed on the farm where he lives, near Milaca, Minnesota

He investigated and heard some deep snorting before a figure came crawling out of the shadows. The next thing he knew, the figure had taken a swipe at his left leg, shredding his jeans from the pockets to his knee.

"I was thinking my leg's was going to be all torn out," he said.

Realizing it was a bear, his instincts kicked in and he utilized his training as a black-belt martial arts instructor.

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Steroids

It is not just baseball where steroid talk is a problem.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is a rising phenomenon in sports. UFC, for short, is a mixed martial arts promotion that combines every type of fighting from boxing to wrestling to Jiu-Jitsu into one competitive sport.

Stephan Bonnar, 29, is one of the UFC's most popular up and coming superstars. After a decision loss to friend Forrest Griffin, Bonnar tested positive for Boldenone Metabolite, an anabolic steroid mainly used for treatment of horses.

Bonnar is not the only UFC fighter to test positive for steroids.

Josh Barnett, 28, became the youngest UFC Heavyweight Champion ever when he defeated Randy Couture in March 2002. Barnett was later stripped of the title for failing a drug test.

"This problem is not going away,"said Julie Veen, a doctor in White Plains, N.Y. "Not only are steroids damaging to your body, but they can ruin your career. There's no need for any athlete or anyone period to use any illegal supplements."

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In critical condition

No matter how cruel and senseless this is, it may be pretty far-fetched to call it a "martial arts- style attack" simply because the attacker uses a back fist.

Story:
UK -- A man was today in a critical condition after being found unconscious on a Leeds street following a vicious martial arts- style attack.

The attacker launched an unprovoked attack on 20-year-old victim Peter Daniels who had just left a Leeds nightspot.

He is said to be in a coma and in a critical condition at Leeds General Infirmary where his family are keeping a bedside vigil.

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"Near riot"

Nebraska -- Police Chief Mel Griggs said he'll recommend that mixed martial arts fights never be held in the city again after what he called a "near riot" broke out at fights held at the Gering Civic Center.

Three people were arrested after the disturbance inside and outside the Civic Center on Friday night. Several hundred were in attendance.

Griggs said about 15 people were involved in the melee and that alcohol was a factor.

The people taken into custody were held on various charges, including disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, hindering a police officer and assaulting a police officer. Griggs said a taser had to be used to control one of those jailed.

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An option, after all

"Failure cannot be considered an option!" Really ... Re-he-he-heally? Unless his objective was to get laughed at, I think this Yale graduate has to take it back! What a character - what a guy :-)

Story:
Thousands of Ivy Leaguers circulate their resumes each year to New York's investment banks, but few garner as much attention as this person, who last week submitted an 11-page resume and video to UBS's human resources department.

By the week's end, the Yale University senior's video had raised scores of eyebrows and sparked much laughter in nearly every firm on Wall Street.

The man identifies himself on his resume as a multi-sport professional athlete, the CEO of two companies, and an investment adviser. The video depicts him lifting a 495-pound weight, serving a tennis ball at 140 miles an hour, and ballroom dancing with a scantily clad female. Finally, he emerges enrobed in a white karate suit and breaks six bricks in one fell swoop.

Between athletic bits, the man takes the opportunity to opine on success. After being described in the opening lines of the video as "a model of personal success and development to everybody," he states, "Failure cannot be considered an option."

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Kids fight pain

Here's another news article that you really should read - moving to say the least!

Story:
When the sharp stabs and dull aches of his sickle-cell anemia become unbearable, 15-year-old Terrell Harrison remembers what Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg told him, and his suffering eases.

Goldberg is the founder and director of Kids Kicking Cancer, a Detroit organization that helps children ages 4-17 overcome the pain of cancer, sickle-cell anemia and other serious diseases.

The group offers weekly classes using martial arts, breathing techniques, visualization and meditation to help youngsters gain a greater sense of control over their minds and bodies.

Martial arts involve more than kicking and punching, said Richard Plowden, chief martial artist for Kids Kicking Cancer.

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Karate midget

The Funniest Cop Stories Ever definitely sounds like a must read book :-)

Story:
"In what other profession will you find yourself chasing a midget in a tuxedo down a fire escape?"

The slightly politically incorrect question is that of former police officer Scott Baker, who with Tom Philbin has written "The Funniest Cop Stories Ever." A tale about the well-dressed little person is among them.

"Me and my partner, Nicky, get a call to go to a building on Church Street," chronicle the authors, telling the story from the perspective of the officer who related it to them.

A woman had been assaulted, the cops found. The possible perpetrator had been her boyfriend, a small man — 3 feet 10 inches, to be exact — who "knew karate," the woman explained. That's how he was able to kick in her door on his way inside. It was a violent entrance, but at some point, apparently, his intentions had been honorable.

"He was wearing a tuxedo and carrying a violin case," the woman said. "He was going to propose to me."

After the idea of marital bliss went bad, the man fled down a fire escape from the woman's fifth-floor apartment.

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Confuse-Us speaks #7

I'm at loss for words, I truly am. Maybe someone should begin to tell these people that there is a "slight" difference between tae kwon do and karate? And a 12-year-old second-degree black belt? Good for her! Personally, I think I have to lie down and rest ...

Story:
Note to school bullies: Don't pick a fight with Sarah Keeney.

The 12-year old's small stature belies a talent that she has been developing for most of her life. Since Keeney turned 4 years old and was allowed to register for a class, she has been learning tae kwon do.

Now a second-degree black belt, Keeney said her classmates are careful. "They don't mess with me," Keeney said. "They know I'm a black belt, so they don't ever mess with me."

(This is) a path that Keeney, though still young, has her heart set on. "I'm going to be doing karate until the day I die," she said. "I love karate."

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"Killer Closkey"

These stories are truly inspirational!

Story:
Even though the 30-year-old Bayonne resident is confined to a wheelchair, he participates in an activity he always wanted to do, namely studying karate.

"I was a big Bruce Lee fan as a kid and I always wanted to do karate since I was a little boy," Burns said. "I've been going to UCP [United Cerebral Palsy center, located on Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen] for 26 years now. I asked UCP if they could help me out, see if there was someone who could teach me karate."

Last year, Burns was introduced to Sensei David Tirelli of the Tiger Schulman Karate School in Hackensack.

Last Wednesday morning, Burns, who has been given the name of "Killer Closkey" by Tirelli, got to display some of the techniques he has learned over the past year.

Even though he was in the wheelchair, Burns showed all of the approximately 150 people who attended the UCP of Hudson County's annual VIP Breakfast, held at the Chandelier in Bayonne, exactly what he has learned with Tirelli over the past year.

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School of hard knocks

I urge you to read the news article about this young Malaysian woman - this is one tough individual! With looks like that, plus a killer work ethic and an iron will, she can go just as far as she wants.

Story:
At age 14, she was hauling sacks of rice to buy her first camera. Nine years, 17 solo country treks and hundreds of crazy exploits later, globetrotting freelance photographer Suzanne Lee tells how her journey has just begun.

How’s this for stubborn? A 16-year-old decides to learn Muay Thai, the mind-blowingly violent art of Thai kickboxing. She seeks a retired master sifu and, for a year, cajoles him to take her on as his student. He finally relents and agrees.

At one point, she juggled four jobs — as a go-kart mechanic, a freelance model, a marketing executive and a gym front desk officer.

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An Indian affair

India -- A group of over 20 miscreants reportedly looted and injured a team of eight judo players and their coach on board a Lucknow-Bareily passenger train in the outskirts of the city early this morning. They decamped with Rs 16,000 cash, three mobile phones, a digital camera and a bag. An FIR has been lodged against unidentified persons.

According to reports, the group of miscreants boarded the train at Nighohan railway station at around 6.30 am. They reportedly started misbehaving and threatening the passengers as soon as the train pulled out of the station.

They first entered into an argument with a female member of the judo team over a seat. When the rest of the judo players objected, the group reportedly beat them up with sticks and other weapons. The train passengers said the group also snatched their valuable.

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Times of India, however reports:
On Saturday, a group of hooligans eve-teased some girls in a passenger train, who were on their way back after participating in a karate competition in Allahabad.

Well, you know, karate and judo - it's all basically the same anyhow ... White pajamas and all that jazz.

Confuse-Us speaks #6

"Doug Robinson and his son, Howie, daughter, Noelle, and wife, Kimba, practice tae kwon do recently at All Star Karate and Kickboxing Gym in Hagerstown."

Yeah, that makes so much sense, since the three arts are "one and same" (irony mode).

It may, to an outside observer like me, seem like American TKD many times has to hide under other names? Can someone be kind enough to correct me in this matter?

Apart from the above, this is great article about a deaf girl building confidence with "Kara-Tae-Kick-Do".

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Charges filed

Maryland -- Charges are being filed against a 37-year-old local tae kwon do instructor.

The man is accused of sexually abusing two of his students at a martial arts school in Rockville, and police want to know if there are more alleged victims. Investigators fear the man may have a long history of sexual abuse.

The allegations were made by a former student who is now 24, according to authorities. She said the abuse began when she was 14 and continued for four years.

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Advanced skills

It seems like this clip is showing people demonstrating off their skills on a sort of martial arts audition. The winner is clearly the dummy, who comes out on top every time!

You've probably seen the guy with nunchaku attempting a back-flip? Well, there's more in the same vein - all very funny.

I suspect this is staged - it is really too far out to be serious :-)

But then again - you have a lot of special "talented" people appearing on the various 'Idol' TV shows too ...

You can download and view the clip here (wmv file, 3.07 MB)

Scared to leave home

Scotland -- A cancer patient has been left scared to leave her home after being brutally kicked in the face by a martial arts student.

A 19-year-old amateur kickboxer assaulted and racially abused a 55-year-old woman, as she returned from a trip to buy a birthday present for her daughter.

The assault took place in daylight in Edinburgh, on March 4.

The woman, who underwent cancer surgery shortly before the attack, said she fears reprisals from other Asian youths in the area after giving evidence against him.

She said: "It has left me worried about going out of my house. He has a lot of friends in the area, which is frightening."

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Apalling

The 99p download entitled Put 'Em Down, Take 'Em Out: Knife Fighting Techniques from Folsom Prison by American author Don Pentecost is being sold by a number of online traders under the guise of a martial arts-based self-defence book.

The 54-page book, described by trading standards officers as "appalling", features techniques allegedly devised in one of America's most violent prisons (made famous by the country singer Johnny Cash in his classic live recording Folsom Prison Blues), to protect against knife attack.

However, the guide also features detailed information on how to attack and kill using a knife as a weapon.

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Home invasion

Canada -- Two home invaders got more than they bargained for when they were confronted by a homeowner trained in martial arts.

The homeowner and his cousin arrived at the home in Toronto shortly before midnight Sunday and found two robbers wearing balaclavas and armed with a pistol and a screwdriver, in the bedroom.

The thugs demanded cash, and one was lured from the home with the promise that there was $1,000 in a vehicle. Outside, the martial arts expert elbowed the gunman, knocking his weapon to the ground.

When the other intruder heard his crony shout for help, he rushed outside and picked up the gun and the two started to run away.

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Pink fighting

Finally - the man responsible for the best fight sequences ever on film!

Are we talking about Segal? Chan? Lee? No, none other than the great master Peter Sellers (Yes, yes I kneuw that, you knoew :)

Here's a highlight of some of his antics - not only his fighting skills you knoew - all hilarious stuff!

To me, noone comes remotely close to Sellers in the Pink Panther movies (apart from Monthy Python at their best). These scenes make me laugh so hard, again and again! And the comments ... pure genius :-)

You can donload/watch the clip as a mpg file (22.35 MB) here

Finnish sentence

Finland -- Taekwondo instructor Sami Olavi Greus was sentenced in Oulu District Court to four years and three months imprisonment for sex crimes targeting young girls.

The 33-year-old Greus was accused of nearly 800 illegal acts with minors. The court rejected only two of the 22 counts in the indictment.

The acts in question took place between 1997 and 2005 in different parts of the north of Finland. All of the victims practiced martial arts. Some of the girls were aged 14 and 15, but most were aged 16 and 17 when the molestation took place.

The modus operandi was the same with nearly all of the victims. He would first praise their skills and appearance during taekwondo practice, he would drive them to the training sessions himself, and finally he would contact them either by telephone or e-mail, asking the girls to visit him at his home after the lessons.

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(Almost) harmony

Tai chi is supposed to give you inner peace, harmony and all that stuff. Maybe this guy missed a lesson or two?

Story:
Scotland -- A 55-year-old retired bricklayer assaulted a young girl by pushing her against a wall after she laughed at him carrying out Tai chi martial arts movements in a Peebles street, a court heard yesterday.

The Edinburgh man also approached the 12-year-old girl and her friends the following day and after swearing at them waved a police officer's business card at them.

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Dicipline, focus, passion

Besides being Verona's rock-solid No. 1 golfer and Badger South all-conference choice this season, Jen Engelke is also a second-degree black belt in karate. Ask her about combining the two sports and she'll tell you it's the best marriage since music and the iPod.

Engelke uses the same discipline, focus and passion to succeed.

"In karate you often deal with focus. That comes in handy in golf because when you hit a bad shot or have a bad hole, you use that focus to put it behind you and keep going," explained Engelke, who has that rare ability as a teen-ager to look adults directly in the eyes when she speaks to them.

"It's the same thing if you're doing a form at a (karate) tournament. If you screw up, you have to keep going and stay focused. You can't stop and start over again."

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Accused again

Florida -- A Kissimmee karate instructor who was arrested in August on charges of having sex with one of his students was accused Wednesday of molesting another student who was under 12.

Investigators from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office received information about the man and the victim, who was interviewed Wednesday. Based on that information, deputies arrested the man.

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Had no chance

Sweden -- This thursday, several persons received awards from county police chief Carin Götblad in the form of cake, diplomas and money for bravely intervening in crimes.

One of the persons being awarded was Anders Norrman from Skarpnäck.

When an elderly lady neighbour was assaulted by a burglar the 15-year old it enraged him so much that he wrestled the escaping burglar to the ground and held him in place with a leg scissors hold for the duration of 20 minutes before police arrived on the scene.

The burglar had no chance.

"I am a swedish champion in judo", Anders Norrman told media.

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Once-quiet, reserved

Terre Haute — Jimmy Hudson was a quiet, reserved boy who spent the past two years being bullied and picked on by classmates.

Now, the confident 9-year-old stands up for himself and looks forward to going to school every day.

Hudson began to change while taking summer classes in tae kwon do, a self-defense system similar to karate.

“He’s more likable, he speaks up, he expresses himself,” Cheryl Hudson said about her son.

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Under suspicion

An elementary school teacher and owner of a martial arts studio was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion he molested an 11-year-old.

Watsonville police arrested a 44-year-old Gilroy man, a fourth-grade teacher at an elementary school. He was placed on leave Thursday.

Police said detectives began investigating the man on Monday after a tip from a parent.

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Doing karate moves

Oh yes, it sure seems like this guy needs hospital time ... urgently :-)

Story:
California -- A caller from a hospital reported a man with dreadlocks and dark clothing was acting strange, doing karate moves and had no reason for being on hospital property.

A security guard advised the man was there on hospital business.

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Senior gets fit

In his 60's, Ted Kavanau was so out of shape that he starting exercising in bed and wound up winning a karate black belt. With nationally known chiropractor Dr. Genie Tartell, they have introduced this exercise program for others.

Kavanau, Founder of CNN Headline News, and Tartell have combined elements of yoga, Pilates, karate and stretching. They explain the program in their new book "Get Fit in Bed".

Kavanau says these exercises helped him at age 73 to still do karate sparring and go rounds in boxing competitions.

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Collector only

A collector "aggressively waving a four-and-a-half foot long sword at someone in the street."

Yes, sure ... just like I'm Tarzan (or is it his monkey...?). How about this lunatic collecting some jail time instead?

Story:
UK -- Police seized a cache of medieval-style weapons from a Carlisle bedsit after a man brandished a Chinese sword in the city center.

Aglionby Street was brought to a standstill at teatime, after witnesses reported a man aggressively waving a four-and-a-half foot long sword at someone in the street.

He was taken to the city's police station, where he was given a police caution and released.

A spokesperson for the force said: "The case was investigated and when all the facts were considered, this was deemed to be the most appropriate course of action. He is a collector. He has agreed to let us dispose of the weapons. We do not think it is appropriate for this person to have them in his home."

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Kung food

Sounds like a great place to eat - suplise! "My kung food is better than you kung food!" :-)

Source:
Diners have recently thronged a restaurant in Shanghai that named its dishes, tables and even chopsticks after elements of popular kung fu novels written by a famous novelist Jin Yong.

The restaurant is furnished with simple wooden benches and tables, each of which were distinguished with the names of martial arts schools such as "Wudang," "Shaolin" and "Qingcheng." Chopsticks are referred to as "plural nun chucks," and scoops are "flying knives."

There is no menu; waiters will suggest which dishes should be served according to diners' tastes.

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Grappling with Gene

Well written story about "the toughest man alive", "Judo" Gene LeBell. Not one for using praise and positive affirmations it may seem. Like the story indicates: LeBell tells everyone who'll listen that he's a "sadistic bastard". Still, with that pink gi of his, he have to have a great sense of humor! :-)

Story:
The air hangs hot and the room spins like a carnival ride. In the middle of this revolving mess, I can vaguely see a man in a pink gi. Gene LeBell is going to kill me.

I have done many stupid things as a reporter. But none of my previous foolishness prepared me for this.

He looked at me with narrowed eyes, suspicious from the start. "What the hell do you want?" he said. "Yeah, I heard you were coming," he said, voice raspy like gravel rattling down a drain. "I thought you wanted money or something. With that hat, you look like a rabbi."

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Bored, and stupid

Ontario, Canada -- The story goes that one kid turned up for the fight hanging onto the open trunk of a Volkswagen Beetle wearing a ninja costume. Until then, there was nothing remarkable about the lunch hour crowd of Grade 12 guys hanging out by the doors of the indoor hockey arena across the street from Orangeville District secondary school.

After leaping from the trunk of the car and attacking his challenger, the ninja ended up pummeled and beaten on the ground.

What has police and parents shocked is not that schoolyard scores were settled before a hooting, cheering crowd – but that videos of the melees ended up online on YouTube courtesy of camera phones and hand-held digital video cameras the students own themselves.

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Iron balls

Here's another kung-fu clip.

It shows how to take kicks to the groin, pulling heavy stuff with your "friend" etc.

Though it's impressive stuff indeed, I'm still left with one simple question: Why? :-)

Personally I'd rather spend other ways to protect myself.

And, if you have to do this lengthy quigong routine before a fight to protect the "little fellow", then what's the point? Guess I'm missing something here.

You can view/download the clip here (wmv file, 3.45 MB)

Sumo shame-o

What? No sue-mo, not even a little sue-do? What are you guys thinking about? Sue, the f** (sorry ... big) feelah! "You sumo me, I'll sue-mo your diaper a** - sumor or later!"

Story:
Japan's longest-serving active sumo wrestler has retired in shame after punching an opponent in the face, Japanese media has reported.

A disgruntled Kotokanyu saw red after losing a bout to 19-year-old Ikioi in Tokyo at the weekend, storming into the locker room and punching him.

His outburst was just the latest incident of violence to shatter the serene image of the ancient Japanese sport.

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Islamartial arts?

Somalia - Policemen from the Islamic court movement - which controls the Somali capital and much of the south of the country - recently arrested a martial arts teacher as he was giving a karate lesson to six women.

The teacher, Aweys Abati Orafeyo, is charged with violating Islamic ('Shariah') law, which forbids a man from being alone in a room with women who do not belong to his family.

"The same applies to a male teacher who may not remain on his own with his female pupils," said the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC)'s local leader in the central Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Sheikh Kadar Keyse Abdirahman, who issued Orafeyo's arrest warrant.

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School karate

South Africa -- The Human Rights Commission plans to hold public hearings on the level of violence in schools which are said to be out of control with deaths and severe injuries to pupils.

Parents and the education system have been blamed for ill-mannered children and with no immediate solution in sight, the HRC has opted for public hearings.

A Johannesburg school is teaching karate as a way of adding discipline to the curriculum. Olga da Silva, a principal at the school, says they are experiencing all this verbal abuse at home, so they are frustrated, because of the conditions at home, and they come to school, it spills over into the school.

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Grandma-master

No! Surely it can't stop at great grandmaster? Why? What about Really Great Grandmaster, Absolutely Fantastic Super Grandmaster, Even Greater Grandmaster, or Can't Possibly Be Greater Than This Great Grandmaster?

Mind you, I'm not joking with the woman here, all kudos to her! 17 years does seem like a short time though...

Story:
Goldia Hansel is 53, a grandmother, and a grandmaster at a Karate Academy in Alexandria.

The Dayton woman, reached the level of grandmaster last month. It's the second highest rank next to a great grandmaster.

Hansel has taught classes 14 of the 17 years she's been studying the martial arts.

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