Brian Williams, Rori Goetze, Kelly Abella, Neda Iranpour - Ultimate Black Belt Test Hero Activists - Make a Film
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 8:07PM As some of you may know, I am always (and I mean ALWAYS) cracking the whip, or pleading, or begging martial arts teachers to use their talents and powers to do things that are more meaningful –for themselves, their students, and yes, even for the world –things that better represent our implied awareness, our ability to see that “self-defense” is so much more than the block, punch, kick, or throw.
The martial arts world, well…not everyone, but way, way too many martial arts teachers have been either brought up in –and/or seduced by the profit and loss statement. Student become “units” and numbers rule the roost. The chant is, “How can we monetize this?”
Ah, but every so often some black belts come along who show us what we too are capable of. Such is the case with these three Ultimate Black Belt Test members –and their friend. These four helped rally Reno / Sparks, Nevada and the Truckee Meadows to gather 8000 pairs of shoes for young people in Kenya who, for sure, needed them.
No martial arts teacher had ever attempted anything close to this in Reno. They overcame dozens of obstacles; they set goals and stuck to them; and they MADE THIS THING HAPPEN. When you watch their film, offer them some praise –a few minutes of it, and then realize this isn’t about them. It’s about YOU. It’s about YOU rising to the occasion and using YOUR skills, YOUR power, YOUR ability to over come obstacles ---and it’s about you, me –all of us, making sure that every young person we come in contact with learns that they too have the POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Brian, Rori, and Kelly are black belts I’ve grow up with –I honestly think this project is what they’re capable of at their advanced rank –and while I am very impressed with the whole thing, I am not surprised. HOW ELSE would or should high ranking black belts engage their world and their projects?
Our collective goal is to make this kind of WOW the norm, rather than the exception.
Great work you three –and you too Ms. Iranpour; thank you for your support and effort and examples.
To see more, keep and eye on www.thinkkindness.org
Reader Comments (1)
I thought I couldn't love you guys more but I guess I can! THANK YOU! Thank you for reminding us of all of our daily blessings and for caring for deserving kids across the world. Kudos for your kindness and respect for your reverence...