Please join us in congratulating brothers Caleb Olson and Logan Olson on achieving the rank of 1st Dan, and Braden Fritel for achieving the rank of 1st Poom.
Brothers Caleb and Logan Olson have been training at Alliance since July of 2008; they achieved their junior blackbelts in May of 2011 and their 2nd degree junior blackbelts in the spring of 2013. Now they are old enough to hold adult blackbelts, and both have been active competitors and assistant instructors at Alliance. Mr Caleb is currently a student at Century High School, while Mr Logan attends Legacy High School.
Braden Fritel has been training since January of 2012; since then, Mr Braden has grown tremendously as a martial artist and put in many hours of hard work, dedication and competition.
Mr Caleb completed his exam for first degree blackbelt on October 11th, 2014; Mr Logan completed his only incomplete breaking technique shortly thereafter, completing his exam on the morning of October 18th, 2014. Blackbelt testing is demanding, requiring the candidate to be accomplished in empty-hand technique and requires the candidate to be able to perform under pressure. The brothers’ exam took about an hour an a half, wherein they displayed nine patterns and one hundred empty hand techniques, displayed additional self defense techniques and action sequences, and performed nearly twenty breaking and candle techniques.
After several months of training as a red belt, Mr Braden tested for his junior blackbelt on the 11th of October, 2014 at 1:00 PM. The difficult exam lasted an hour and a half; Mr Braden demonstrated great attitude, a wealth of knowledge and an excellent degree of technical proficiency, and performed better than fifteen breaking and candle techniques.
Testing for blackbelt ranks is a privilege and an honor; only 2% of people who start training in martial arts make it to blackbelt. It requires years of practice and dedication, and comes only after a student has accepted and done well with added responsibility, and has the recommendation of their instructors and Masters.
