“Hi-yah, ki-yah!” He’s wearing a white robe and he has an Eiku, a type of Japanese weapon in his hand. Rodney Clardy is determined to reach all of his goals academically and physically.
Clardy, sophomore, has been involved with karate for seven years. This student at the Japan Karate-Do Organization is, according to his instructor, “one of (their) best competitors.”
            Last year the Japan Karate-Do Organization had many students who had won multiple medals including Clardy. All of the competitions that he has participated in have been held in the United States, but this year will be his first year competing overseas.
            This year he is planning on going to the Philippine Goodwill International Championships in the Philippines.
Clardy’s main concern is more about his school work than karate. “Karate is easier than school,” he said. “I pay attention more.” He hasn’t been doing well in school and this is one way that he can do something fun but still learn new things to help him later in life.
            Not only does he get to have fun but he also gets to take on the role of being a teacher. So, instead of being the teacher who hands out homework that Clardy doesn’t necessarily like, he gets to be the teacher who teaches other students to do better and be their motivation.
“He’s a good student, he’s a good competitor, he’s a good role model for kids,” said Shiham Lim B. Sison, sensai (instructor) of the karate school.
With all of the moves and techniques Clardy has learned, his leadership pays off too. With the assistance he gets from the older teammates, he can later use it to help teach his younger teammates. By gaining confidence in himself, he shows the younger students that they have something to look forward to when they are his age.
            “I learn new moves and techniques for a situation that I (may) need to defend myself in,” said Clardy.
With all of this in mind, he gets closer to his black belt. Right now he is considered a second ranked striped brown belt student. That means that he has five months to prepare for his final test to become a black belt, black belt being the highest in rank.
            Clardy’s parents wanted him in the program to teach him discipline and respect for others, but he has learned more than that. He became a leader and a motivator that continues to go through life like a karate kid.