Fukuda sensei, 10th dan

California -- Please forget the absurd nonsense of 9-, 15- or 20-year-old "experts" or "masters". Yes, the kids are great and cute and all that, but lets get real. Being a true master or expert takes a life of dedication to an art.

It definitely involves more than being able to perform intricate patterns, kick high, win medals or being handed belts like candy.

One such true master, expert and legend is Keiko Fukuda sensei from San Francisco, who recently received the highest honor of judo. At the age of 98, she has been awarded the ultimate rank of 10th dan. Bravo and congratulations Fukuda sensei!

She is the first woman ever to be promoted to this rank. Not only that, there are just three people before her, all Japanese men, who have reached that level.

Fukuda sensei still teaches at the women's dojo in Noe Valley, and she was reportedly in tears when she was brought the news.

"All my life," Fukuda sensei said, "this has been my dream."

California -- Please forget the absurd nonsense of 9-, 15- or 20-year-old "experts" or "masters". Yes, the kids are great and cute and all that, but lets get real. Being a true master or expert takes a life of dedication to an art.

It definitely involves more than being able to perform intricate patterns, kick high, win medals or being handed belts like candy.

One such true master, expert and legend is Keiko Fukuda sensei from San Francisco, who recently received the highest honor of judo. At the age of 98, she has been awarded the ultimate rank of 10th dan. Bravo and congratulations Fukuda sensei!

She is the first woman ever to be promoted to this rank. Not only that, there are just three people before her, all Japanese men, who have reached that level.

Fukuda sensei still teaches at the women's dojo in Noe Valley, and she was reportedly in tears when she was brought the news.

"All my life," Fukuda sensei said, "this has been my dream."

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Children beaten

New Jersey -- Montclair Police recently charged an employee at a karate dojo with aggravated assault.

The 57-year-old man allegedly disciplined two students, a 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, by forcing them to stay in the push-up position while he whipped them, according to northjersey.com.

New Jersey -- Montclair Police recently charged an employee at a karate dojo with aggravated assault.

The 57-year-old man allegedly disciplined two students, a 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, by forcing them to stay in the push-up position while he whipped them, according to northjersey.com.

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Karate dojo scam

Florida -- A 45-year-old man has been arrested and charged with organized fraud and grand theft. He is accused of scamming at least close to 70 people who joined his Brandon martial arts school.

The man reportedly ran a karate dojo in a Brandenton strip mall, where a number of people signed contracts for martial arts tuition, according to tampabay.com.

Complaints started coming in to the Sheriff's Office early in 2008, shortly after the accused closed down his dojo and moved out of state. Members told officials they were still being billed. Not only that - their outstanding balances were sometimes reported to be a lot (like in thousands of dollars) higher than the prices they had previously agreed to.

Officials recently found the accused in Roseville, California. The man was reportedly running a martial arts school there too, according to officials.

Florida -- A 45-year-old man has been arrested and charged with organized fraud and grand theft. He is accused of scamming at least close to 70 people who joined his Brandon martial arts school.

The man reportedly ran a karate dojo in a Brandenton strip mall, where a number of people signed contracts for martial arts tuition, according to tampabay.com.

Complaints started coming in to the Sheriff's Office early in 2008, shortly after the accused closed down his dojo and moved out of state. Members told officials they were still being billed. Not only that - their outstanding balances were sometimes reported to be a lot (like in thousands of dollars) higher than the prices they had previously agreed to.

Officials recently found the accused in Roseville, California. The man was reportedly running a martial arts school there too, according to officials.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad