Sensei Tyler Powell - Nidan

I am 15 years old and currently a Sophomore at Mentor High, where I am enrolled in the Honors, AP, and Fine Arts Programs.  I am also a member of Mentor High School’s Varsity Science Olympiad Team.  I enjoy listening to music, reading, writing, drawing, cooking, tricking, and spending time with my friends.  I guess I like doing school stuff too, but only if it's something that interests me, like reading good literature, writing free form, un-outlined, creative writing, or drawing stuff. 

I started taking classes at KI when I was 4 years old, more to improve my discipline than because it’s what I wanted to do.  In the beginning, it was just an average priority activity like most parents put their kids through until they get bored and move on to something else.  Eleven years later, karate has grown to be a major force in my life.  Think extreme substance addiction, except this drug actually improves personality, determination and brain power.  A few years ago, Andy Sedgwick and I helped bring into the world KI's Competitive Demonstration Team, Team Revo.  I'm extremely proud to say that it has been quite a success.  This year, the team competed at 2 national tournaments, tying for second at one, and placing first in the other.  I reached the goal that I have been striving for since I was 10 years old: placing first on the NASKA circuit.  Last year I told everyone that 2008 had been the biggest year for me and the team.  After bearing witness to an amazing 2009 season, saying such things would be blasphemy.  It seems that this school doesn't ever stop growing, and I'm certain that 2010 will only support that sentiment.  The Team is aiming for gold, a goal that I see as more than possible.  And, I go for Grand Champion.  It will most definitely be a great experience.

I'd like to thank my family and friends for their support, especially my parents for keeping me on the right track; the Martial Arts for shaping my identity; my competition for making me push myself harder each passing second; my instructors and coaches for teaching me what I know and continuing to teach me the things that I don't; YouTube for bringing me the works of Steve Terada, Anis Cheurfa, Matt Emig, and the rest of my idols (now in High Definition!); and my teammates for being awesome!

 http://www.youtube.com/user/kixxxtyler