Yaineli Valdes
3rd degree red belt
22 April, 2009
     At the time of segregation and inequality between blacks and whites, Miss Bessie, found it vital for her black students to understand that nothing can get in their way of success. As a teacher, she stressed the importance of academics and knowledge. But knowledge was not just gained from studying in school; one must learn the attributes needed for a flourishing life. She corrected their grammar, required them to keep up with current events, and taught them life-lasting lessons.
     Just as tough, just as assertive, and just as sweet-hearted was my karate instructor, Renshi Anne Radke, (although she has now achieved the rank of Master). As a woman who has endured physical, sexual, emotional, and mental abuse, she devoted herself to a life of self-defense and self-encouragement. However, the “self-” preceding these words is just the opposite of what she is: selfless.
     At nine years of age, I already knew this compassionate individual with a tough exterior was going to be one to remember; but little did I know she also became someone who is immensely dear to my heart and whom I look up to as a woman.
     My sister and I joined karate for different reasons. She had a past in martial arts, while I had a past of being weak. Our old karate instructor was, at the time, just another adult whose job was to discipline us. But Renshi’s motives were different. Of course, discipline is essential in martial arts, but to her, many other factors contribute to one’s mastery in this field. As strong and as built and as quick and as athletic one may be, they will never win without love. Her philosophy was “love always wins.” Since her heart is not big enough for our world, the love she spreads is infinite.
     A memory of my life in karate cannot go for two seconds without Renshi appearing in the image. She was there for me day in and day out. At times of stress, she calmed me. At times of doubt, she reassured me. At times of disbelief, she convinced me. At times of grief, she comforted me.
     Renshi was not just a social support, she was also a disciplinarian. During one of our night classes, when I was eleven years old, I forgot to wear my Gi top to class, and she made me do one hundred knuckle push-ups. To some, this may seem morally wrong, but to the few who understand life and its hardships, this was an important lesson and one I have never forgotten. When she instructed me to do these push-ups, she disregarded everything, including age, gender, and ethnicity, because I was a martial arts student like everyone else in that room, and no one gets special treatment. As my weak body was pushing itself up and down, I remember her saying, “If she had true dojo brothers and sisters, they would get right down there with her.” And a second later, the rest of the class was counting up to a hundred with me. The tears brought to my eyes from this memory are not out of anger, but of appreciation towards her.
     While Miss Bessie taught her students in an intellectual manner, Renshi taught her students in a spiritual manner. While Miss Bessie made her students “memorize the names of everyone on the Supreme Court and in the President’s Cabinet,” Renshi made her students memorize katas, stances, punches, kicks, and self-defense techniques. While Miss Bessie endured hardships as an African-American, Renshi endured hardships as a woman. And while Miss Bessie became an inspirational influence on her students’ lives, Renshi became an inspirational influence on my life.
     Rowan probably never told Miss Bessie all the influence she had on his life, and I have not done so either with my instructor. Being both shy and sisters with the outgoing, funny girl whom everyone enjoyed the company of, made it hard for me to tell Renshi how grateful I am to have ever met her. And the thought that eats away at my heart is the fact that all the kind acts she has done for me, I have heartbreakingly not returned.
     Throughout this essay, I have referred to my karate instructor as “Renshi,” when she is in fact a Master. However, Renshi was not just a name I referred to her as because of the amount of stripes on her black belt. To me, she was Renshi who loved me. She was Renshi who believed in me. She was Renshi who helped me grow. So she has and always will be my Renshi.