Excitement and energy filled the air inside the Summit Academy Akron Middle School dojo December 18-19 as 54 students participated in therapeutic martial arts promotion ceremonies.
Displaying new and honed skills, the sixth through eighth graders earned a
range of belts spanning the rainbow from white to red.
Among them was seventh-grade student Cai Somers who earned a second-degree orange belt. After demonstrating katas with ease and confidence, Cai broke a pinewood board without hesitance.
“It feels good, like accomplishing something in life, having a purpose and being
able to overcome obstacles,” Cai described, shortly after breaking the board by hand on first attempt.
In a room packed with staff and family members, the students’ teacher, Sensei Josh Minnick, explained that a promotion ceremony is not a test. “There’s no failing,” Minnick said, but rather a show of growth, leadership and maturity.
With the school year at its midpoint, most of the students reached the halfway point of their current belt color (second degree, kyu), explained Minnick, who has taught therapeutic martial arts at Summit Academy since 2013.
“This promotion — coinciding with the middle of the school year — is perfect because by the end of the year the students will earn their next belt, of a new color, which they will
carry into next school year.” explained Minnick, who earned his black belt when he was 15.
Upon presenting certificates and belts to students one-by-one, Minnick gave each child a personal tribute, complimenting them on their maturity, composure, sense of humor, adaptability or other attributes. The ceremony’s personalized touches left students with affirmation and the crowd of onlookers with a sense of knowing each child a little better than they did before.
“This is always an exciting time of year for the students, staff, families and myself. The students
participating in this event have worked hard all year, but especially in the previous couple months preparing for this event,” said Minnick.
Summit Academy’s therapeutic martial arts offering brings value to students’ overall academic
experience while the twice annual promotion ceremonies give parents and other family members a chance to see their children’s progress and growth, said Minnick.
“I feel like many underestimate the importance of traditional, therapeutic martial arts in a young 
person’s development,” Minnick described. “I know firsthand how it helped me in middle school, which is why I think it is so important to share the benefits I’ve experienced with the youth in our school.”