Ginny

First I would like to thank Sensei for allowing me to continue taking martial arts, and for letting me test. I began taking martial arts on February 24, 1996. Six years, 6 months, and 27 days later I tested for my first degree black belt on my 50th birthday -- September 20, 2002. Who could ask for a better birthday present?

In 1999, I was told I had peripheral neuropathy. It is killing the feelings in my legs, and soon I will be in a wheelchair. The fact that my legs are going down hill, I am still allowed to come in and do what I can. I may not be able to turn or spin like the younger ones can, but I am here doing what I can. Thanks to Sensei and Red Sun, I am still standing and doing the best I am allowed to do. I do not give up. I keep practicing. I keep coming back for more even when it hurts.

I have managed to stay out of a wheelchair. I have a few braces and operations, and I still keep coming back. I am still here.

I have had problems with my anger. Several times, I quit. Each time, I was allowed to return. Finally, I realized the only person I was fighting was myself, and I kept losing. So I quit the fights and continued; I did not give up. Thanks to the training I received from Sensei, I have learned to control the anger before I do things I may regret later. I have also learned to talk to people about the problem before it turns into a major problem.

I am still learning.

NOTE FROM SENSEI:

Miss Barrett is my rock here at Red Sun Academy.

Running a martial art academy is very very hard at times
and I often need to discuss matters with my black belts.
Miss Barrett is the one who is always there to listen.

She is the one who takes over and sees
that the dojo is run smoothly in my absence.
She notices nuances with students that I sometimes miss —

.....Students who need special attention,
.....Bulbs that are out or filters that need changing
.....A black belt from another school doing our form incorrectly
.....A white belt that need some encouraging, etc.

She has been with Red Sun Academy for 12 years.
She averages 5-6+ classes a week!
So it is with great joy that Miss Ginny Barrett
is awarded her 3rd Degree Black Belt!

When she started in February 1996,
Miss Barrett was a most challenging student for me.
She got angry and frustrated easily, and would run off quitting
several times as a white, yellow, and orange belt.
It took 4 years until she grew to finally trust me and we got close.

There were two times in Red Sun's history when we moved
into a new dojo which involved night after night of working on
renovations until midnight for weeks at a time,
and also all day on weekends. It was miss Barrett who was by my side
renovating the dojo just about every night in December 2000,
then again in April 2004 to see that the dojo was ready for opening night.

One of the many requirements of earning the rank of 3rd Degree
at Red Sun Academy is to write a book on the martial arts.
Miss Barrett completed writing her book well before it was due.
Most would hand their book in days before the due date.
Many many long hours over a year's time
is what it took to accomplish this goal.

She overcomes huge physical hurdles to attend class.
She has a debilitating disease which gives her much pain,
and she has no cartilage in her knees (after 2 unsuccessful surgeries).
Her perseverance is nothing less than remarkable.

Miss Barrett is the first to admit
that she has a lose and biting tongue at times
(is working at it; read her book!),
but her heart and devotion are huge.

It is for all these reasons
.....her huge devotion
.....persevering
.....knowing the material
.....running the dojo in my absence
.....writing a book
.....helping move the dojo
.....overcoming disabilities (and more)
that Ms. Barrett is up has earned her third degree black belt!