News & Events

The IMA Family wants to congratulate everyone who successfully passed their black belt tests yesterday!

Youth

1st Kyu to Junior Black Belt – First Test
Max Vali and Aidan Rampy

1st Kyu to Junior Black Belt (Black w/ White Stripe)
Keon Zia Shakeri, Kurt Nakasato, Kate Nakasato, Aidan Jones, Anneka Pawlak, Andy Nou, and Bryan McCarty

Junior Black Belt (Black with Green Stripe)
Vani Topkar, Hunter Nelson, Nisha Maheshwari, and Shaam Patnam

Shodan-Ho (Black with Brown Stripe)
Jacob Peters

Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)
Dasha Petropav, Alex Matsumoto, Lily Martinelli, and Kelara Madani

Adults

1st Kyu to Shodan – First Test
James Firor and Dory Funk

Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt
Irina Petropavlovskikh and Jennifer McGavin

Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt
Senpai Sara Martinelli and Senpai Rita Valli

Yondan (4th Degree Black Belt
Sensei Amadou Niang

Thanks also to all of the black belts and instructors who helped with the Dan testing and to all of the friends and family that came to support the students.

On January 26, many of I.M.A. Jr. and Sr. students and black belts (from the Honbu Dojo in Louisville, Colorado and other branches) will get together for another black belt testing experience.

With so many years of hard work and dedication to the Shotokan style of traditional Japanese karate, we will be rewarding each one of these dedicated karate-ka in achieving the next level of their progress.

The testing will start at 8:30am and will last several hours and everyone is welcome to stop by the dojo and support the students during their testing.

Please note: The youth and adult classes will not be held on this day.

Following the Dan testing (at 6pm), all I.M.A. members and their families are invited to join us for a Black Belt Extravaganza at the Honbu Dojo. The celebration is filled with demonstrations, an award ceremony and I.M.A.’s yearly recognition of several athletes.

Don’t miss this once-a-year celebration!

The Dojo will be closed for regular classes on Saturday, January 19th for Kyu Belt Testing.

• If your current belt level is white through orange/white stripe, your testing time is 9:30am.
• If your current belt level is full orange belt (and up), your testing time is 11:30am.

All students who are testing must be at the Dojo at least 15 minutes prior to your testing time.

If you or your child are testing, please pick up an application at the Dojo and return it no later than Thursday, January 17th. Applications will not be accepted on testing day.

Please check your Student Handbook and visit our Belt Testing Guidelines for additional information about how to prepare for your test.