Year two... looking back + Moving forward.

September's arrival brings many things: cold weather, pumpkin spice, and most importantly, Year Two of GSH Elite Martial Arts! 

First, let's look back on Year One:

One school. Two inaugural Grand Champions. Two Crystal Bridges events. Three disciplines. Four staff members. Four new black belts. Six testings. Twelve inaugural Global Champion titles. 40+ students. 100+ competition medals. One million kihaps, smiles, and push-ups. One billion gallons of blood, sweat, and tears. The love and loyalty we've received over the first year has been no short of overwhelming; we hope we have returned your kindness and fulfilled our promises to our GSH family.

But enough about the past! Here's our look on the coming year:

​Mr. Bredehoeft and Mr. Lopez are determined to continue fostering the camaraderie and respect we've created within our walls. When asked to elaborate, Mr. Lopez recalled the friendship and trust our students have placed in each other—"I wanted to make a team, but got a family instead". Mr. Bredehoeft is also anticipating his Fourth Degree Black Belt testing next year at Globals!

Miss Lee's goal for the year is to be a positive influence on her students, particularly young girls still learning life skills like confidence and self-worth. This is also the year she is working towards becoming a Certified Instructor with the rest of her colleagues, as well as testing for her Fourth Degree alongside Mr. Bredehoeft!

Finally, Mr. Lee will uphold the mission he created even before GSH came to fruition—building better black belts and keeping the spirit of martial arts in NWA. As GSH breaks out further into the region, Mr. Lee strives to remain rooted in his teaching methods, no matter how many students pass through our doors. "We don't chase belts. We earn them."

While our staff believe our first year ended in success, our goals still stretch towards the sky! Although we are GSH's instructors, we always remain students and train alongside our own. We never stop learning and hope this concept of constant betterment is passed onto the next Black Belts.

To our GSH family, thank you for taking a chance and believing in Mr. Lee's dream. To Facebook friends and passerby, we appreciate your support. To the ones hesitant to approach us, it's never too late to try us out! Help us achieve our goals, and we can help you achieve yours!

Here's to a successful and prosperous Year Two!