Black Belt Magazine

Sparring and Fighting: There Is a Difference!

NILAND WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 22 YEARS for an opportunity to embark on his journey. It was then, at age 30, that he finally got his chance to learn how to tie a square knot on a white belt.

Why such a long wait? Life got in the way of his childhood dream of becoming a martial artist. He wound up serving seven years in the Army National Guard, earning a degree in criminal justice, holding down a full-time job with a power company and doing a myriad of other unexpected things — not too different from most people who experience life-interrupted.

of taking up karate was he took Niland to a class and introduced him to the instructor/owner.

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