Amazing martial arts journey – from a White Belt to a Black Belt. Martin Gissa and Robert Yegikyan. Okinawa Karate | Denver Shotokan Karate | Kids Martial Arts

Amazing martial arts journey – from a White Belt to a Black Belt. Martin Gissa and Robert Yegikyan.

“Black belt represents not the end but the beginning of a never-ending journey of karate-do (way of karate)”. These were the words that Sensei Shagin Iskander one of the first Senseis of Alex and Vitaly Padalka wrote on a picture as a reminder for back then young boys Padalka brothers.

Yesterday for the first time ever 2 students of brothers-senseis Padalka tested for their Shodan – First Degree Black Belts in Shotokan Karate.

Robert Yegikyan, 15 yrs old

Martin Gissa, 14 yrs old

Martin Gissa (14 yrs old) and Robert Yegikyan (15 yrs old) successfully passed their test by demonstrating outstanding technics in kihon (basics), kata (forms), kumite (sparring) and tameshiwari (breaking).

The examination board was headed by of the board Sensei John Bolosan (Shichidan/7th Dan) who is one of the top instructors for FSKA (World Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association). Other board members were Sensei Dave Elmer (Yondan/4th Dan), Sensei Tony Maccioli (Sandan/3rd Dan), Sensei Vitaly Padalka (Sandan/3rd Dan) and Sensei Alex Padalka (Sandan/3rd Dan).

Martin Gissa was one of the first students of Okinawa Dojo by Karate Bros. He actually started his karate journey with Sensei Bolosan. But in a few months when the brothers were opening their Dojo Sensei Bolosan referred Martin’s mom to take Martin over there, saying that it will be a better fit for him since both brothers are from Russia and Martin was from a Russian speaking family. Since then Okinawa Dojo is known as the Russian Dojo or Russian School in Denver. And no Okinawa Dojo did not recruit the entire Russian community of Denver to them but they for sure got some great individuals from there. Our doors are open to any nationality there is. Karate teaches unity and respect to one another. We are proud to say that we have students from all around the world at our dojo. Martin has been a part of the out-of-state Okinawa competition team for many years, already successfully competing at USA Karate events such as US Open and US Nationals and bringing home Gold, Silver and Bronze medals multiple times. It took Martin 8 years to get to his black belt. When we say Martin is a hard-working kid we are not kidding he also does swimming and plays piano and he is a straight A student at the school.

The beginning of the journey

Can you find Martin? still a white belt.

Robert started karate training at the age of 9 which means he has trained for 6.5 years. He loved it and he inspired his older brother and his dad to try it as well. Even thought they did not pursue it as far as Robert did it was one of his first influential moments. promoting karate to the world. Robert has big heart and he fires up people around him. Group trainings run at a different level when Robert is in class and gives it 100%. Every competition for Robert is the most important competition there is.

Robert has medals of all levels as well from Nationals and the US Open. In 2016 he barely missed his chance to represent USA at Junior World Championships. Robert Yegikyan’s family is from Sochi, Russia – the city that hosted Winter Olympics in 2014. Aside from karate Roberts wants to open his own business when he grows up – he loves to work with cars and plans to dedicate himself to the automotive industry.

This is how it all started for Robert

Always ready for a challenge

It takes a lot more than just a physical skill to achieve your black belt. Showing up to classes and giving 100% on your good days is easy, it takes mental toughness to do so on your not so good days. But this is what it takes to succeed! We hope the story of 2 young karatekas from Denver inspires you. Their journey only begins here. They already have their eyes on earning their spot on US National Junior Team this year and on representing the US at the Olympics 2024 in Paris!

Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words, and your faith stronger than your feelings.

Osu.

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Looking for Aurora Martial Arts or Karate Classe Denver or maybe karate dojo near me? You in the right place Okinawa Karate Dojo is the Best Karate School Denver can offer. There are many Karate schools in Denver. Kids Karate Denver or Martial Arts Aurora CO or Martial Arts Denver or Taekwondo Denver

Please enjoy this photo-story of the amazing journey of these young martial artists and their path to becoming a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. 

This story has just begun for this young warriors!

Watch us on YouTube

2023 US Open & JIC - Okinawa Team

Video recap of 2023 #DreamTeamOkinawa

2022 US Open Karate Championship - video reel by Alejandro Herrera Films

Okinawa Dojo by Karate Bros - sport karate school in Denver, CO

2021 US Karate Nationals - Okinawa Team adventures

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#ThrowbackThursday to the 2005 FSKA World Championships. Five fighters. One goal.
Proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with legends - Sensei Hiroshi Allen @hirokarate , Jesse Arimas, Brandon Carrillo, and Thomas Balka.In the final match, Sensei Vitaly delivered the decisive victory, clinching the title for Team USA against the reigning champions Team France.The Stardust Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NVA moment in history.
Roots run deep. The journey never ends.#TBT #KarateBros
#OkinawaTeam #HiroKarate #FSKA
#Funakoshi #Shotokan #Karate

#ThrowbackThursday to the 2005 FSKA World Championships. Five fighters. One goal.
Proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with legends - Sensei Hiroshi Allen @hirokarate , Jesse Arimas, Brandon Carrillo, and Thomas Balka.

In the final match, Sensei Vitaly delivered the decisive victory, clinching the title for Team USA against the reigning champions Team France.

The Stardust Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV

A moment in history.
Roots run deep. The journey never ends.

#TBT #KarateBros
#OkinawaTeam #HiroKarate #FSKA
#Funakoshi #Shotokan #Karate
...

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💥OKINAWA TEAM is ready💥
US open & Jr. International Cup
Las Vegas, NV - Paris Hotel
April 18-20Good luck to all Okinawa athletes!#USOpen #JIC #LasVegas
#KarateBros #DreamTeamOkinawa
#USAKarate

💥OKINAWA TEAM is ready💥
US open & Jr. International Cup
Las Vegas, NV - Paris Hotel
April 18-20

Good luck to all Okinawa athletes!

#USOpen #JIC #LasVegas
#KarateBros #DreamTeamOkinawa
#USAKarate
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- Who are we?
- OKINAWANice work today, Team!#karatebros #dreamteamokinawa #senseilife #okinawadojo #karatekid

- Who are we?
- OKINAWA

Nice work today, Team!

#karatebros #dreamteamokinawa #senseilife #okinawadojo #karatekid
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A few words from our guest athlete Mateo Nacu about his experience at the High Caliber Denver.
Mateo finished 1st in Kata and 1st in Kumite at this karate event in Denver, Colorado.
Congratulations, champ!𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐮
World Ranking #4 🌎
PKF 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈🥈🥉
Youth League 🥇🥉🥉Thank you 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐢 𝐉𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐮 @jaynacu from @ensokarate for bringing your team and supporting our tournament! 🤝
Your guidance shines through in the success of your students. Best of luck!🎥 @jrlarroche#usakarate #dreamteamokinawa #karatebros #highcaliberdenver #karatedenver #ensokarate #athleteinterview

A few words from our guest athlete Mateo Nacu about his experience at the High Caliber Denver.
Mateo finished 1st in Kata and 1st in Kumite at this karate event in Denver, Colorado.
Congratulations, champ!

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐨 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐮
World Ranking #4 🌎
PKF 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥈🥈🥈🥉
Youth League 🥇🥉🥉

Thank you 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐢 𝐉𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐜𝐮 @jaynacu from @ensokarate for bringing your team and supporting our tournament! 🤝
Your guidance shines through in the success of your students. Best of luck!

🎥 @jrlarroche

#usakarate #dreamteamokinawa #karatebros #highcaliberdenver #karatedenver #ensokarate #athleteinterview
...

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Sensei Noël Nkuranyabahizi @coachnoel250 traveled all the way from Rwanda to support the High Caliber Denver tournament!We appreciate your help with officiating and the positive energy you brought. Looking forward to welcoming you and your team back in 2026! @thechampionssportsacademy#highcaliberdenver #okinawadojo #usakarate #senseilife #karatebros #karateunites

Sensei Noël Nkuranyabahizi @coachnoel250 traveled all the way from Rwanda to support the High Caliber Denver tournament!

We appreciate your help with officiating and the positive energy you brought. Looking forward to welcoming you and your team back in 2026! @thechampionssportsacademy

#highcaliberdenver #okinawadojo #usakarate #senseilife #karatebros #karateunites
...

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🆂🅴🅴 🆈🅾🆄 🅽🅴🆇🆃 🆈🅴🅰🆁! 👊
💥 High Caliber Denver sends a huge THANK YOU for making this year’s event the best one yet!🎥 Relive the action with this incredible video by Ricardo Larroche with JRL - a true highlight of the tournament! @jrlarroche🇺🇸 History in the making! This was the first USA Karate-sanctioned event of 2025, and we’re beyond grateful for the National Karate Federation’s support @usakarate . Your backing helped us take this event to the next level. #LevelUp👫🫶💃🏼 Team Okinawa - you are simply the best! This wouldn’t have been possible without you.🕺 Referees & Judges - your exceptional performance kept the competition at the highest standard. Domo Arigato Gozaimashita!👨‍⚕️⛑️👩‍⚕️ To our dedicated medical team - Mile High Internal Medicine, thank you for ensuring every athlete received top-notch care. @ermin.kreso🌺 A touch of beauty! The stunning floral arrangements at the podium and VIP table were hard to miss. Huge shoutout to Amanda & Marchello @amanda_theflorist @marchellosfloral did you know those flowers were real? 🫶We extend our gratitude to all Coaches, Senseis, Athletes, and club owners who supported our tournament this year!This year was nothing short of phenomenal! A special shoutout to our amazing Karate Brothers, Vitaly and Alex Padalka, our diligent team manager Laura Hansen @lauraj_hansen , and our operations manager Arturo Fuentes @the_fuga_studio . To all the volunteers, staff, and supporters—your invaluable efforts made this celebration of karate possible. We’re deeply grateful, and your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed!🎨Shoutout to our amazing designer, Andrew Moroz @maroscreative His eye-catching designs truly elevated the event.
🥇 A special thank you to Sensei Paco Gomez @pacogomez21 the master of production, who helped bring it all to life!🔒 Commitment to excellence! We upheld the highest standards by ensuring all officials, coaches, 18+ athletes, and even medics completed SafeSport training.🔥 We’ll see you again next year!#dreamteamokinawa #karatebros #highcaliberdenver #usakarate #okinawadojo #senseilife #karatedenver

🆂🅴🅴 🆈🅾🆄 🅽🅴🆇🆃 🆈🅴🅰🆁! 👊
💥 High Caliber Denver sends a huge THANK YOU for making this year’s event the best one yet!

🎥 Relive the action with this incredible video by Ricardo Larroche with JRL - a true highlight of the tournament! @jrlarroche

🇺🇸 History in the making! This was the first USA Karate-sanctioned event of 2025, and we’re beyond grateful for the National Karate Federation’s support @usakarate . Your backing helped us take this event to the next level. #LevelUp

👫🫶💃🏼 Team Okinawa - you are simply the best! This wouldn’t have been possible without you.

🕺 Referees & Judges - your exceptional performance kept the competition at the highest standard. Domo Arigato Gozaimashita!

👨‍⚕️⛑️👩‍⚕️ To our dedicated medical team - Mile High Internal Medicine, thank you for ensuring every athlete received top-notch care. @ermin.kreso

🌺 A touch of beauty! The stunning floral arrangements at the podium and VIP table were hard to miss. Huge shoutout to Amanda & Marchello @amanda_theflorist @marchellosfloral did you know those flowers were real? 🫶

We extend our gratitude to all Coaches, Senseis, Athletes, and club owners who supported our tournament this year!

This year was nothing short of phenomenal! A special shoutout to our amazing Karate Brothers, Vitaly and Alex Padalka, our diligent team manager Laura Hansen @lauraj_hansen , and our operations manager Arturo Fuentes @the_fuga_studio . To all the volunteers, staff, and supporters—your invaluable efforts made this celebration of karate possible. We’re deeply grateful, and your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed!

🎨Shoutout to our amazing designer, Andrew Moroz @maroscreative His eye-catching designs truly elevated the event.
🥇 A special thank you to Sensei Paco Gomez @pacogomez21 the master of production, who helped bring it all to life!

🔒 Commitment to excellence! We upheld the highest standards by ensuring all officials, coaches, 18+ athletes, and even medics completed SafeSport training.

🔥 We’ll see you again next year!

#dreamteamokinawa #karatebros #highcaliberdenver #usakarate #okinawadojo #senseilife #karatedenver
...

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Happy birthday Sensei Alex, happy birthday Brother!
You are a great man, a talented teacher, an amazing father and husband, a remarkable son, an exceptional friend, and the best brother I could possibly imagine!
I love you and wish you to be happy 🫶
Enjoy every day of life, achieve new heights, and continue making a difference!
Proud to be your brother ❤️
Have a magical birthday!!!#HappyBirthday #SenseiLife #KarateBros

Happy birthday Sensei Alex, happy birthday Brother!
You are a great man, a talented teacher, an amazing father and husband, a remarkable son, an exceptional friend, and the best brother I could possibly imagine!
I love you and wish you to be happy 🫶
Enjoy every day of life, achieve new heights, and continue making a difference!
Proud to be your brother ❤️
Have a magical birthday!!!

#HappyBirthday #SenseiLife #KarateBros
...

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𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣We had a pleasure of having USA Karate athlete of the year and a Double Pan American champion - Isabela Sanchez @isa.karate at the High Caliber Denver karate championships.This young lady is a great example of true karateka and an awesome person overall.
Congratulations on your strong performance, Isa! 🔥
Btw, next year we will have weight divisions 😉Of course, congratulations to a proud father Sensei Luis Sanchez @luisblackbelt and @floridakarateclubs#karatebros #dreamteamokinawa #highcaliberdenver #senseilife #usakarate #denverhighcaliber #karatedenver #interview🎥 @jrlarroche

𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣

We had a pleasure of having USA Karate athlete of the year and a Double Pan American champion - Isabela Sanchez @isa.karate at the High Caliber Denver karate championships.

This young lady is a great example of true karateka and an awesome person overall.
Congratulations on your strong performance, Isa! 🔥
Btw, next year we will have weight divisions 😉

Of course, congratulations to a proud father Sensei Luis Sanchez @luisblackbelt and @floridakarateclubs

#karatebros #dreamteamokinawa #highcaliberdenver #senseilife #usakarate #denverhighcaliber #karatedenver #interview

🎥 @jrlarroche
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