Martial arts show features local and national celebrities

Not everyone gets to see boards breaking, students flying mid-air and weapons blazed on a Friday night in New England. But at the Personal Best Karate Black Belt Spectacular, it was all that glamour plus more amazing performances by both local and national celebrities. They were part of the graduation for 46 Black Belt candidates, graduating to First, Second and Third Degree Black Belt.

On Friday, January 26, the six schools of Personal Best Karate were brought together to celebrate the graduation, the culmination of many years in training to reach the goal of Black Belt. “I am humbled by the hard work and dedication of the students,” said Personal Best Founder Christopher Rappold. “Their perseverance and self-discipline in reaching their goal of Black Belt echoes the skills they have obtained and use every day in their life. They bring those skills to master whatever is before them. I am proud, as they should be as well.”

The graduates performed martial arts forms and self-defense before the audience at the Oliver Ames Performing Arts Center before receiving their new Black Belt ranks. Also performing were special guests World Champions Aidan Considine and Danny Etkin. Both are members of Team Paul Mitchell, a national sport karate team currently placed number one in the world. Their performances were electric and wowed the crowd.

Another highlight of the evening was honoring local community leader Jamie Crossman with the Personal Best Karate Community Service Award. Crossman has worked diligently in the community, at New Hope Women’s Shelter, the United Way of Greater Attleboro/ Taunton and currently at Home for Our Troops, Inc.

“A life devoted to service. A life devoted to community. A life devoted to helping those people in need,” said Rappold when presenting the award to Crossman about her. “A life championing social justice and making sure the people who are in need are not forgotten. Sounds to me like a very purposeful life indeed.”

“I’m so honored to receive the Community Service Award from Personal Best Karate,” said Crossman. “It’s very humbling to be recognized for doing something that you love. I believe we all have a social responsibility to give back to our community and help make a difference. Everyone has the opportunity to advocate, support for those who don’t have a voice and bring awareness to social needs. Collaboratively we can make a huge difference in lives.”

Rappold also spoke about key moments over the past year at Personal Best, from opening a new school in Raynham to celebrating Personal Best Charity’s biggest Turkey Brigade to date, feeding 3,270 families a Thanksgiving dinner in November.

“Personal Best sets a wonderful example of community support each and every day,” explained Crossman. “Our communities are blessed to have PBK as a partner.”

From the Norton School: 3rd Degree Black Belts Payton Bridge, Eric Brown, Shayne Hodson. 2nd Degree Black Belts Michael Ng, Sherry Wester. 1st Degree Black Belts Ada Alden, Chloe Alden, Michael Katsikis, Ryan Krysko, Luc LeBlanc

Personal Best Karate schools are located in Norton, Foxborough, Easton, Norwood, Medfield and Raynham. For more information, please visit www.personalbestkarate.com.