Blackbelt not just for kicks Thomas' passion for karate is all-encompassing. May 21, 2008 By Josh Weinfuss PANAMA CITY - Tanis Thomas doesn't remember life without karate. Since he was 7, Thomas has been training in the Okinawan-style Shorin-Ryu, a self-defense based, non-competitive form of karate. Now 14, Thomas has reached a level most karate students don't achieve until they are adults. On April 18, he earned a first-degree blackbelt at the Martial Arts Training Center in Panama City. "It's extremely rare for someone that age," said Robert Huffman, owner of the center and Thomas' Sensei, or teacher. "They used to not start kids until they were 13 or 14 years old. The system does not promote very quickly. He's been with me since he was a young kid. That's the first blackbelt that we've had out of this school. He's kind of blazing a trail, so he's kind of special." Thomas said he was nervous as he went through a routine in front of people to earn his belt. He had had to do 10 empty-handed katas, which are forms; three different weapon katas, two with a Bo and one with a Sai; a four-way board break, one each with a fist, elbow, hand and kick; prearranged self defense techniques; prearranged sparring; and had to spar against two other blackbelts. Thomas, who is home schooled and suffers from dyslexia, had to complete a 3-mile run and present a book report. He also had to learn the cultural aspects, customs and courtesies of the Okinawan people and how it relates to the proper etiquette inside the dojo, or a martial arts training site. "It was exciting and kinda scary," Thomas said. "I had to be up in front of so many people and I thought I was going to mess up." His passion for karate is all-encompassing, but kicking, because of its power, is his favorite technique. Watching his son reach the blackbelt status has been a series of proud moments for Thomas' father, Tim, and his mother, Terri. It's a part of Thomas' home-school curriculum as karate doubles as his physical education requirement. "For him to have done this has been a real big accomplishment for us," Tim Thomas said. "I'm extremely proud of him for going through. Seven years is a long time for anybody, but when it's half your life it's a real accomplishment." Karate also has helped Tanis develop as a child. It's been a social outlet for him, and Tim said it's given him an education in discipline. Huffman said Tanis has developed an intellectual interest in karate. When Tanis started training, Huffman said he could barely do a jumping jack. Now he's doing 60-80 pushups and has begun teaching his peers in Huffman's classes. After learning under Huffman for so long, Tanis can teach Huffman's classes from start to finish. "It can be kinda difficult sometimes," Tanis said. "A lot of times they don't understand what I'm trying to say. Just everybody's different." Tanis will work toward adding stripes on his belt - it takes five to become a second-degree blackbelt. Huffman said it should take about two years to reach that level. "He's going to have his blackbelt for longer than he won't have had it," Huffman said.