The Centurion

  When I was a sophomore in college, my roommate Natalie had a poster: “15 Chuck Norris Facts.” She hung it in the living room, and among the four of us roommates, it was probably the best-read piece of literature in the apartment. “Chuck Norris was once bitten by a cobra. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.” “Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch. He decides what time it is.”

  If you train in martial arts, and have gotten to experience the benefits (physical and mental) that come with involvement, and get to be a part of the community (a colorful assortment of people who use the phrase, “Hey, check out my bruises,” far more than any other segment of the population), you probably consider yourself pretty lucky (I know I do). If your S.O. trains with you – or in any art, for that matter – and you get to share that part of your life with them, you’re doubly lucky!

  Mackensi Emory is a 59-time sport karate world champion and member of Team Paul Mitchell Karate. A student of Kyoshi Dave Kovar at Kovar’s Satori Academy, she also has a strong traditional martial arts background – something that she says is more common in sport karate athletes that people realize. She stopped by Century Martial Arts HQ recently, and The Centurion managed to steal time for a quick interview with Kensi, about her current career, plans for the future and signature series kama line plus a few fun questions as always!  

 

  Being a white belt can be hard. You see your higher-ranked teammates trying cool moves you’ve never learned, and you face off during live rounds against those teammates and find yourself in over your head. It’s easy to get frustrated when the moves you practice daily seem harder for you than they do for your teammates. However, having the right attitude can vastly improve your experience on the mats to ensure you get the most out of every class -- and turn yourself into the person the newer students are looking up to as quickly as possible.

  If you’re a fan of sport martial arts, you’re definitely already a Danny Etkin fan. A member of Team Paul Mitchell Karate, Etkin is a regular presence in sport karate’s competitive circuits. He’s best known for his insanely creative nunchaku forms and tricks – so much so, in fact, that he recently teamed up with Century to create a Signature Series line of the weapon (more on that later)!

  Ever wonder, “Will I still be training and competing ten years from now?” If you’re worried about your fifties or sixties putting an end to your martial arts journey – a concern felt especially among those who train in striking-based martial arts – you need to read this interview with Perry William Kelly.

  Many people get into martial arts because a family member started training first. In this case, it’s usually a relative someone looks up to: an older sibling, a mother, or father. I know several people for whom the latter was the case.   No one in my (immediate) family ever had an interest in martial arts, unfortunately. But I found other hobbies to share with them. My dad, for example, is an avid tennis player. He signed me up for lessons when I was a kid, taught me the finer points of the serve, and spend hours practicing with me on weekends when I played for my high school. Tennis was our thing.    Every Father’s Day, I make a point to get my dad something tennis-related. Sometimes it’s just tennis balls; other times I get fancier with tennis books, racquet clips, or tennis clothing. This theme isn’t just important because Dad likes tennis – it’s a reminder of the connection we have through the sport.     I know that for many of our readers, martial arts is the connection they have with their dad. This year, skip the ties and tools and fishing gear for Father’s Day. Give your dad a gift that’s a thank-you: for introducing you to your art, and sharing rides to the dojo. For not letting you quit when you thought you wanted to. For not letting you win in sparring, because he knew you could be so much better if you pushed yourself. For attending tournaments on the weekends, and for showing you what you could accomplish through martial arts, because he’d paved the way as a role model.  

  You may be wondering how I went through nearly 30 years of my life without ever watching a classic such as The Karate Kid. I will be totally honest with you – I don’t know. It falls into several genres I ordinarily like (underdog story, action, martial arts), and I’m also pretty sure that working in the martial arts industry without having seen it is tantamount to a fireable offense.