Self-confidence and respect, both for others and myself

“Someday I would like to be able to pass these qualities on to others, like my own teacher has passed on to me. If I didn’t study the Martial arts, I would be a lot less confident in my life. Martial Arts also keeps kids away from illegal drugs and gangs. Drugs are very bad for your body, mind and spirit. You cannot perform well and it holds you back from reaching all your accomplishments” Luke says. “Martial Arts teach self-control, while providing a good group of friends to be around.”

Luke feels that tournament competition has helped make him a better person. He’s learned to practice hard and not to be upset if he does not win. He knows that when he wins, it is not because his Martial Arts is better, but because he practiced and worked harder than those who had fallen to his skill. Luke is working very hard toward his Black Belt. It is not easy to earn the Black Belt at the Huard’s School. It takes a lot of dedication and training.

Luke trains two days week at the Huard’s School, but trains on a daily basis at his special home Dojo, He also assistants the younger Little Tigers and the Little Dragon classes on Saturday mornings as well as Wednesday evenings, with one of his Sensei Mark Huard. He is looked up to very much by the young children. They look up to Luke as a role model to follow. He truly has a great spirit that goes a long ways with the children.

Luke’s parents are very proud of him, not just because he is a good Martial Artist and an excellent student at school but because his is a fine son. Good luck with your future in martial arts and on your upcoming Black Belt test. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Focus on The Future

There are a few people in the martial today who will become martial arts teachers, historians and masters. Most martial arts instructors hope to have one of those at his or her school. Mark Huard of Winslow, Maine is one of those fortunate instructors. He has a sixteen-year-old student who wants to grow up to be a martial arts teacher and has all the mental and physical attributes of a future Martial Arts leader.

His name is Luke Boucher. Luke is in the tenth grade at Waterville Maine Senior High School. He does very well in school and we are proud of him. He is a first-degree brown belt. Luke will be testing for the Black Belt in the spring.

Luke is a youngster who knows exactly what he wants out of life and goes after it. If he says he wants to train to be a Black Belt, I have no doubt that he will, says Huard. With only 8 years of training behind him, Luke has already accomplished more than a lot of adults in the Martial Arts. He has a great form specializing in powerful kicks and blocks. Luke competes successfully at many statewide tournaments winning many awards in fighting, forms and weapons Kata. His weapon of choice is the Kama.

“It’s very hard to find a child who can compete equally as well in both forms and fighting. Luke does Japanese Traditional Forms, and creative open forms. He has not competed yet on the national circuit but has already defeated some of the top national competitors in the open forms and weapons,” says Sensei Mark Huard. However leadership goes far beyond tournament competition. Luke has a long list of reasons why it is worthwhile to make Martial arts as big part of his life.

“I like the discipline that it gives me. I have learned to set and meet my goals.”

You can see a photo of Luke hanging in the Hall of Fame.