News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Kristina Trahern and Tristan Kaczmarek have achieved high ranking in their martial arts. photo provided
Two Sisters martial artists earned new belt designations last month in a series of intense trials at Outlaw Martial Arts.
On April 12, Kristina Trahern earned promotion 3rd Dan (an advanced black belt designation in taekwondo) and Tristan Kaczmarek was promoted to 2nd Dan. On April 19, Kaczmarek also earned a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ). Marty Kaczmarek, Master K, of Outlaw Martial Arts, notes that a blue belt in BJJ has mastery requirements that are equivalent to a black belt in many other martial arts.
The taekwondo belt tests included a one-mile timed run; meditation; demonstration of forms and performance of self-defense techniques. Both also did full-contact taekwondo sparring and a five-minute round of BJJ sparring and demonstrated brick-breaking.
Kaczmarek's BJJ test required 30 minutes of technical display and four five-minute rounds of grueling sparring with upper belts.
"Sparring is kind of like going through a gauntlet," Marty Kaczmarek said.
Trahern has been training in taekwondo for nine years. She finds it an excellent means of learning self-defense and keeping fit. And she loves the sense of community.
"It's a lifestyle," she said. "We have a really great community. We've kind of got a martial arts family."
As is traditional with advancement as a black belt, Trahern has taken on more and more teaching. She told The Nugget that at first she was not sure she would like that aspect of her practice, but she now embraces it fully. Her next step - promoting to 4th Dan - would make her a master instructor. That's another three years or so of work, which she gladly undertakes.
The practice of martial arts is therapeutic in many ways.
"You lose focus on anything going through your mind from the day and just focus and work hard," Trahern said.
Tristan Kaczmarek echoed her thoughts.
The Sisters High School junior, who is also an Outlaws track athlete and carries a full academic load, finds BJJ particularly good for stripping away stress.
"It really allows me to be focused in the moment," he said. "You become more present."
BJJ is a grappling art based on getting an opponent into a submission position that forces him or her to acknowledge that submission, or "tap out." Though it may appear extremely aggressive and strength-based to the uninitiated, it is actually a highly technical art that rewards a deliberate approach and an understanding of body mechanics and leverage. That's one reason why earning a blue belt is considered a high achievement.
"Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of those arts that takes a lot longer than most other arts," Tristan said.
Tristan began studying with his father under Sensei Roy Dean at the Roy Dean Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in Bend.
"We really liked the vibe of it," Tristan recalled. "It was really ego-less. It started as a father-son kind of thing."
Marty affiliated with Roy Dean's program and incorporated BJJ into Outlaw Martial Arts.
Dean was on site for Tristan's belt test.
Tristan notes that ego and machismo just get in the way of learning BJJ, with is progressive and deliberate.
"If you have a good academy, it's all about learning and progressing at your own rate," he said.
Highly aggressive types get quickly frustrated.
"You're a white belt, you're going to get tapped out every single time," he said.
Size and strength are trumped by technique.
"I'm, whatever, 140 pounds and I can tap out guys well beyond my weight," Tristan said.
Kristina Trahern notes that martial arts can have broad appeal.
She's far from the only woman in the program, which is actually almost evenly divided between men and women.
Commitment, focus, and a willingness to keep working hard are the only requirements for success.
"It really is for everyone," she said. "Anyone can be a black belt. The only way you can get there is not to quit."
Outlaw Martial Arts is located on Hood Avenue in Sisters. Contact them at 541-406-0662 or visit their website, www.outlawmartialarts.com. The Roy Dean Academy is on Pence Lane in Bend. Contact them at 541-390-1745 or visit their website: www.roydeanacademy.com.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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