Friendship Keeps Them Kicking

Karate Kids Shigematsu and Rogers Earn Blackbelts Together

Even the best of childhood friends are bound to have fights every now and then. Palisadians Stephen Shigematsu and Nick Rogers certainly have their share. But for them, each and every confrontation is born of discipline and ends with a respectful bow. Their art is Yoshukai Karate and each of them earned his blackbelt in August after more than four years of dedicated training at Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center. Perhaps just as important as receiving their certificates, which finally arrived from Japan three weeks ago, the two have become even stronger friends as they have trained side by side. “Nick started doing it first and he told me how much he liked it, so I started a few weeks later and we’ve done it together ever since,” said Shigematsu, who turned 12 in November. “I’m glad I’ve learned karate in case I ever need to it. But they really stress using it as self-defense only.” Rogers was still 10 when he passed his test in August but has since turned 11: “I started in first grade when I was six. My mom thought it was a good idea and I was into Ninja Turtles then so I liked it. The best thing it has taught us is discipline. You shouldn’t do your moves to show off or bully people if you’re in a fight.” Testing for their blackbelts consisted of a written test (in which they had to memorize and recite words in Japanese), sparring, breaking boards (both admitted they were scared to try at first), weapons proficiency and performing as many as 20 different “katas”–routines used to demonstrate various moves and stances. Gerry Blanck, who has been teaching Yoshukai Karate in the Palisades for 20 years and served as the pair’s sensei for their blackbelt training, is not surprised his two prized pupils passed with flying colors. “Stephen and Nick are both great kids and very fast learners,” Blanck said. “They are two of the most dedicated students we have at the studio. I think they’ve tested for every belt together. I try to discourage people from testing before they are ready but there was never any doubt with those two. I knew they would pass no problem. What makes it even more cool is that they are best friends.” Not surprisingly, both boys enjoy weapons training most, though each has his preferred choice. “I like the sai swords,” said Shigematsu, who lives on Sunset. “They are pretty sharp so you have to be careful.” Rogers, on the other hand, favors nunchuks: “They are fun to look at. It was hard to use them at at first, but you get the hang of it.” In between sleepovers at each other’s houses, playing ball, doing homework and studying for tests (the two share all but an elective class together at Calvary Christian School), Shigematsu and Rogers spar with each other at least once a week. “We’re pretty equal,” Shigematsu says. “We know each other’s moves pretty well, but we’ll pull some tricky stuff on each other.” A tornado kick is each boy’s favorite move. Shigematsu described the maneuver as a “round kick with a spin” and Rogers admitted his friend “can do higher kicks because he’s more flexible than me.” Rogers, who lives in the Highlands, is currently taking a break from karate to concentrate on basketball and soccer. His AYSO U-12 team, the Red Devils, won the Region 69 championship and Rogers will now play center midfield on the regional All-Star team. When not at the dojo, Shigematsu plays pitcher, shortstop and first base in the Palisades Pony Baseball Association (his Bronco Phillies team reached the second round of the playoffs last season). He also golfs every weekend with his dad (his low score is 46 for nine holes), and snowboards in Mammoth. Training at the Martial Arts Center two days a week requires a level of commitment and dedication unique among boys their age. “It’s mostly fun, but there have been times when one of us has wanted to quit and the other one kept us going,” Rogers said. “It’s been fun training with Stephen.” Shigematsu’s goal is to achieve his second degree, called nidan, by the time he gets to high school. Rogers, too, wants to achieve nidan and also wants to teach other kids. He said, “It’s always more fun when you have someone there to do things with.”