The "Semi-Annual Black Belt Ceremonial Breakfast" Saturday Morning May 13, 2000 This gathering of all the instructors an staff plus and invitation to the Brown Belts over the age of 18 has been a custom of the American Martial Arts Institute for five years. It is here that the certificates of the last black belt testing are formally presented. In the American Martial Arts Institude a student who passes their test receives their new black belt or red tip indicating their new level of black belt immediatly after the testing in a small ceremony with the titled instructors and everyone else that was a part of their testing including spectators. But the special moment of picture taking and comradery with all the other black belts, friends and family takes place at the Ceremonial Breakfast. Everyone is in uniform and enjoying the time together in a friendly and light atmosphere which is based on the success and achievement of those being honored. With sixty-six people taking part, the room was filled and the spirits high. Grand Master Crandall took a moment to reflect on the pride he and all the instructors had regarding the new first degree black belts that were being honored. The American Martial Arts Institute with its American Eagle Style of martial arts offers a great deal of knowledge to individuals on their road to achieving black belt. The years it takes for each individual to acheive this knowledge may vary, but to test and achieve the rank of first degree black belt is for each individual to arrive at the same place. An equality of skill, technique, patience, concern for one's fellow students and respect for themselves and others is shared by all who achieve the rank in the American Martial Arts Institute. Grand Master Crandall pointed out that the future and success of any group or organization is in the hands of the young adults that come up through its system. Whether it be a country, business, pro sports team, or a family's name, it is the young who take the place of the older who determine its future, the direction and journey. This day was a special day with four junior rank black belts being formally recognized as a part of the black belt ranks. It will be young men and women such as these that will someday pass on our style and philosophy to others. It will be they who will keep alive the qualities of hard work, comitment, patience, tolerance, concern and leadership in our martial arts school and in our communities. It will be they who understand that meeting the goal is great; but doing your best, which may be beyond the goal, is better. It will be these young black belts that will maintain a standard in our training and in our community involvement that will allow the American Martial Arts Institute to impact the world of martial arts and the world in general through whatever professional line of work they choose to go into. If our school was to be compared to the building of a twenty-story building, it would be easy to see that the first few floors with the fifth and fourth degree black belts in our school was a strong foundation; that the next level of floors with our second and third degrees was equally strong and well designed for the next level of first degrees. With the Junior ranks here today and those who have come before them we are looking at a strong building that will reach into the sky and offer leadership and the tradition of American Eagle Style for everyone. Grand Master Crandall welcoming the many guests and black and brown belts. The first excitement was the presentation of a teaching certificate to Mr. James Colasurdo who is now a certified instructor of American Eagle Style of martial arts. A room full of people sharing good times. The instructor of the new first degree black belt is called up first to share in the moment with their student. It is realized that without this instructor giving freely of their time and insight the new first degree would not be there. As in any traditional skill or trade, the heritage of how to maintain its accuracy and its quality is dependent on the teacher, that no true student of the martial arts walks the road to black belt on their own. The presentations begin. Here Grand Master Crandall and Chief Instructor Wayne Handy presenting first degree black belt to Matthew Kelly. The head table made up of the titled instructors, left to right, Chief Instructor Wayne Handy, Master Instructor Jill Crandall, Grand Master Clifford Crandall, Master Instructor Allen Hillicoss, Chief Instructor Linda Moller, Senior Instructor Cheryl Freleigh of the American Martial Arts Institute Grand Master Crandall continued the presentations with Christopher Lynch and his instructor Miss Sharon Keep. Then it was Brian Long and his instructor Miss Ann Colasurdo. Then it was Susanne Turner and her instrutor Mrs. Daryl Eastwood. Great food and plenty of it. The Ramada Inn in New Hartford has hosted the semi-annual Ceremonial Breakfasts for the last three years.