Editor,

It seems like only yesterday that I moved to Whidbey Island with my two kids and a dream: To open a dojo (karate school) and help every student that walked in my door achieve their black belt dreams.

In that time we have accomplished so much. We have awarded over 45 black belts to hard working students, done beach clean ups, trail clean ups, nursing home Christmas card drives and visits, demonstrations, children’s day and parades. Our black belts have done projects to help woman’s shelters, homeless teen shelters, raise money for children overseas, fundraisers for Good Cheer, WAIF, food drives, self defense seminars, classes at the high school for teenaged girls, and that’s just touching the tip of the iceberg.

Our sensei was named a hometown hero by the South Whidbey Record after being here only two years! She has received the Ruby award from the Soroptimist for her work with self defense classes for woman and girls. And we are just getting started.

We want to say “Thank you” to all of our students who continue to make this world better with every random act of kindness they do. Here’s to another 10 years of black belt excellence.

WENDI BARKER

Tiger Martial Arts