I am proud to share that I have officially received confirmation that I passed my Nidan (2nd Dan) grading.
It has been 15 years since I first tied my Shodan belt in Lithuania. It took a decade and a half for my mind and body to be ready to step back onto the grading floor.
Why take on a Nidan grading?
These days, most of my focus is on my students. So why did I need to take this step for myself?
The truth is, I needed a reminder that I could still do hard things.
The journey since my Shodan has not been straightforward. Along the way, I faced major hip joint surgery, moved to a new country without speaking the language, earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, relocated between cities, and experienced the devastating loss of family members.
There were times when life felt very heavy. Through all of it, the dojo remained a light for me. Kyokushin gave me structure, strength and something steady to return to. Over time, it became more than a martial art. It became a mindset.
A message for the next generation
I did not do this just for a belt. I did it to prove to myself that I am still capable of learning and growing, and for the future generations of HAITO KARATE students who look up to me.
I want them to know from my own experience that setbacks, major surgery, grief, language barriers and life’s unexpected detours do not define how far we can go. The path may change, and progress may take time, but we can fall, heal, adapt and keep moving forward.
We never, ever give up. Never.
Thank you to everyone who supported me
I have had the privilege of meeting incredible people along this journey. They inspired me, challenged me and, ultimately, became my friends. There is no particular order to these thank-yous, but each one comes from the heart:
- Sensei Gabija Gudeliauskaitė-Karpavičienė
- Sensei Lia Howlett
- The Chelmsford Dojo crew: Shihan Stuart Wright, Sensei Jared Wright and Sensei Sarah Stoddart
- Sensei Marios Petrou
- The British Karate Guild (BKG)
- Justas Kasparavičius, my soon-to-be husband — thank you for looking after me after hard training sessions: for the massages, and for bringing me tea when my knees and hips hurt too much. My next belt should definitely include your last name too, though I sincerely hope that will not take another 15 years! 😁
Osu, and thank you all. This Nidan belongs to all of us. ❤️
Sensei Gabi
HAITO KARATE