Derrico's Black Belt School

   























     Mr. Derrico is a seventh degree black belt with over 23 years of Tae Kwon Do experience.  Teaching at all three schools, he is the main instructor and the other “behind the scene” coordinator along with Mrs. Derrico.

     I started Tae Kwon Do because of my son, Jake.  Jake was “Ga-Ga” over the Karate Kid movies and would try to perform parts of the movies at home and in the yard.  After watching Jake, we (Mrs. Derrico and I) decided to take him to his first karate class.  I thought that I might as well join him as opposed to sitting and watching.   We started in the Summer of 1987, attending classes in Abbotsford and Wausau under the instruction of Mr. Likes.  The current Derrico’s Abbotsford location is actually where Mr. Likes started a branch of his Wausau karate school back in ’87.

     In December of 1991 I started Derrico's Black Belt School after I had earned my own black belt.  Our first school was located at the old National Guard Armory in Abbotsford.  In 1995 we moved to the present Abbotsford location where Jake and I received our first karate lesson under Mr. Likes.  One of my earliest memories is of a demonstration of a flying side kick ... Mr. Likes stopped in mid-air, just short of the guy's knee.

     I love being a martial arts instructor.  I don’t consider it work.  My specialty, if I would have to choose, would be teaching sparring techniques.  Competitive sparring is one of my passions as well as watching my students use the techniques I have taught them for competition.  Along with sparring, my favorite forms are Yul-Gok and Tong-Il and my favorite kicks are turning sidekick and ax kick.  I also have an extensive list of favorite hand techniques.

     Throughout my martial arts career, I've competed in many tournaments.  In 1995 I won the WPKA Senior Black Belt Division.  At the North Central Karate Association (NCKA) competition in the 50 and over division, I earned a first place finish in forms and sparring in 2008.  So far, I received four (4) second-place awards at the Diamond Nationals ... I'm still trying for first place!

     Besides being one of the owners and main instructor, my other responsibilities include basically everything:  from maintenance to signing up new students; curriculum writing and revision; opening and closing studios; paying bills; tuition management; talking to parents, students, grandparents, etc; to shoveling snow.

     As a fifth degree black belt, Mrs. Derrico teaches at all three schools. She is also the "behind the scene" coordinator, taking care of most of the office and bookkeeping responsibilities of Derrico's Black Belt School.

     I started my training as part of a deal with my husband. I reluctantly agreed that if he started a karate school in Abbotsford, I would be his first student. My reluctance turned to passion. I love training and teaching.  I consider my specialty to be forms, and working with the younger kids. It is very rewarding to watch a shy, awkward young student blossom into a confident and capable martial artist.

     Competing in tournaments throughout the years, I participated in both forms and sparring as a colored belt.  Because of a knee injury, I no longer spar, but still compete in forms.  I have taken Grand Champion at Harris' Lambeau Field tournament in Green Bay, and have medaled at the Badger State Games several times, also have competed at the Diamond Nationals several times and was ranked #3 in senior women's forms in the 2007/2008 North Central Karate Association (NCKA) tournament circuit.

     I especially enjoy being a part of the all-women musical team forms that we occasionally put together. Choreographing and coaching these teams is great fun. I also have developed what I call, "Tae Kwon Dorobics" routines that we do in our women's classes. They are martial arts moves that we do to music for an aerobic workout.

     As a grandmother and one of the oldest women in our school, I like to think that I am a good inspiration for women of all ages to give Tae Kwon Do a try.  It is a good way to stay in shape, socialize with others, and challenge yourself both mentally and physically.

     In my spare, non-martial arts time (Which is not very much!), I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren, gardening, cooking, and of course spending time with Mr. Derrico in our various "adventures" that we pursue together.

 Mr. Reis started Tae Kwon Do in 1991 when Mr. Derrico started his first karate school in Abbotsford.  He earned his black belt on April 22, 1995 with his registry number being D-1, meaning he was the first black belt to graduate from Derrico's Black Belt School.  He also has a Likes black belt registry number, L-209, meaning he is a black belt from Mr. Derrico's instructor, Master Likes of Likes Black Belt Academy.

     I was always interested in martial arts.  I took an afternoon class when I was in high school and really liked it.  It was such an enjoyable experience that I wanted to continue.

     As the only full time instructor at Derrico's (in Marshfield),  I do everything a teacher would do.  Besides teaching classes, I enroll new students, re-sign existing ones, clean the studio, help set-up and judge tournaments, perform fund raising, sit on the panel for the Jake Derrico Memorial Fund, and I am a member of the Wisconsin Black Belt League.

     Since being at Derrico's I have been Student of the Month and received a black belt accommodation award.   I was ranked number one in forms and sparring at the WPKA and have 12 grand championships in forms.  (My favorite form being Ge-Baek).

Mrs. Johnson started Tae Kwon Do as a beginner with Derrico's Black Belt School in January 1997. 

     At that time, my husband was an over-the-road truck driver and I was working just part-time in Medford where I knew no one (except for the people I worked with).  One of those people was Peggy Nordgren, and we encouraged/dared each other to start Tae Kwon Do.  I started out first taking a self-defense course with Mrs. Derrico while Peggy had the guts to jump right into the beginners class.  At that time, I asked my husband Lyle what he thought of my taking Tae Kwon Do. He said, “Why not?  Maybe you’ll be a black belt some day.”  And I responded, “Yeah, right, like I would ever be a black belt!” Needless to say I did receive my black belt in April of 2001, and have been instructing ever since. 

     An important aspect of my martial arts training has been competition.  I am not always successful when I compete, but I always enjoy it and learn something from it.  I love instructing, and I am continually trying to find ways to teach not only techniques, but to instill a sense of perseverance and indomitable spirit in my students. 

     Coaching team forms adds even more variety.  It’s always stressful, but hands down one of the most enjoyable things I do.  I have spent the last 15 years working with adults and children with developmental disabilities in my day job, and hope those experiences bring something unique to my teaching.

     I have also been on the Jake Derrico Memorial Fund Committee since its inception.  I am incredibly proud of my involvement, and the Fund's activities. 

     I’ve had lots of amazing moments during my martial arts career.  The top ones would include receiving the "Student of the Year" award when I was a red belt, as well as being given special recognition in the first year of earning my black belt.  My most cherished moments in competition would have to include when I kicked the head gear right off Victor Garcia’s head at Mr. Like’s tournament in Edgar.  I didn’t win, but it was the first time I competed against a man as a black belt, and that switching ax kick sure got the crowd going.  However, winning grand championship for sparring (men and women) when I beat Mike Sixel in Lac Du Flambeau, felt even better.  (It didn’t hurt that I also won $500 either.  It’s the only grand championship for sparring I’ve ever won, but I’m sure glad it happened at the only tournament I’ve been to that gives cash prizes to the winner). 

     Up until the Fall of the 2009 Derrico’s Invitational Tournament, I had never won a grand championship.  Finally, winning the grand championship for forms felt incredible. My day, week, and month were really "made" when the forms team I coached also won first place!  Now I just have to work on my goal of winning two grand championships on the same day!