Derik Peloquin Promotion
Posted by Mike Allan at 8/20/2008 10:22 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
Last night at the Halls Dojo Derik Peloquin was promoted to the rank of Orange Belt by Sensei Walker and Sensei Blankenship.
While this alone is reason enough to celebrate I know that Brad, Kent, Evan and I along with everyone else who have trained with Derik are celebrating seeing a young man turn his life around.
Derik has shown a great determination and willingness to learn not only the martial arts but to incorporate it's principles into his daily life.
I for one could not be more proud of him!
Derik, and those like him, are the reason we do what we do .... not the trophies, honors or stripes on our belts .... it's the young men and women that briefly walk our paths and perhaps follow our leads .....
Congratulations Derik!!!!!
While this alone is reason enough to celebrate I know that Brad, Kent, Evan and I along with everyone else who have trained with Derik are celebrating seeing a young man turn his life around.
Derik has shown a great determination and willingness to learn not only the martial arts but to incorporate it's principles into his daily life.
I for one could not be more proud of him!
Derik, and those like him, are the reason we do what we do .... not the trophies, honors or stripes on our belts .... it's the young men and women that briefly walk our paths and perhaps follow our leads .....
Congratulations Derik!!!!!
Thank you Mike for those kind words about Derik. He is a great kid has worked hard for his orange belt. I have not made it easy on him. That is evident because it took him over a year to reach his orange belt. It hasn't been easy for either of us. Derik and I have struggled with many different obstacles that life has thrown his way. Each time Derik rises above and becomes a better person for it.
I am extremely proud of Derik and the work he has done not only in Isshin-Ryu but most importantly what he has done with his life. He has taken our Student Creed and applied it to his life, taken Jesus into his heart and is growing daily in his new Christian walk. Those are things nobody can take from him.
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Congratulations Derik!!!
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Thank you so much.. I really dont know what to say but i'm sure ill have more obstacles down my way and believe me i will overcome it...when i first started i believed karate was bout just hitting someone but the main reason i take it is the famly part of it.cause i never had a big famy or a good famy like yall...i thank all those who has pushed me For ex Brad,Master Mills ,my parent,Mike Allan,and Brandon Baird if i'm missing anybody im sorr but you'll know if you pushed me or not ......
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Congratulations to this young man.
You have some good role models helping you along the way.
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I would like to thank all of you at Pete Mills, especially Brad. Misty and I are also very proud of Derik! Today marks the 1 year anniversary of us adopting Derik, and We are so happy to have Brad in our support system. Brad has done so much to help Derik, and could have given up on him numerous times, but Brad didn't.
Keep up the great work with Derik, and anybody else who needs you!
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I want to add that I am also very proud of you, Derik. I know I have only met you a few times so far but I know how important you are to Brian and Misty and I can see the love and concern. It makes me smile to know the great lengths that you have come in just arriving to the place in your life that you are now and I know God will take you so much further. Much love.
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To be a part of, adopted into, accepted, standing with - I am so thankful. God's just smiling on us, and Derik you have done the work, and done us proud. Keep your hands up!
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