When I moved to this region and opened a school for the first time, I was unsure how to run a successful school. I was also apprehensive about how to continue my own training, since I was 800 miles from my own Senior Master. It was very reassuring to discover that Senior Master Thomas was just down the road from me.

I met Senior Master Thomas in Florida in the late 1990s when I was training to be an ATA instructor. As one of the highest ranks at that training camp (he was then a 5th degree black belt), I was surprised that Master Thomas remembered me years later (I was one of the lowest rank attendees). In 2003, Sr. Master Thomas welcomed me as an instructor to Region 111. Even though I came from a different region, had a different master, and only ran a small school as a part-time venture, Sr. Master Thomas invited me to serve on testing panels, attend training sessions, ensured I was included in communications concerning school owners, and personally worked to prepare me for rank testing. This support proved crucial in ensuring the continued successful operation of my school.

Having Senior Master Thomas and his supportive staff so close by has been very beneficial to me as a martial artist and instructor. Having him as one of the growing number of quality senior masters in our region speaks volumes about the high standards of leadership present in Region 111.

Dr. Beccie S
4th Degree, Sr. Instructor
Elizabeth City, NC

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