PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - The acting commanding general for the Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command recognized a local student for attaining his black belt during a karate class at Forge Fitness here March 11.
Brig. Gen. Larry Wyche presented 15-year-old Kelvin Lee of Randolph with a congratulatory note and a commander's coin in honor of Lee's accomplishment.
During the presentation, Wyche applauded Lee, son of Picatinny employee Jimmy C. Lee, for his achievement, praising him for his hard work and tenacity.
"They just don't give these belts out," Wyche said, explaining that this was the first black belt earned at Picatinny in approximately 10 years.
"If you're wearing a belt, you've truly earned it," said Wyche, who knew what he was talking about because he has a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has been practicing the art for more than 30 years.
"We're proud of you as a young man and we're proud of you as an individual," he continued. "I know a lot of great things are going to happen to you in your future."
Lee is a student in the karate class offered at Picatinny's Forge Fitness gym on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. He has been practicing martial arts at Forge Fitness for six years.
Currently a sophomore at Randolph High School, Lee said that after graduation he plans to attend college, majoring in computer science or computer engineering.
Lee said it felt great to earn his black belt and advised other aspiring karate students to "stay with it and have fun with it."
During the presentation, Wyche told the students they were fortunate to have a wonderful teacher and recognized Lee's karate instructor, Scott Miller, for his exceptional training methods.
Besides teaching technique, Wyche said Miller's instruction on values and doing the right thing was the best he had seen.
"He's an exceptional instructor and what you're learning in this environment will serve you for years to come," he said to the students, adding that his children took martial arts.
Miller, a sixth-degree (Roku-Dan) black belt in Isshinryu karate, has instructed the Picatinny karate class for the past six years. In that time, he said he has taught more than 125 students. He currently instructs about 20 students, ages 5 through 40.
Unfortunately, Miller does not get to see most of his students earn their black belts.
"Because it's an Army base, there is a lot of turnover because most students are (here) for a two-year term," he explained.
Miller also instructs at schools in Hackettstown and Panther Valley and has taught personal and combined instruction for the military, as well as self-defense classes for men and women.
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