Martial arts teacher Keith Hafner elevated to grand master
When Keith Hafner purchased his karate school from Edward Sell in 1979, he promised to make it the best in the country and to make Sell proud of him. In turn, Sell promised to become the nation’s best martial arts master.
Sell went on to become a grand master and the highest-ranked Westerner to specialize in the tae kwon do form of karate, holding a ninth-degree black belt. Today, he conferred the rank of grand master upon his old student, Hafner.
“It’s very unusual for any Westerner to be upgraded to grand master,” Sell said.A big crowd of current and former students turned out at Keith Hafner Karate, located at 214 S. Main St., for the afternoon program. Speeches, songs, and a performance by the school’s demonstration team were presented to salute the school’s namesake.
Hafner—who also was celebrating his 53rd birthday —said he was just a skinny 16-year-old kid when he began his long path as a martial artist. In 1977, he earned his black belt in Sell’s school and bought the business after graduating from college two years later. He became a master in 1986 and has since guided hundreds of students on the way to their own black belts.
All the while, he has continued studying with Sell.
“It’s been an absolutely amazing relationship,” Sell said. “He’s listened to all I’ve told him.”
The two men talk regularly by telephone, share technical videos and meet personally several times per year.
Meanwhile, Hafner has progressed so greatly that he occasionally gives the lesson to his mentor.
Sell said that karate has evolved beyond being an activity oriented purely toward self-defense and fitness. Character-building is the current emphasis. “I’ve got to give credit to (Hafner) for taking that extra step,” he said.
Sam Gach, a Pioneer High School senior who has studied karate for 11 years, said Hafner “genuinely wants to help others and teach others what he knows and help others be the best they can be.”
Gach, who is 17, said his study with Hafner has “totally shaped who I am—without this I’d be a completely different person. I’m prepared to be in any situation, and I’ll handle it well.”
Hafner said his leadership skills made him eligible for the appointment to grand master, along with the number of black belt holders he has taught. In all, over 20,000 students have trained in the school. Hafner’s consulting services with other karate schools also influenced the honor.
The martial artist must hold at least a seventh-degree black-belt to be considered for appointment.
“In a sense, it’s almost like a lifetime achievement award,” he said. “It’s really a big honor. What a blessing to spend my life working in something that is good for people and that so many enjoy.”
Comments
DadtoThree
Tue, Mar 23, 2010 : 2:28 p.m.
What a waste of news space. My son was enrolled at Hafner's Karate a couple years ago and "earned" a brown belt, which is just below black belt. He was 6 at the time. When he "earned" his brown belt, my wife and I were called into a "post-testing conference" and got this long talk about committing to my son's future training, yak yak yak. And then we got his up for $2000 up front. This was to make sure our son would have the resources to reach his black belt. That was the last time we took our son to Hafner's. We tried enrolling our son in another program. Turns out my son couldn't even meet the requirements to test for that school's lowest belt rank. What on earth did my son learn? What did we pay thousands of dollars to Hafner's for? Sure, my kid is respectful and has self esteem, but as his dad, I'm the one to teach him that and I don't need to spend money to do that. I expected my son to learn martial arts at Hafner's. Turns out he can't do much of anything, karate, taekwondo, or whatever you want to call it. Also turns out we werent' the only family to get the $2,000 schpiel. Or the only family to find out our kids were getting belts without getting martial arts skills. So congratulations "Grand Master" Hafner, for gettng a title that it sure doesn't look like you earned. Maybe that's what all those $2000 went for. Should go to training himself instead.
News Watcher
Tue, Mar 23, 2010 : 1:55 p.m.
First, as Billy has pointed out, Tae Kwon Do is NOT a form of Karate. Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial art, while Karate is a Japanese martial art. Second, according to Kukkiwon, the world headquarters for Tae Kwon Do based in Seoul, South Korea, the rank of Grand Master may only be attained by those who are MINIMUM 56 years of age. Also, to test for the ranks of 8th & 9th Dan, these tests can ONLY be conducted at Kukkiwon and nowhere else in the world. When Keith Hafner reaches the age of 56, should he travel to Seoul, arrange to test at Kukkiwon, and then pass his test, then he can be congratulated. Laura Bien is correct. This is nothing but marketing. A rank does not count unless you've actively trained, tested, and passed the test. Sadly, there are schools in the area and around the US that just award rank as if it's candy, and this diminishes not just that school but the martial arts in general. Hold your applause for Keith Hafner until he properly tests at the proper age as mandated by Kukkiwon, not by his friend Ed Sell.
missmynewspaper
Sat, Nov 7, 2009 : 9:22 p.m.
I'm about 3 weeks late in making this post, so perhaps no one will ever read it. But I would feel remiss if I didn't comment. Today I attended a Keith Hafner's Karate Black Belt Spectacular where 22 children and adults were awarded black belts, including several who earned 2nd degree belts. As I watched each individual perform, I was impressed. I became keenly aware of how proud I am to know Grandmaster Keith Hafner and his family, and to have earned my own 2 black belts from Keith Hafner's Karate School. It was not an easy task to achieve and enter the ranks of black belt excellence, but it has been and continues to be well worth it. It pains me that some individuals have posted rancorous, scornful comments about Grandmaster Hafner, his family, and the school. I find it disheartening that some individuals choose to be negative or dismissive of what he has accomplished. It is a simple enough gesture to extend congratulations for what Grandmaster Hafner has achieved. It is also a simple gesture to say nothing if one has no positive sentiment to share. Over the years I have received nothing but kindness, encouragement, and good will from Grandmaster Hafner and his superb teaching staff. I have been challenged, pushed out of my comfort zone, and urged to stretch beyond what I thought were my capabilities. Sometimes I really didn't like that. But I am a better and stronger person for it, I am in better physical shape than most of my peers, and I am proud to be affiliated with and to have earned my black belts from Keith Hafner's Karate. Congratulations Grandmaster Hafner! Your dedication and contributions to your family, your students, and to our community at large are both recognized and appreciated.
Mumbambu, Esq.
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 9:56 a.m.
"My kids are much more respectful..." Ah yes, Rodney Stuckey. I'm going to look for the commercial on youtube!
Twins1212
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 8:12 a.m.
I just have to say, WOW to read what people have to say about Grand Master Keith Hafner and his very successfull Karate School and his Wonderful Mentor, Grand Master Ed Sell, it is evident that people don't have any respect for sucessfull people who are not them selvs. I have to say I am very proud and privilaged to know Grand Master Hafner and his wonderful family, and also Grand Master Sell and his wife Grand Master Brenda Sell. I know many people who would not be the stong, positive, self confident people, respective people they are today with out the teachings of Keith Hafner's Karate School and the Wonderful staff that are also high ranking Black Blets. I thank you Grand Master Hafner and you staff at Keith Hafner's Karate school for all the good and possitive teaching that comes from you and your school. God Bless!!
Mumbambu, Esq.
Mon, Oct 19, 2009 : 7:23 a.m.
There is no way this is just marketing, Laura. Have you seen his commercials? They are AWESOME! :) No need for anything more than that from the marketing department.
Billy
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 9:23 p.m.
Also....taekwondo is NOT karate, or a FORM of karate. That's just plain wrong. Karate = Japanese TKD = Korean Of course the reporter could just be going off what Keith said, which I wouldn't be surprised at all.
Billy
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 9:12 p.m.
Wow, Sell is still around, that's too bad. I was enrolled in the joke that is the Hafner's academy for 4 years. I was kept at brown belt for 2 of those years, and finally pulled out by my parents when they realized the Hafner's were bilking money out of their students by attempting to keep them enrolled as long as possible. They refused to test me (and everyone else that was in my class) for black belt repeatedly because they knew that students would leave once attaining black belt. They teach americanized TKD, not traditional Korean TKD, so about all it's good for is exercise and sport. There is little self-defense to be learned by training in a strict sporting ruled martial art. Regarding Mr. Sell. During a demonstration I was chosen to spar with him. As a yellow belt I was taught to contact nothing more than the uniform. This man side kicked my 11 year old body across the room....twice. There was a hole in the wall where he had kicked me into the wall. Instead of fixing this hole, they relocated a Korean flag to cover it up, and left it this way for over a year. This man beat up an 11 year old kid as a "demonstration." Multiple parents complained during said demonstration, one couple which removed their child from the program that day. There is nothing honorable or great about the Hafner family, having known them far too long. They had a really great instructor there by the name of Dan, back before they moved into the basement location and were still in the ex-ballet studio. Dan eventually left and moved to Arizona to open his own Dojo because of how terribly run the Hafner school was.
cook1888
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 7:18 p.m.
Congratulations Grand Master Hafner. You have contributed to the physical fitness and self esteem of young people (and old) in this community for years.
TKD
Sun, Oct 18, 2009 : 12:03 p.m.
I have trained at Keith Hafner's school for around twelve years. When my wife and I adopted two children, one of the first things we did was to enroll them to train there. Like hundreds of others who know, respect, and love this man and his school, we went there yesterday to share a great day with him. And a great day it was. One of the things we celebrated was the way in which everyone who comes to the school is treated with dignity and respect. It would be nice if the internet dialogue around this event could have the same characteristics. In any event, I will offer this statistic in the hope that it may put things in perspective. Since its inception in the 1960's, the United States Chung Do Kwan Association has had roughly 400,000 students. Of those, it has elevated eight to the rank of Grand Master. If making people a Grand Master is a marketing device then surely it is among the least effective marketing devices ever conceived. Congratulations, Grand Master Hafner, on a wondeful day celebrating a wonderful accomplishment.
BigMike
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 : 9:19 p.m.
This is what passes for logic in 2009: "Know nothing about this, and you may be entirely right, but damn laura, why so much hate?" There was no hate in Laura's comment, only facts. Westerners invented the inflated titles for martial arts instructors, in no small part to make up for their lack of skill and deep knowledge as compared to their Asian counterparts. Ed Sell and Keith Hafner do a great job of supporting one another's exalted public images. It IS marketing, stonecutter1.
Al Feldt
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 : 8:39 p.m.
After studying both Tai Kuan Do and Shorin Ryu Karate over ten years during the 1980x, but never with either Masters Sell or Hafner, I have observed several of their classes and demonstrations. It is clear that they have contributed significantly to martial arts programs in Michigan. My congratulations to Master Hafner on achieving the rank of Grand Master, wherever the award comes from. Anyone familiar with the origins of these arts in Asia knows that their importance was valued primarily by the local communities in which they taught.
stonecutter1
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 : 8:10 p.m.
Know nothing about this, and you may be entirely right, but damn laura, why so much hate?
Laura Bien
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 : 7:36 p.m.
Its very unusual for any Westerner to be upgraded to grand master, Sell said. In fact, it is only Westerners who are called "grand master"; the title is a Western invention, as opposed to the more humble "teacher" in Japan, China, and Korea. So Hafner got this moniker because his buddy said so. As opposed to something like a disinterested panel of experts administering various tests, &c. Then someone (who?) organized a big celebratory public ceremony. Smells like marketing to me.
J. Michael David
Sat, Oct 17, 2009 : 3:15 p.m.
Do you know how you earn the Grand Master rank?