News
120 Days ago
From Little Ninjas to Academy of Masters
Woodland Hills, CA - Linda Vogel, owner of Little Ninjas Karate in Woodland Hills, CA, has been nominated for recognition in Martial Arts Excellence Award from the 2010 Academy of Masters.
The award, presented in conjunction with The Masters Hall of Fame Awards on June 19, 2010, is just one more in a string of accolades and recognitions of excellence Ms. Vogel has received since her surprising entry into the martial arts world.
Unlike many who find success in the martial arts industry, Vogel neither grew up in a martial arts family nor started studying martial arts in her youth. In 1999, Vogel was working at Group Sales Insurance Industry. But Vogel walked away from her position as GSI"s top sales person in the country to become a full-time homemaker and focus on raising her two children. Soon after, however, she brought her son to a birthday party at Mighty Mites - the children"s karate group at Team Karate Centers of Woodland Hills. Vogel ended up staying far longer than the few hours at the party: she began studying under Team Karate Centers owner Fariborz Azhakh, a Hapkido Sixth Dan (sixth degree black belt), and in 2004 Vogel was awarded her own first degree black belt.
This was far from the end of her martial arts journey, however. Soon after achieving her black belt, Vogel began teaching karate at L.E.A.P. Academy: an after school program for area elementary children. Realizing a passion for teaching martial arts, Vogel opened Little Ninjas Karate in 2007. Housed in the Team Karate Centers studio, Little Ninjas has over 120 active students, all of whom are taught directly by Vogel and her staff (two of whom are her own
children, both second degree black belt holders in their own right).
Since its inception, Little Ninjas has been a turning point for thousands of children who walk through its doors. "Miss Linda is hands down one of the best teachers I"ve ever seen - at anything," says Laura Collings, mother of two Little Ninjas students. Veronica Parong, another proud Little Ninjas parent, agrees: "[Vogel] is exactly the right instructor for your child... [she] has a true gift for teaching [and] my family and I will forever be grateful." Such praise is universal among the parents of the children Vogel teaches; she views each child as a success story in the making.
In 2009 Vogel received her Third Degree black belt: another milestone but far from the last one. "I train every day to develop those skills necessary to navigate the road of never ending improvement: what we call Black Belt Excellence." Now, as a nominee for one of the most prestigious awards in the martial arts industry, Vogel continues to practice what she preaches to every child who comes to Little Ninjas: never ending pursuit of excellence in every facet of life.
5/12/2010 9:55:11 PM
Sensei Linda,
Congratulations on the nomination and upcoming award from the 2010 Academy of Masters!
Well deserved. Enjoy your moment.
|
|
5/12/2010 11:25:43 PM
Sensei, I am not surprised. From day one you have been an example of excellence for us all. Then came the Little Ninjas Academy, and you showed us by example how to set a goal and achieve it. Not many here at TKC know that you took the remnants of a school, starting with just three students, yes three, and grew it to well over a hundred. Congratulations.
|
|
5/13/2010 7:34:22 AM
Congratulations Sensei Linda! What an amazing honor - but rightfully so for an amazing lady! You are a mentor to many and a role model to all who know you. Embrace your honor! Much love and respect.
|
|
5/13/2010 8:34:11 AM
Congrats you deserve it
|
|
5/13/2010 1:42:01 PM
H*LL YEAH! Way to go Sensei Linda!!! You should be proud, I know I"m proud of you!!!
|
|
5/17/2010 12:37:14 AM
Ouse!
|
|
5/18/2010 5:22:19 PM
Congratulations Sensei Linda!
|
|
Join our mailing list and receive free news and updates:
|
Code of Samurai
Click on each code to learn more ...
|
|
