Submitted Photo Pictured is Sensei Sebastian Dole at age 5 when he first became a member of The Family Arts Center.

Special to The OBSERVER

On Wednesday, June 19, Sensei Sebastian Dole advanced to his Shodan black belt through the Fudozen Shorinji Kempo Karate organization — officiated by Master Sensei Bill Matteson.

Sensei Dole has been a member of The Family Martial Arts Center since 2007. As a role model and inspiration to many, he has proven to assist with bright futures in students. He has been involved in many outreach programs to help families and he participated in several demonstrations.

His progression has been exciting and adventurous. The training consists of mental and physical endurance and challenges. One may think the Martial Arts is all physical, when in fact, most training is mental. Reading one’s body movements, telegraphing body placements, awareness of surroundings, confidence to make a wise choice, socializing with groups, being able to teach their own individual knowledge to students with precise accuracy, becoming a role model, using the skills learned in other life obstacles and skills (sports and activities) and to persevere as a young adult are all required. Sensei Dole’s training consisted in punches, kicks, ground defense and offense, balance in the mind and body, grappling, weapons training and many other aspects of defense.

Sensei Sebastian Dole has many goals. He is currently enlisted in the US Army National Guard and leaves for basic training on July 1. Sensei Dole enlisted July 13, 2018 and has been active in monthly drills and trainings since the enlistment date. He is attending basic training as an E-2 rank.

Submitted Photo Pictured from left to right: Jr. Sensei Josiah Cox, Master Sensei Matteson, Sensei Jordan Gill, Sensei Sebastian Dole, Sensei Garrett Catanese and Sensei Matt Benware.

He is a family man. He adores his 2 sisters, Zoey and Cassidy and loves his parents. He is the son of Stephanie Westbrook and the step-son of George Westbrook. Sensei Dole is a graduate from the Silver Creek school system with honors.

Several of the Center’s black belts attended the ceremony along with several students in the organization.

“I want to thank the Sensei’s family and friends for supporting him on this day and through the journey. Without the family support, this quest would have been very difficult,” said Master Sensei Bill Matteson.