Samurai Karate Studio to Participate in House Build as Part of UBBT

Columbia, SC, March 15, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Sensei Chris Feldt, owner and chief instructor for Samurai Karate Studio, recently announced that he was participating in a house build for women in Greensboro, AL as part of his black belt test this year.

Feldt is a member of the Ultimate Black Belt Test, which was created by Tom Callos, a 40 year veteran and consultant for the martial art's industry. The house build is part of a community service initiative that Callos created, as martial artist's from all over the United States will be donating their time building this house and helping residents in the community.

"On April 7, 2011, I will join between 50 and 100 martial arts master teachers and their students in the small southern town of Greensboro, Alabama," commented Feldt. "We will put on our work boots and gloves, and begin building a home for an elderly woman in need."

Callos explains why he chose Greensboro, AL to do the groups work, "I am going to Greensboro because Martin Luther King traveled through there just weeks before his death, and I am going there because teacher-architect Samuel 'Sambo' Mockbee co-founded the famous Rural Studio in nearby Newbern. I am going there because of the classic book Let Us Now Praise Famous Men; because James Agee wrote about the people of Hale County and because Walker Evans carried his camera down Greensboro’s Main Street. Lastly, my friends and I are going there because community activist Pam Dorr lives there and heads The Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization (HERO)."

The Ultimate Black Belt test is made up of a group of karate, kung fu, aikido, taekwondo, tang soo do and jiu-jitsu teachers from New Jersey, Hawaii, California, South Carolina, Maine and many other states, as well as martial artists from Canada.

Feldt commented, "We come to Alabama to learn about a kind of martial arts mastery that coach Tom Callos says is more relevant to teaching self-defense in today’s world that any kick, block or punch."

For the last 7 years, Callos and his team, have raised the funds for building materials, then provided the labor to build a number of projects in Greensboro.

"Two years ago I traveled to Greensboro, along with some students from Samurai Karate studio, and we helped restore a Rosenwald School, which was designated an historic landmark. In addition, we built a house for a blind man whose trailer was crumbling apart, we helped finish building a brand new animal shelter for Hale County, we participated in martial arts demonstrations in the local schools and we helped establish a new store to help fund the HERO project year round."

Feldt believes the event was a transformational kind of experience, that has resulted in his school doing over 40 community service projects in his local neighborhood the past few years.

This year, the group will be building a new home for a local women, named Ms. Georgia, along with several demonstrations, other repairs and projects.

"Like any good project, we need to fund this house build to the tune of approximately $25,000," commented Feldt, "All of the donations raised, go to the project and materials. The rest of the work is done by volunteers, so you can be sure your money is being spent very wisely."

If you would like to donate, please make your tax deductible check out to HERO and you can mail it to Samurai Karate Studio, c/o Sensei Chris Feldt, 2000 Clemson Road, Suite # 9, Columbia, SC 29229.

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