Meet Your Owosso Martial Arts Instructors
Master Tom Bradford II – Dan# 56435 – Sa Dan (4th Degree Black Belt)
About Master Thomas Bradford II
Karate did not enter my life as a last resort or a punishment—it entered my life because I was searching.
Growing up, I was a quiet kid. I didn’t have many close friends and often found comfort in video games and television. I wasn’t angry or rebellious; I was shy, observant, and a bit of a loner. My mother was a phenomenal single parent who did the best she could, but like many kids, I was still trying to figure out who I was and where I belonged.
That search led me to karate in September of 2005, when I was twelve years old.
Finding Karate
Karate was my idea. I had been inspired by shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and other martial arts movies that showed something deeper than just fighting—tradition, discipline, and purpose. I wanted to learn something that had roots.
When I first tried to sign up through a community education program, the class was already full. I was turned away, heartbroken, and worried I had missed my chance entirely. A few weeks later, we received a flyer for an eight-week program called Kids Power. I rushed it to my mom, and we signed up immediately.
That decision changed my life.
Building a Foundation
My instructor, Mr. Dollinger—known to us simply as Mr. D—was a second-degree black belt at the time and deeply passionate about the art. He pushed through shortcomings rather than avoiding them, and he held me to a very high standard. In those early days, I trained without a dobok, learned the basics relentlessly, and earned my yellow belt at the end of the program. That moment was unforgettable.
After that promotion, we watched a demonstration team of black belts perform advanced techniques with traditional weapons. I was in awe. That was the moment I knew karate was more than an activity—it was something I wanted to pursue for as long as I could.
My mother could see it too. She signed me up immediately, making me the very first student at the Flushing dojang.
The school was small at first, but it grew quickly—and I grew with it. I spent nearly all of my free time there. My mom helped behind the counter. I began assisting classes as early as orange belt, often serving as a demonstration partner or training dummy. I traveled with my instructor to help teach new Kids Power programs and watched the dojang expand—tearing down walls, adding floors, and building something real.
Correction, Humility, and Growth
As I advanced, confidence came—and eventually, ego followed.
Around red belt, I became a serious competitor and began learning advanced techniques that only a few students were trusted with. People knew who I was. And without realizing it at the time, I started to let that go to my head.
My instructors did not let it slide.
I was corrected publicly. I was told “no” when I wanted “yes.” I was pushed far harder than I thought was fair. One moment that still stands out happened when I showed up to class exhausted after swim practice and gave my instructor an arrogant look. Without hesitation, I was called out and punished—not out of anger, but to remind me who I was becoming. That lesson hurt physically, but it stuck for life.
Through intense training, lost tournaments, and constant correction from both Mr. Dollinger and his instructor, Master Cerrito, I learned something essential:
You will never know everything. Learn something new every day.
Black Belt: Not the End
I earned my black belt at sixteen after a grueling ten-hour test that left me completely spent. I thought earning that rank would mean I had arrived.
Instead, it humbled me.
Becoming a black belt made me realize I was starting over. There were second and third degree black belts with far more experience. Years later, even after becoming a Master, I felt that same humility at world tournaments—surrounded by others who had walked the path longer than I had.
When I tied on my black belt, I realized I needed to be the same person with the belt on as I am with the belt off.
Why Karate Matters
Karate is not about fighting, trophies, or looking tough.
Karate is about learning who you are and pushing past your limits. It is about giving respect without expecting it in return. It is about facing hard things head-on, failing, failing again, and eventually learning how to succeed.
To some, karate is just another sport. To those who truly commit, it becomes a way of life—one that stays with you long after you leave the mat.
Our Philosophy at Owosso Martial Arts
Owosso Martial Arts exists to develop people, not just martial artists.
We are not a daycare. Parents are encouraged to train alongside their children, because kids need to see their parents struggle, fail, and grow. That shared experience builds confidence, empathy, and stronger families.
We are not a belt factory. Every rank must be earned. Expectations grow with each belt, and progress matters more than speed. Martial arts is a marathon, not a race.
We also believe confidence must always be paired with character. Confidence lifts others up. Arrogance pushes people away. If a student starts drifting toward ego, it is our responsibility to guide them back—firmly and with purpose.
Discipline, Respect, and Responsibility
Respect is not fear or blind obedience. It is choosing to act with integrity, courtesy, and accountability without expecting anything in return.
“Yes sir” and “Yes ma’am” matter here—not as empty words, but as acknowledgments of effort, instruction, and mutual respect.
Standards are firm, but they are balanced with patience and care. Every student is different. Sometimes I get it right. Sometimes I get it wrong—and when I do, I own it, apologize, and move forward. That, too, is part of training.
Who We Are For
Owosso Martial Arts is for students and families who want to be part of a tight-knit community that supports and challenges one another. It is for those who want to discover strengths they didn’t know they had.
It may not be the right place for those only looking to fight or chase shortcuts.
Beyond the Mat
What we practice here does not end at the door.
Students are expected to hold themselves to a higher standard—open to different perspectives, willing to walk away from unnecessary conflict, ready to defend the defenseless, and committed to learning something new every day.
If you ask what kind of person a child will become here, my answer is simple: someone who cares, who shows respect, and who has the courage to face life head-on.
Legacy
Twenty years from now, I hope former students remember the hard lessons and understand why they mattered. I hope they carry these values forward and pass them on to the next generation.
Owosso Martial Arts exists to be a pillar in this community—a place where families grow stronger, skills are forged, and character is built for life.
