PARSIPPANY —Amanda Lyons, 18, began studying karate at five years old at the Madison Area YMCA Kinder Karate program. Both her parents, long-term karate practitioners, encouraged her, the youngest of two siblings, to try the sport out. Lyons recalls her desire to earn a Black Belt when she was three years old.
On April 27, Lyons was awarded her black belt in a formal ceremony after three days of testing. Her belt was awarded by Christopher J. Goedecke, career martial artist, author and 8th degree black belt.
Speaking of her current karate training, Amanda stated, “Although Karate matched my expectations, I didn’t match my own expectations. Martial arts has brought me closer to over there,” her reference to her future, potential self.
Lyons has a vivid imagination, a sharp academic mind and exceptional literary skills which have led her to complete the first draft of a ten-book, sword and sorcery, literary fiction series that she started when she was four.
Lyons is a senior at Morris Catholic in Denville and will be attending Brown University this fall. According to her high school principal, Mr. Robert Loia, Lyons has broken all academic standards at her school. She was school Valedictorian and State Scholar Athlete (NJSIAA). She also received national merit recognition as a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Competition.
Lyons cites her father, 5th degree black belt, Tom Lyons, current CFO of Provident Bank, of making a great impression on her martial study. Lyons mother, Andrea, was also the first female black belt of the Wind School, a Morris county martial arts school founded in 1974, by noted karate expert, Christopher J. Goedecke.
Karate runs in the family blood. Coincidentally, Amanda’s parents met while training in the Wind School. Both earned their black belts and married as a result of their meeting.
