After a 49-year-long career as diverse as working as a math/computer science teacher, a military systems designer/trainer, and a financial system analyst/tester, Helen Keller Surman retired in September of 2021 at the end of the COVID lockdown. While trying to determine what her life would be like in retirement, she was browsing through the community activities brochure for her township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and came across a class entitled “Seniors’ Self Defense Program,” which was starting that same month. The program’s description said that it was restricted to senior citizens aged sixty and above, and that taking it would help enhance balance, flexibility, and coordination, all of which Helen felt she needed to improve, so she signed up.
The lead instructor for the program is Don Leitner, a 5th degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate. Don is assisted by his current instructor Dan Meck, who is an 8th degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate and is the co-founder and vice president of the International Brotherhood of Kenpo Karate. Also on the floor assisting with the training of the group of about twenty seniors are Colleen Poisez and Jennifer Maffei, both 2nd Degree Black Belts in American Kenpo Karate. Both Don and Colleen are senior citizens, but Dan and Jen are the middle-aged youngsters’ of Helen’s instructors.
Helen has completed four years of training with Don and the Gray Dragons, and three years of training with Dan. She now helps out with the Gray Dragons and continues studying under Dan. She is proud to say that this 73-year-old gal now has her green belt and can get her kick up as high as knee level! She is determined to master challenging new material and has her sights firmly set on advancing to the rank of brown belt.
Helen can’t thank her instructors enough for showing her that Kenpo is not just a sport, but a family, a way of life, and something in which she can grow and accomplish even at her age and skill level. She appreciates that her senseis have shown that it is not about reaching a goal, but instead is all about the journey and personal development that comes with training.