At Sovereign Martial Arts It's More Than Just Karate

Sovereign Martial Arts is more than just karate. It’s about youth taking youth under its wing and, hand-in-hand with home and school, preparing them for proper flight.

Cliché-ish, perhaps yes, but it’s the truth, says the studio's owner.

“What makes us different is we are a character development school,” says 24-year-old Edgardo Moran, head instructor at Sovereign Martial Arts, which has called Belleville home for 16 years. “We like to help develop in students home, school and karate.”

With regard to the school, the student is monitored during the school year as part of the “90+ Kid Program,” in which kids are encouraged to achieve grades of 90 or more.

Moran is very familair with the program, because he himself began training at the school when it opened, when he was eight years old. “My dad placed me in the school to develop confidence. I had low self-esteem and poor eating habits.”

“All of our locations - including Belleville - reach out to the schools with our 90+ kid program because it is important that we take an active role in the social and academic welfare of our students,” further adds founder Jose DiCervo. “Being involved in numerous situations and concerns within the Belleville school system, I noticed that the system did not allow teachers and educators to be at their full potential for their students.  However, our 90+ kid program is a thermometer that early on in the academic year will help everyone involved stay focused and connected for the betterment of the student. With this program we have been able to help many students go from C's to A's and from failing to growing.” 

Sovereign Martial Arts, which also has locations in Avenel, Howell and Rahway, specializes in Shotokan, a Japanese style of self defense, and focuses on forms known as Kata, sparring, and more. The other program directors of SMA are Leah Klasman of the Rahway location, Senpai Jana DiCervo of the Howell Location, and Regional Manager Sensei Vicki Hernandez, who travels among all the schools and makes sure that all the programs are functioning at their highest potential.

DiCervo elaborates further. “I have created an organization that can lead and empower and give hope for the future to children, teens and adults and families. I did it because growing up I had a burning desire to be somebody and to bring others along with me that feel the same way. Today I am glad that I have an awesome team and we move at the same heartbeat.  And why did he initially select Belleville as a locale?

“At the time I chose Belleville as the area to originally open because I saw the need in my children to develop and believe that they too can be somebody.  As I began to look at the Belleville area, I met with many people who also had children and felt that they can only hope their children can do better.  So this inspired me to be the one who took the step in creating this awesome organization.” 

Belleville resident Jason Johnson is a dad to five children: Jerome, 13; Alex, 12; Sean, 11; and twins, Megan and Kaitlin, 6. “About four years ago, my sister-in-law bought gift certificates for my kids for the school. I like the way they teach. It’s a good environment – self defense – and they have fun doing it as well.”

“When you’re in class, you have fun and learn new things,” says Alex.

Jerome adds, “Once you start a certain level, you gain more ability to get to a higher rank, and become powerful at what you do.”

“Ideally,” adds Moran, “we impact lives. And not just kids, but families. It’s wisdom and knowledge; not just martial arts, but life skills.”

And Sovereign Martial Arts, which draws students from Belleville but also the entire surrounding area, is an award winner in itself, and recently had one of its students win a The Battle of Baltimore competition in Maryland. Ten-year-old Larah Alberto, a fifth grade student at Belleville school #5, competed against ten and 11 year olds in Kata, and 10 – 13 year olds in weapons. There were ten competitors in both divisions at the October 16^th event.

Maria Alberto is her mom. “She likes doing this. She was quiet and needed self-confidence. She really wants to do this.”

Larah adds, “I like doing this and meeting new people.”

The school also gets involved in many community events, and one DiCervo and crew are proud to announce is the offering educational seminars for those who wish to grow personally and implement their goals and dreams. For more information on upcoming dates of events, DiCervo can be contacted directly at (877) 762-3656 or via email at shihandicervo@smakaratedojo.com.

Sovereign Martial Arts, 383 Washington Avenue, Belleville, (877) 762-3656, www.sovereignmartialarts.com