Briley Smolen is a freshman at BHS. She has been doing karate since she was a little girl. Ever since she was young, she looked up to a friend that she had made who had done karate. Being a 2nd degree black belt, it is clear that Briley is committed to the sport.

Q: How long have you been doing karate?

I have been doing karate since I was 4.

Q: What made you want to start doing karate?

We took a field trip across the street to a Krav Maga place where I was at daycare. We did a little class learning the basics like punching and kicking. After I told my dad how much fun I had and that I would like to do it full-time. 

Q: How long do you plan on doing karate?

I plan on participating in karate until I graduate high school.

Q: What are some ways that karate has helped you physically/mentally?

Karate has physically helped me stay fit and active. Mentally, it has helped me become more aware of my surroundings and prepare for the worst situations.

Q: Do you think everyone should try karate?

Yes because it is a great tool for when you are in trouble or someone else is. 

Q: What keeps you motivated?

I help out and teach 8-12-year-olds how to protect themselves, and knowing that I could’ve been the reason they stayed safe and out of harm in the future keeps me motivated.

Q: What has karate taught you?

Karate has taught me to never quit even when times get tough and that I need to keep pushing myself to my fullest. 

Q: Who inspired you to start doing karate?

My friend Helen inspired me to start karate. I met her during the little field trip my daycare took. Eventually, people started calling me her “mini-me,” when I started going full-time. Only being around 8 at the time, I thought it was such a privilege to be her “mini-me” since she was super kind and amazing at what she did. Since then she has inspired me to keep going.