Park City's Bobby Lawrence Karate athletes preparing for the most recent Red Tip Test Week. Photo: courtesy of Bobby Lawrence Karate

PARK CITY, Utah — Cole Klekas, owner/operator of Bobby Lawrence Karate Studio in Park City, recently brought his student’s of all ages and skill levels (a.k.a Karatekas) to and through a Utah Spar Wars event and Red Tip Test/Belt Stripe Test where several of them qualified for a belt graduation/promotion.

The Bobby Lawrence Black Belts are:

Axel: Junior 1st degree
Clarson: Junior 1st degree
Sophia: Junior 2nd degree
Jacob: 4th degree

Students typically advance every three to six months with the goal of students one day becoming a black belt “in life and martial arts,” Klekas told TownLift

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Bobby Lawrence Karate is an eclectic blend of martial arts where the curriculum includes boxing, kickboxing, jiu jitsu, traditional karate, and sport karate.

Bobby Lawrence Karate (BLK) has been in Park City since 1989. They were one of five BLK schools back then, and now there are closer to 20 schools throughout Utah.

“I started taking karate at the local Bobby Lawrence Karate studio in town back in 1991, and it wasn’t too long before our whole family was hooked and taking class,” Klekas continued. “By 1998 my family purchased the Park City location, and I started running it full time in 2003.”

Over their time in Park City, the Klekas family has trained thousands of students and produced hundreds of blackbelts. “We used to say, ‘The family that kicks together, sticks together.’ All of our black belt instructors were once students who came up through the ranks and earned their position through dedication and persistence.”

The goal of the staff, which includes Haley Ehlers and Kasey Janes as the head instructor, is to help students of all ages grow into confident, respectful, and resilient leaders. The programs give children and adults the tools they need to succeed in school, work, and life — all while staying active and having fun.

Students can start as early as three years old and there is no age limit, “Is it ever too late to start?” is one of their messages. They have students in their 70’s who are still actively training.

Interested parties can get started at any time and sign up for a free introductory class at blkparkcity.com.

“At BLK Park City, we’re not just teaching punches and kicks — we’re teaching confidence, life skills, and leadership. Our goal is to help every student become the strongest version of themselves, on and off the mat,” Klekas concluded.

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All photos: Courtesy of Bobby Lawrence Karate