June 30, 2007

The Prodigy
Photo by Eric George, The Advocate
Ben Krier, 12, practices at Impact Martial Arts earlier this year. Krier, a Lakewood Middle School student, was inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame on June 23 in Stroudsburg, Pa.
Pastime earns Krier way to Hall of Fame.

Krier's karate accomplishments worthy of hall of fame attention
By KURT SNYDER
Sports Writer

NEWARK -- Ben Krier now has a ring that rivals those won by professional athletes.
The 12-year-old Lakewood Middle School student deserves it. He has done things most of those "greatest athletes in the world" will never accomplish.
Krier was inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame last Saturday in Stroudsburg, Pa. Krier was honored as an Outstanding Assistant Junior Instructor of the Year for Ju-Jitsu.
"It blew me away," Ben Krier said. "I never knew there was a Hall of Fame. It dawned on me as soon as I got the letter. ... I thought it was my dad (Kevin Krier). When I realized it was mine, I was like, 'Oh my gosh.'"
Fast facts
Lakewood Middle School student Ben Krier was inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame last weekend.
Krier was honored as the Outstanding Assistant Junior Instructor of the Year. He was Impact Martial Arts' Youth Student of the Year in 2004 and '05.
Krier started taking classes at Premier Martial Arts -- then Impact Martial Arts -- at age 7 to pass the time between football and baseball seasons.
The sport lost its secondary status when he won a litany of local titles and was Impact's Youth Student of the Year in 2004 and '05. At his ripe age, he began assisting and teaching classes last August.
Krier, who was the youngest inductee in this year's class of 120, received a plaque, pin, patch and -- of course -- his ring.
"The uniqueness is this doesn't happen all the time," sensei Ben Bisso said.
"To be even qualified for the Hall of Fame, a student has to have a certain amount of dedication. He has to have the desire not to quit and the spirit of perseverance. It has to be recognizable through and through."
Krier earned his junior black belt in August 2005, and he is working toward his black belt at the adult level, which he will not be able to achieve until he gets older and stronger.
In the meantime, Krier is assisting Bisso and his father, Kevin Krier, who only started Ju-Jitsu after watching the classes his son took. Kevin Krier recently earned his black belt with Ben judging.
"I thought it was pretty neat that my kid was helping me out," Kevin Krier said.
The sport of Mixed Martial Arts has had a surge in popularity in the last few months, but for now, Ben Krier and his father still are watching.
Down the road, it is probably not for either one.
"Mom doesn't like it," said Ben, of Stacy Krier.
"She said no to cage fighting," Kevin Krier said.

Kurt Snyder can be reached at (740) 328-8556 or ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com.