Frank Paetzold

Rokudan Candidate of 2024
Neil Stone's Karate Academy - Sixty-Two years young - Began training in 2000

Born in 1962, I grew up in Germany and later immigrated to the USA in 1995. My early years were marked by a decade-long dedication to American football, from 1982 to 1992, aligning with my birth year in the Chinese calendar—the Year of the Tiger. I married the love of my life in 1997.

My journey into karate began almost serendipitously when I met Sensei Rozumek at a Starbucks in Nashua. Shortly thereafter, I joined the Pepperell Dojo and have been deeply committed ever since. Uechi Ryu karate, under the guidance of my mentor, Sensei Stone, has been a pillar through both good times and bad. I view our dojo as a second family and derive great joy from teaching our students.

My approach to karate is experimental and innovative, focusing on the application of traditional Uechi Ryu techniques through the mimicry of the tiger, crane, and dragon. I strive for efficiency with minimal effort, maintaining solid stances and utilizing circular motions of all major limbs. This technique allows energy to flow through the body, grounded, culminating in movements that rotate downward through the toes.

I am profoundly grateful to Sensei Stone and my Uechi family for providing me with the opportunity to study and continue advancing in Uechi Ryu Karate.