From Hiding in Her Sister’s Shadow to Leading Others

Srikaarthika Cherukuvada – Age 15, 5 Years of Martial Arts Training at Mastery

Meet Srikaarthika Cherukuvada, a 15-year-old who has trained at Mastery Martial Arts in Troy, Michigan for 5 years. She started as a shy girl who hid behind her older sister. Today she teaches other kids, speaks up with confidence, and is getting ready for her black belt test.

Watch Srikaarthika tell her own story, or see more on our YouTube channel.

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Srikaarthika proud of her progress

Scared on Her First Day

Srikaarthika’s first class was in July 2021. She had watched her older sister, Vaish, do martial arts since she was 5, so she was excited. But when she walked in, she still hid in her sister’s shadow.

She was scared of the push-ups. She was scared of the sit-ups. Most of all, she was scared of sparring.

Her parents chose Mastery for the exercise. They also wanted her to learn life skills. Leadership was the big one.

Srikaarthika as a white belt

Why She Wants a Black Belt

“It shows the hard work, dedication, and growth that I have demonstrated throughout my 5 years at Mastery Martial Arts,” Srikaarthika says. She also sees it as a reminder of how far she has come, and of the higher standards she now has to live up to.

A Full Schedule and a Lot of Grit

One of her hardest challenges was time. Srikaarthika is in marching band. Some days start with early morning sectionals, then long band rehearsals outside, and then karate right after.

When it felt like too much, she did two things. First, she took a deep breath and told herself, “I can do this.” Second, she talked to her older sister, who always gave her a new way to look at the problem when she felt like quitting.

The Leader She Became

Srikaarthika has grown in every life skill. She says leadership grew the most. She has learned to teach different kids in the ways that work best for each one. Martial arts also taught her to be confident and to speak in a clear, simple way.

One lesson stuck with her from Mr. Strecker: “15 minutes early is on time, and 10 minutes early is late.” She says it helped her in many parts of her life.

Favorite Moments and Mentors

Her favorite drill is power kicks. Her strongest kick has always been the back-leg roundhouse.

One of her best memories is testing for her Apprentice Belt in Rhode Island in May 2025. She was nervous about testing in such a big room. But testing alongside many others, with the crowd cheering, made it special. She was the only student from Michigan there. She also did 140 jumps on the jump rope in 60 seconds.

She names Mr. Pai and Mr. Sinha as role models. They stayed after class to help her learn each skill the right way. Outside the dojo, she thanks Mr. Strecker and her sister Vaish for pushing her further than she thought she could go.

Srikaarthika with Mr. Strecker

Srikaarthika practicing a high kick

How She Is Getting Ready for the Black Belt Test

The black belt prep test takes several hours. To get ready, Srikaarthika does at least 50 kicks on each side every day. She also practices sit-ups, push-ups, and her horse-riding stance.

What Her Parent Has Seen Change

“My child has shown greater leadership and ownership throughout life as she has become more independent, planning out her own activities and making sure she shows up early so she won’t have to worry about being late. She has also learned how to talk to several other people and become more extroverted.”

“Earning a black belt has greatly impacted her confidence, focus, and respect for others at school and at home. She has grown greatly since she started as a white belt to where she is now.”

What Black Belt Really Means to Srikaarthika

“A black belt is a person who not only understands all of the life skills but is someone who expresses those life skills naturally in their daily lives,” she says. She also sees it as more responsibility and higher expectations. To her, it is another milestone to look back on and see how much she has grown.

Her three words for her journey: perseverance, discipline, and growth. After her black belt, she hopes to keep training and help teach other students. She loves the moment when a new kick finally clicks for a student.

Srikaarthika’s Advice to Every New Martial Arts Student

“Stick with it.” She says the start can be hard, with so much to keep up with and so many new people to meet. But sticking with it brings friendships and something new to learn every day.

More Troy Kids Karate Black Belt Stories

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Is Your Child Ready for Their Black Belt Journey?

Srikaarthika’s story shows what’s possible when kids find the right program. At Mastery Martial Arts in Troy, Michigan, we help children ages 3 to 17 build confidence, focus, and leadership. Start your child’s journey with a Free 30-Day Pass.