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<p>WRIGHT TWP. &#8212; A local doctor and martial artist has reached the highest belt level of the aiki-jitsu ladder by earning a black belt. And he did it at age 59.</p><p>Dr. Mark Bohn received the first degree black belt and attained the rank of Shodan after a four-hour test Nov. 14 at the Mountain Top Martial Arts Dojo at 110 N. Mountain Blvd.</p><p>He was tested on the style of self-defense called aiki-jitsu &#8212; using opponents&#8217; energy (the force the opponent uses during an attack) against them. Bohn had to fend off multiple attackers at once during the training and was also tested on the iron palm technique &#8212; the art of directing strength to break through concrete capping stones.</p><p>Bohn began training under Grand Master David Sparks seven years ago at the age of 53. He went to community introductory classes and his curiosity peaked from there. He wanted to learn basic self-defense skills but the more he learned the more he wanted to learn.</p><p>Sparks doesn&#8217;t know of anyone else who earned a black belt &#8220;when pushing 60 years old.&#8221;</p><p>Bohn considers his age a number, not an obstacle.</p><p>&#8220;You never lose your curiosity,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I never thought when I started, I would go to black belt level.&#8221;</p><p>The pace of aiki-jitsu techniques is like a &#8220;roller coaster,&#8221; Bohn explained, &#8220;you start off slow and gradually pick up pace.&#8221;</p><p>When Bohn received his green belt, Sparks gave him a title of respect, namuru-ryu, or &#8220;sleeping dragon.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s earned every rank he received,&#8221; Sparks commended.</p><p>Bohn said that people he knew were happy for him in his accomplishment.</p><p>He now splits his time at the dojo &#8212; training place specifically for Japanese martial arts &#8212; teaching new students and learning more advanced techniques.</p><p>&#8220;If you can pursue something,&#8221; Bohn said, &#8220;pursue it.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Style of aiki-jitsu</strong></p><p>There are 15 accepted forms of martial arts. Aiki-jitsu, the style of martial arts in which actor Steven Segal carries a black belt, teaches self-defense using an attacker&#8217;s strength against himself.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s to subdue the individual,&#8221; Bohn said. &#8220;You lock the joints to have him drop to his knees or pin him to the ground.&#8221;</p><p>According to Bohn, the style of the aiki-jitsu has something for everyone &#8212; short, tall, skinny, not-so-skinny &#8212; and, unlike other forms of martial arts, &#8220;you can adapt techniques to yourself.&#8221;</p><p>The training of aiki-jitsu uses the style of rendori &#8212; free-style open combat &#8212; and, during practices, the attacker has several ways of attacking, from a grip or kick.</p><p>&#8220;We train to expect the unexpected; the subject has to be aware of all possibilities,&#8221; Bohn said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Dr. Mark Bohn demonstrates what he calls &#8216;The Praying Hand&#8217; technique during practice at the Mountain Top Martial Arts Dojo. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121315Bohn1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Dr. Mark Bohn demonstrates what he calls &#8216;The Praying Hand&#8217; technique during practice at the Mountain Top Martial Arts Dojo. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121315Bohn2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Grand Master David Sparks demonstrates a technique on black belt Dr. Mark Bohn at the Mountain Top Martial Arts Dojo. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_TTL121315Bohn2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Grand Master David Sparks demonstrates a technique on black belt Dr. Mark Bohn at the Mountain Top Martial Arts Dojo. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Melanie Mizenko</p><p>mmizenko@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Dr. Mark Bohn, a student at Mountain Top Martial Arts Dojo, earns black belt at age 59