Like many other karate schools, mirrors cover the wall along the dojo training area. Another wall displays the colored levels -- yellow, purple, red, brown and so on -- students will trace on their learning journey from white belt to black belt.
Unlike other schools, however, along one wall are trophies and awards stretching for more than 50 feet. They are distinctions earned by the school's head instructor, his assistants, and hundreds of students over the years. In November, Mark "The Shark" Baier earned yet another honor with his induction into the Colorado Karate Association Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame is a special recognition for Baier, a former officer and board member of the association. Only one person is inducted each year for going above and beyond in service to the association and the martial arts. The Hall of Fame honored Baier for his dedication to karate competitions, his attitude and demeanor, and for his contributions to the sport.
Baier, a 6th degree Black Belt in Goju Ryu and Goju KyoKai KarateDo, is the owner and head instructor of America's Best Martial Arts school in Arvada. Holding the title of Renshi (master instructor), Baier has taught and mentored some 75 black belts, six world champions and more than 1,000 martial arts students.
In addition to his 25 years as an instructor, as a competitor he has won several national and state championships, chief among them the 1999 National Black Belt League World title and the 2000 United States Karate Alliance Freestyle Kickboxing Championship, two of the rarest titles in the martial arts.
His approach to teaching involves creating a positive motivational environment "but at the same time impressing upon students the discipline and philosophy of the martial arts," Baier says. "The skills a student learns in the martial arts are the same skills that will help them be successful in life: discipline, hard work, motivation -- the same things they need to get straight As or to get into college."
Baier says he trains his students, kids and adults alike, in how to deal with failure "and not let it kill their motivation." Engraved in the plaque he received for the NBBL world title are the words: "The fear of error is the death of success."
Baier learned his passion for teaching from his father, who was an instructor in Denver Public Schools. "Being a teacher is who you are, not what you do," he says. Baier likes to sprinkle in some humor with his teaching, advising students in a grappling class that "there's something fundamentally gratifying about choking the ever-loving stuff out of someone."
He says his favorite thing about teaching is "having a positive effect on somebody, not just in the martial arts, but in life." He has helped young people deal with hard-life situations, whether they were struggling with school or relationship issues.
In the future Baier sees himself competing less and coaching more, guiding his pupils and proteges to fight "for the love of the sport." Watching his students compete "makes me more nervous than if it was me in there," Baier says. "But when they win or do well, it feels unbelievably good."
"I've had six students win world titles," he adds. "I'd like to get to 10, 20, and beyond."
America's Best Martial Arts school is located at 8290 W. 80th Ave. in Arvada.