Sensei Gentzler began training in karate at the age of 39 and achieved her first degree black belt in 2007.  She is currently training for her second degree black belt.  Self defense was the main reason she began karate since it teaches you how to protect yourself from attacks as well as how to incapacitate an attacker as quickly and easily as possible. 

While many people would believe that starting karate at her age was crazy, Sensei Gentzler believed that the timing could not have been better.  With every class she found out new things that she never knew she was capable of and this kind of self discovery was an incentive to her.  She was impressed with the lessons karate taught people of all ages.  Sensei Gentzler believes that every person, no matter what stage of life they are in, can benefit from proving to themselves that with time and perseverance, you can achieve goals viewed impossible by others.  In the six years it took her to achieve her first degree black belt, Sensei Gentzler learned that even at her age, the goal was indeed within reach and well worth the effort.