EP 516: Witek Nowosiad And A Karate School That Proves “Not Able” Wrong

What makes Witek Nowosiad with Beyond Karate a good neighbor?

We talk with Witek Nowosiad of Beyond Karate about what becomes possible when expectations stay high and barriers come down. Inspired by his experiences as a parent in the Down syndrome community, Witek helped create a martial arts program where students with disabilities have the opportunity to train, grow, and achieve goals many people never thought possible.

Witek shares how Beyond Karate serves individuals with Down syndrome, autism, and other disabilities through an inclusive approach that teaches the same karate curriculum used in traditional martial arts programs. He explains that the difference is not in the standards but in the patience, support, and time given to each student. The focus remains on helping every participant reach their full potential while building confidence and independence along the way.

We also discuss the many benefits that karate provides beyond self defense. Students develop balance, coordination, strength, focus, and social skills while becoming part of a supportive community that celebrates progress at every stage. Witek shares stories of students earning black belts and achieving milestones that once seemed out of reach.

The conversation also explores how trust and reputation drive growth for programs serving the disability community. Families often rely on recommendations from other parents and seek environments where their loved ones will be genuinely welcomed, supported, and challenged. Through locations in Flower Mound, Richardson, and Plano, Beyond Karate continues to expand opportunities for individuals and families across North Texas.

We also discuss the mission behind I Belong, a nonprofit dedicated to creating meaningful connections and community for young adults with disabilities, especially those facing social isolation after aging out of school based support systems.

If you care about disability inclusion, adaptive sports, personal growth, and creating communities where everyone has the opportunity to belong, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical insight.

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Guest Info: Beyond Karate | https://www.facebook.com/beyondkarate/mentions/ | 

Transcript

Welcome To Good Neighbor Podcast

SPEAKER_01 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a nonprofit and a karate school? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Vitek Novoshad, with Beyond Karate and Ivy Long. Vitek, it's lovely having you on today. Now we are excited to learn all about you and your business. So let's kick things off. Tell us a little bit more about your company.

Beyond Karate Becomes A Nonprofit

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Thank you for having me here on your podcast. So Beyond Karate is a work of my heart. It started 13 years ago with four students, and now I teach in five different locations with close to 80 students. And about three years ago, that small uh karate school has turned into a nonprofit called I Belong. But the beautiful, the most beautiful part of it is that we serve people and children and youth with disabilities. We solely teach individuals with disabilities, and the nonprofit serves that population.

SPEAKER_02 1:24

Wow, what a cause to be a part of YTEC. And let's dive a little bit more into your background.

A Parent’s Story Behind The Mission

SPEAKER_02 1:32

Where was this desire for helping those who may be disabled born?

SPEAKER_00 1:37

Well, I myself am a parent of a now young adult, a lady with uh disability that we call Down syndrome. She's 24, she's a big part of uh the school and the nonprofit. And uh so she's my inspiration and motivation, but also her friends. I am an advocate in a disability community and have been for the last 24 years part of that community, both as a parent and now as a kind of advocate, but also a nonprofit leader.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

So,

The “Not Able” Myth Gets Broken

SPEAKER_02 2:14

Vitek, today, what is the biggest misconception you come across when it comes to helping those who are disabled and having a karate school that serves everyone?

SPEAKER_00 2:26

The biggest misconception about people with disabilities is that they are not able. That is the biggest thing. It's in the way how we have labeled it's people with uh that they cannot do certain things. And I have seen and witnessed and proven that wrong over and over again. In my karate school, we have six students with black belts, uh, both with Down syndrome and the auto spectrum. And I am myself, uh I train karate myself and I'm a black belt, uh, have a black belt ranking. They have gone through the same curriculum that I have to get that uh ranking. The only thing that is different is it takes a little bit longer. So it requires a little bit more patience, but they can do exactly the same things that people who are physically abled. They just need a little bit more time and a little bit more patience from the instructors.

What Karate Builds Beyond Self-Defense

SPEAKER_02 3:22

As an overview question about karate overall, what skills does it help train the most?

SPEAKER_00 3:29

Oh, karate is such a good uh practice for so many things. Yes, obviously, you learn to some cool moves and uh that translates into self-defense, but the moves itself can't defend you. Uh, karate develops confidence in yourself because actually self-defense is not in having knowing uh some magic moves, it's about belief and confidence that you can do that, and that's what practice gives you. But it's also great activity, it's a fun extension of physical therapy, it helps with coordination, balance, strength. Uh, it's a and you practice in a group, so you make friends. That is a big part uh of uh Karate School as well.

SPEAKER_02 4:20

Now, Vitek,

Finding Students Through Parent Networks

SPEAKER_02 4:21

we're gonna go ahead and switch gears here for a second. Now, we do know that marketing is the heart of every business. So, ideally, where are some of your potential students located and how are you attracting them today?

SPEAKER_00 4:36

People with disabilities live everywhere, they are in every neighborhood. And uh the the marketing interesting thing about community disability is uh word of mouth. And I'm a part of many private and public groups of parents with disabilities, and uh no parent with a disability is going to sign up their child just because they heard of a karate school in a local newspaper or on this uh or or any any other, they have to verify, they hear about it and they're gonna go to other parents. Have you heard about Beyond Karate? Have you heard about Vitek? You know, what kind of instructor is he? So before they're gonna sign up, they're gonna verify that through other parents. But getting the word out, and right now, you know, uh we are we are located in, we have a location in Floramount, in Richardson, in Plano, and we are moving toward opening a location in Frisco as well later this fall.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

Wow,

Purpose, Calling, And Spiritual Roots

SPEAKER_02 5:36

why is educating this audience so important to you, Vitek?

SPEAKER_00 5:42

Because that's I believe that's the mission of my life. We I have heard this thing that there are two most important, there are two dates in your life that are most important. One that you are born, obviously, and second, when you find out why you were born, and I believe this is why I was born. So I give my time, talent, and resources to uh uh teach, and it starts with my daughter, but it's not just for her, it's for her friends and friends of her friends, and that is you know, I'm also a spiritual person. I believe this is a my calling in my life that is connected to my spirituality and belief in God as well.

SPEAKER_02 6:34

I love that. Now,

Using A Podcast To Change Minds

SPEAKER_02 6:37

have you ever thought about having your very own podcast to educate more potential students and parents on what you do?

SPEAKER_00 6:48

Funny that you say that. I've been thinking about it actually, because I would love to interview parents, but also some of our participants kind of have them say, and I have done there's some short, you know, videos on our uh Facebook page and website, uh, usually when we celebrate big things, but having that would be a beautiful, powerful tool to help people see that people and teenagers and young adults with disabilities are as able and as talented as anybody else, they just need a safe space and an instructor in whatever that is, karate uh theater or art or to that guide them through that and help them get their voice out.

I Belong And Ending Social Isolation

SPEAKER_02 7:37

And speaking of VTech, where can our listeners go to learn more about some of the amazing services that you provide to this community?

SPEAKER_00 7:47

The best place to go is to our website. It's uh i like belong.art art. We are art-based nonprofits, so it's ibelong.art. And that is a big mission of in addition to providing the services, we create community of belonging. That's why it is our nonprofit is called I belong. And our t-shirts say I belong. So, because that is social isolation, is one of the biggest problems within uh adults with disabilities because when they go through school, they have a school community, but at 20 out, 21, sorry, my brain uh jumped. At 21, there's this uh uh saying that they age out out of school. So at 21, they basically don't have a community unless they are connected to some groups. 80% of young adults with disabilities are not employed, so that's what I belong is uh aiming to also offer is that community where they can come and thrive, be with their friends, and do creative things, do art, do theater, do karate.

SPEAKER_02 9:05

Well, Vitek, thank you so much for filling us all in today on some of this wonderful information and the services you provide. I really appreciate you being on the show, and we wish you and your nonprofit the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_00 9:21

Thank you, Sophia. I'm very grateful for this opportunity.

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Thank

How To Nominate A Local Business

SPEAKER_01 9:26

you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gmpfrisco.com. That's gmpfrisco.com or call four six nine two two two one nine three four four four four four five.