Mark Kuchta, a Connecticut police officer and long-time black belt instructor with Kindred Martial Arts, was presented his 4th Degree Black Belt and received the title of senior instructor in the art of Kenpo Karate.

The award was presented during a set of seminars at the local Kindred Martial Arts School owned and operated here by John Nichols.

Nichols also is a 4th Degree Black Belt and senior instructor in Kenpo Karate.

Kuchta is the fourth person to be awarded a rank as high as 4th Degree Black Belt through Kindred Martial Arts.

As a general rule, achieving such a high rank is a rare achievement in the martial arts world because of the time and dedication needed to learn the requisite techniques and skills.

Kuchta has been a student of Kenpo Karate for more than a decade and is a Sifu, Chinese word for teacher, with a Connecticut school since 2007.