Charlestown Nevis (May 16, 2004) -- Forty students of USA Goju Nevis who went through the rigorous annual karate belt testing exercise on Sa
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| Instructor Larry Mabson ties a brown belt on Noella Liburd. Looking on from left are instructors Christopher Johnson, Mark Williams and Andrew Carine. At the back, partly hidden is Vincent Maynard. |
turday passed out with top colours, edging the island closer to having its the first black belt-holders.
Overall top black belt contender and Nevis realtor, Evan Nisbett, a one kyu (stripe) brown belt-holder could only add an extra kyu, while top female contender, Tracey Parris a brown belt-holder managed to have a kyu added on her belt.
Sensei Vincent Maynard a 3° black belt who founded USA Goju Nevis six-and-a-half years ago was pleased with the overall outcome of the belt testing exercise and is optimistic that Nevis should register its first karate black belt holders by next year.
“I think they are progressing very well,” noted Maynard. “We hope that next year we will have a few black belts.
At this moment, no, because we want to make sure that before they earn that that they would be good enough in what we have taught them to carry such a heavy load, which is the black belt. It is not easy to carry a black belt and we want them to make sure that they earn it.”
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| Karate instructors from left, Vincent Maynard, Christopher Johnson, Larry Mabson, Mark Williams and Andrew Carine. Behind them is Marcia Maynard |
Apart from the two brown belt holders who earned extra stripes, there were thunderous applauses from the karate students and members of their families who had gathered at the Old Anglican School in Gingerland, as four purple belt holders, Noella Liburd, Richard Lupinaaci, Hezron Wade and Harry Yearwood traded their old belts for brown ones.
“All forty moved up,” observed Sensei Maynard. “There were about five of them who moved up two grades and quite a few of them who moved up different coloured belts, but they all moved up.”
The belt testing exercise was conducted by Larry Mabson, a 6° instructor from the Martial Arts Foundation (MAF) USA Goju Ryu of Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the USA, who was accompanied by Sensei Mark Williams and Sensei Christopher Johnson also of MAF and assisted by Nevis-based Sibak Andrew Carine a 3° black belt holder.
“I come out once a year to train and evaluate for belt promotions as well as further their training in martial arts,” commented Mabson.
“In the testing itself there were at least forty students who took part.
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| USA Goju Nevis students execute karate motions. Two-kyu brown belt holder, Evan Nisbett is on the forefront and to his right are one-kyu brown belt holder Tracey Parris and new brown belt holder Hezron Wade, while fellow new brown belt holder Harry Yearwood is seen on extreme right |
There were various levels of promotions from white belt to green, to purple, and to brown ranks.
Brown belt is the next rank close to the black belt.”
He said that training started on Wednesday last week and noted that all students did very well, and in his estimation the students were very strong in their training and were quite knowledgeable in the various areas of martial arts.
“I have travelled across the United States and other parts of the world and (in comparison) they are doing very well,” reported the instructor. “They are very competitive.”
Sensei Mark Williams who taught the students aikido, also said that the Nevis students were doing wonderfully.
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| Two-kyu brown belt holder Evan Nisbett is seen on right and admiring his certificate is one-kyu brown belt holder Tracey Parris. To her right is new brown belt holder Hezron Wade and seen on the second row right is another new brown belt holder, Harry Yearwood and to his right is Noella Liburd, also a new brown belt holder |
He gave high commendation for the programme and called on more Nevisians to give the youth the chance to participate in the programme, as it would definitely help them to be positive members of the community.
The colourful event, held under the patronage of Ms Maude Cross, proved to be a truly family affair. While Dexter Bowrin received his green belt (up from white), his son Spencer moved on to purple belt.
And with Karen and John Yearwood receiving green belts, their nephew Harry Yearwood was one of the four who were adorned with a new brown belt.
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| The entire karate students’ body and their instructors pose for a group picture |
