Current Events

Dojo Promotions in February

 

  Congratulations to Caleb Rose, Allen Taylor and Steven Davis on their promotion Saturday, February 28^th. This was the smallest test group in quite a while, but it was spirited all the same. Testing and promotions were all done in about an hour and twenty minutes. More tests are slated for March 28^th.

 

  

 

    

 

Sensei Rita Promoted in Kobudo

 

  Kyoshi Devorah Dometrich, 8^th dan, was in Durham in late January for a twofold purpose visit. She travels from Kentucky, her home state, to various dojos throughout the United States tuning up students under her instruction in the Okinawan weaponry art of Ryu Kyu Kobudo Hozon Shin ko Kai. She was in Durham this time specifically for testing several students for kyu and dan grading. Our own Sensei Rita Parke was one among several there promoted to various kyu ranking. Sensei Rita has been studying in Durham on a weekly basis for almost three years and was surprised by a promotion to ni-kyu (second grade brown) instead of the expected go-kyu (green). Dometrich Sensei personally tests every student in the organization and is known for her “cross the T’s and dot the I’s” expectations from everyone.

    The second purpose of Dometrich Sensei’s visit was to assist in raising funds for Mike Green of Roxboro, NC who is one of her North Carolina students. Sensei Green is in need of a kidney transplant and has asked for God’s intervention during his illness.

     Congratulations Sensei Rita.

 

 

  

 

    

 

Another San-dan among us!

 

  Once all the shiai participants had begun their journeys home, several of the Cape Fear Isshinryu students, friends and families met at the dojo to support Sensei Byron Holland who was being tested for Sandan by Kyoshi Cunningham. Assisting him were Senseis Brian Cox, Rita Parke and Brent Holland. The desired performance level of Mr. Holland was dampened by an illness that had beset him and his family only two days before, leaving him weakened and distracted but he persevered in spite of the sickness and made it through the test in slightly longer than the normal expected time frame. This promotion moves Mr. Byron Holland up to a more senior rank and with this promotion, he is expected to promote Isshinryu Karate on a daily basis. This task should not be a problem since he’s been doing that for several years anyway. It should be noted that he was also officially awarded the title of Sensei. Congratulations Sensei Holland.

 

 

  

 

    

 

March 28th Test!

 

      March 28^th was a fairly large test group and thanks to Sensei Parke, and Sempais Duke and Brake helping me, everything went very efficiently and everyone was out of the dojo within two hours. There were MANY friends and family members present to cheer their loved one on and it was good to hear and feel the spirit of persevering coming from them. Everyone passed the testing but there were a couple who were required to take the written history over due to such a poor score. CONGRATULATIONS!

 

 

  

 

    

 

Little Allen Tested for Yellow Belt!

 

  I recently did something I don’t normally do and that’s give an informal testing to a student without notifying the student, and in this case, the parents. I was not planning the test or else I would have had an obi for him but had to use the one he’s pictured in instead. Fortunately, Allen and Jennifer Taylor, his parents, were already here so they were able to witness Little Allen’s efforts. He’s the first yellow belt to come out of the 5-7 Year Old Class in almost two years. The class is kept small on purpose because it takes so long to make good progress with the children in most cases. Pictured below is the 5-7 Year Old Class all hopeful of earning their yellow belts as well.

 

 

 

  

 

    

 

San-dan Testing

 

      The candidates, Chris Duke and Liberty Brake, were a little nervous as the call to line up came from Sensei Cunningham, because they knew now that this was the real deal – that the day of reckoning had arrived. Their anxiety had been building over the past several weeks when they were told it was time for them to test.

     Nervousness gave way to exhaustion as the testing progressed over the following ninety-plus minutes as they demonstrated compressed upper basics and kicks, falling, basic throws, empty hand kata, weapon kata, bunkai and finally, sparring. Christian Jarrell, brown belt, deserves an honorable mention because he was uki for both Duke and Brake.

     Score sheets were tallied and the testing board, Kyoshi Cunningham and Sempai Senseis Rita Parke and Brent Holland, discussed the candidates’ efforts, including the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates. All were in agreement to promoting them to Sandan (third degree black belt).

     Isshinryu continues to take a toehold on this part of eastern North Carolina thanks to students like these. Congratulations Sandans!