Some of the country’s best young martial artists will be awarded black belts at the Bermuda Uechi Ryu Academy’s Junior Black Belt Grading & Awards Ceremony at the BAA gym on Saturday at 4pm.

The event will highlight the Academy’s senior students with instructors testing the final set of junior black belt protocols to advance within the Academy’s foundational Uechi Ryu system.

Students aged 18 and over will be tested under rigorous conditions to achieve the distinction of junior black belt (black belt with white stripe).

The event is open to all with prospective students and their parents invited to attend to learn about the Academy’s system of martial arts instruction, self-defence and youth leadership programmes.

The Bermuda Uechi Ryu Academy operates under the leadership of Master David Goins, 6th Dan, and Sensei William Spriggs (4th Dan). They are assisted by Sensei John O’Doherty (3rd Dan), Sensei Mike Wellman (3rd Dan), Sensei Yulanda Francis (3rd Dan) and Sifu Eugene Ford.

The Academy’s Sensei’s were trained by Grandmaster Al Wharton, (10th Dan, Judan), who introduced Uechi Ryu to Bermuda in 1977 and is now currently residing in the UK. Grandmaster Al has flown in especially for the event and will be a central part of the grading and awards celebration.

To further celebrate this momentous occasion, the Academy is inviting new students to join its ranks, with regular training held on Saturdays at 11am.

The Academy will introduce a second class in January 2025, with the overarching goal to teach the meaning and traditions of foundational Uechi Ryu with a practical approach for today’s modern age, inclusive of moral integrity, physical fitness, strength of spirit, discipline, and self-control.

Anybody wishing to attend the Academy’s Junior Black Belt Grading & Awards Ceremony are asked to RSVP to Michael carltonmichael@icloud.com or William apdbda@gmail.com to reserve a seat.