Nineteen-year-old Bermudian, Gary Furtado, has spent his gap year between high school and college following a dream.

As an uchi deshi (in-school student) in a martial arts dojo on Long Island, New York, he has spent the last seven months studying intensively for his black belt in the Japanese martial art Ninjutsu and Jujutsu.

Last week more than 20 friends and family members travelled to watch the gruelling three-hour physical fitness test, and four-hour long techniques test that must be passed to become a black belt.

Bermuda flags waved furiously as, following in the footsteps of Shihan Chuck Renaud and Sensei Scott Dunstan, Furtado, from Bermuda's Hekigan Dojo, became the first student in nine years to receive the honour.

Furtado started training at Hekigan when he was 12-years-old. At 14 he joined the adult classes and at 15 he became a junior instructor. From then on, Friday nights and Saturday afternoons were devoted to helping with the children's classes; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights were training nights. In 2007, tested by Kyoshi Allie, Furtado received his brown belt in Bermuda and started the journey towards his black belt.

"The road to the black belt has been a pretty tough one," he said, "especially the Saturday morning work-outs and logging of food, meditation etc, but it has been an ultimately rewarding experience. Given the choice, I would do it again in a heartbeat."

It proved to be a good attitude to have, considering that part of his live-in student job included cleaning the entire dojo every week –bathrooms and all.

"I'm an expert with a broom, vacuum and mop now," he laughed.

This might help to explain why, to Furtado, the black belt is a symbol of a state of mind.

"The person with the black belt mindset does not ignore obstacles but analyses them with determination and never lets them shake him from his path," he said. "William Strozzi Heckler wrote that, 'the path of the Warrior is lifelong, and mastery is often simply staying on the path.' The path may be difficult and filled with forbidding obstacles but after so much work, why throw it away? The black belt is a road sign that says, 'You've made it this far, keep going'!"

Kyoshi Allie Alberigo seems to think that Furtado will keep going.

"As a master in the martial arts, I have students that fit into two categories: those who wish and say they want something, and do nothing, and then those that just have the inner desire, and possibly even spiritual memory, to succeed beyond their wildest dreams. Gary is truly a warrior," he said.

Sensei Scott Dunstan agreed. "As an instructor, it's a great feeling to now have our first black belt student. Gary did an amazing job in his test; his technique was strong but what impressed me the most was that his energy and heart throughout the test was even stronger. I am very proud of Gary and look forward to training with him more in the years to come!"

Back in Bermuda now, Furtado, the newest Sensei at Hekigan Dojo, will continue to train and teach until September, when he enrols at university in England – and to train in another dojo.

"I chose the University of Chester because of the dojo in the town – and the fact that I already know Kyoshi Ian Thomas, the head instructor of Horin Dojo," he admitted with a grin. "Apparently they already have a broom with my name on it waiting for me."

Interested potential students of ninjutsu can contact Hekigan Dojo, located on Chapel Road, Warwick on 537-7253, email: hekigandojo@yahoo.com or visit the website at www.ninja.bm.