Black belt promotion in Tehachapi
Black belt promotion in Tehachapi
By: Diane Sebra
Description: Mountain Martial Arts promotes first student to black belt
Topics:
Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 1021 times
0 responses 0 comments On Feb. 25 Mountain Martial Arts had the distinct honor of promoting their very first student, Garrett Sebra, to the rank of first-degree junior black belt.
Garrett started his karate training at the tender age of just 3 years old. After his first class he never looked back; his eye was constantly on his goal. Now that he has reached that first degree, it is like starting his training over as a fresh white belt.
In karate, receiving a black belt isn’t the end of training, it’s just the beginning. Garrett’s training now begins again at 8 years old.
Sandan Tim Sebra, third-degree black belt and founder of the Sankai Kenpo Karate system, headed a panel of four black belts who administered Garrett’s two-hour long test.
The second panelist was master Curtis Phillips, seventh-degree black belt and head of the Southern Shaolin Hang Ling Do Kung Fu System. Third was Ron Whipple, first-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate. Lastly was a guest from Bakersfield, Dale Hawkins, also a first- degree black belt in the Kenpo System.
As a warm up, Garrett was asked to do 100 jumping jacks, 80 crunches and 80 push-ups. His test was exceedingly extensive, involving all of the curriculum he has learned from white belt through advanced brown. There were 16 different forms he was required to execute, ranging from a basic blocking set to escrima stick and nunchucku weapon forms.
Garrett had to show a knowledge of 24 different styles of kicks, countless self
defense moves, board breaking techniques, and two thesis moves, self defense combinations which Garrett created himself. He was also required to spar two panel members and although he had chosen Mr. Whipple and Master Phillips, proud daddy Sebra just couldn’t let Garrett off the hook without sparring him.
After reading aloud his essay on what becoming a black belt meant to him, Garrett was awarded his new belt, MMA School Certificate of Achievement and his black belt certification and registration with the World Black Belt Bureau and the Worldwide Kenpo Karate Association.
Along with several friends to cheer him on, Garrett had two aunts, an uncle, his grandma from Sacramento and his great-grandma from Ventura. Mrs. Sebra, Ms. Cardoso and Garrett’s sister Rebekah were also on hand to assist with the testing and performed for him with Mountain Martial Arts’ Demo Team.
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
