The martial arts academy, located at 925 Hale Place in the Eastlake area, held promotion tests for some students on Dec. 16.
The students who took the test were Lewis Lukin, Kaipora Lukin, and Lavorse Williams. Students were tested by a prestigious examination board comprised of California's top martial arts masters and grandmasters.
Lewis Lukin tested for beginner black belt, Kaipora Lukin tested for third degree brown belt, and Williams tested for orange belt.
The list of examiners includes Grandmaster Robbie Lee, Grandmaster Michael Fugate, Grandmaster Jerry Baxter, Grandmaster Reynaldo Real, Grandmaster Gustavo Martinez, Grandmaster Larry Spears, Distinguished and the talented Professor Karen Shepard (star of numerous martial arts action films). Movie), Professor Orned (Chicken) Gabriel, Professor Danilo Pasion, Professor Enzo Pisano.
Other martial artists present to witness the test were Grand Master Noel Langvin, Master Evelyn Langvin, Cosanim John Fleming, and Captain Franklin Parra Jr.
Grand Master Byron Mantuck asked those in attendance to stand and pay their respects to Soke Grand Master Frederick Douglass Peterson. Although he is 98 years old, he still holds seminars and demonstrations across the country and is one of the oldest living active martial artists in the country. .
“Students who took the test performed excellently and were given very high scores by the examiner, resulting in them passing the exam and aiming for promotion to a respected rank in the field of Shaolin Karate.” Mantak said.
Shorinjutsu is an unarmed combat system derived from the fighting styles and philosophies of Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate and Kodokan Judo. This system was developed eight years earlier by Mantak, who began studying martial arts in 1957 and holds the high rank of black belt in several martial arts disciplines, including Shorin-ryu Karate, Kodokan Judo, Kempo Karate, and Taekwondo. it was done.
Under Mantak's tutelage, Pasion began his martial arts journey at Gateway Karate School in 1983 and was promoted to 4th degree black belt and awarded the title of master. Mr. Lee presented Mr. Mantak with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
