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4 Elementary School Students Earn 1st Degree Blackbelt
 Cory Morris, Michael Drury, Brian Finch and Tracy Davis (From left to right) |
It was an exciting night on Thursday, March 16, 2000, as four students from Monroe and Amanda Elementary Schools completed the long journey from white belt to black belt. Monroe Martial Arts graduated a total of five students. (Four elementary schools students and one adult, Russ Morris of M&M Plumbing). |
| The testing started at 6 pm in front of a large
group of friends, parents and relatives. Monroe Elementary School students
include: Cory Morris, 4th Grade; Brian Finch 5th Grade; Tracy Davis 4th
Grade. The Amanda Elementary School student is Michael Drury 3rd Grade.
The students have been working continuously for nearly 4 years to
obtain the first degree of highest ranking belt, the black belt. Master Roberts (Photo), a 9th degree Black Belt along with Ernest Pendergrass*, a 5th degree Black Belt, presided over the testing for belt advancement. |
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Also on hand were all the other black belts from Monroe Martial Arts. Upon completing testing prior to awarding the belts, Master Roberts spoke to the students. He spoke of honor and discipline. He talked about focusing on the forms currently working on rather than thinking about forms to be learned in the future. He said that the martial arts is a lifelong journey unlike other activities that are only for a short while. Master Roberts spoke about the things learned from the martial arts apply to every day life too. Finally, the students were requested to stand at attention while the ceremony of belt advancement took place. All students graduated as expected. |
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*Ernest Pendergrass is
the founder and chief instructor of Monroe Martial Arts. He has studied
martial arts since 1966 and has achieved rank in Moo Duk Kwan/Taekwondo, Kendo
and Kenjutsu. He is a licensed coach in kickboxing and shootboxing.
He has been an instructor since 1985 at Roberts Taekwondo, National Guard
Armory, Symmes Road, Farfield, Ohio.
