Purple Dragon hosts grading event for hundreds

THREE karate students out of an approximate pool of 700 won over Professor Don Jacob and his team of officiating black belt holders at a Purple Dragon Don Jitsu Ryu system grading event, at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo, yesterday.

The five-hour event began at 4 pm and finished after press-time last night, following the announcement of the trio, who would earn a sponsored trip to the United States for another international series of events hosted by Purple Dragon, in July.

That event will further afford them a chance to seal a spot on the world Purple Dragon team for subsequent tours to Asia and Africa.

The hundreds of students, from adolescents to adults, travelled from dojos across both islands, displaying their skills in front of instructors and hundreds more supporters. They were then graded on kata, sparring, and self-defense.

The event began with all students assembling in lines according to their respective dojos in a brilliant presentation of a disciplined, coordinated routine unique to the Purple Dragon Don Jitsu Ryu system.

“It’s very difficult (to narrow down the best three students) because we’ve gone through six or seven hundred people just to get three people, but we have capable, competent black belts that helped us do just that,” said Jacob during the event.

“We went all over TT, trying to find the top three best students out of Purple Dragon.

He said the three students will partake in seminars and be given opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills in the martial art.

The three instructors, who produced the successful students, will also earn a sponsored trip to the US in July.

“Once they compete against students from other countries, they will have the chance to join the world Purple Dragon karate team, which will only be 100 students out of 10,000 people,” Jacob added. “And that will form the world Purple Dragon karate team, and they’ll be travelling all over the world – Japan, China, Africa – competing and representing the various countries.”

Don Jitsu Ryu is described as a practical and complete martial arts fighting system, which was developed by Jacob, a TT-born US resident, over 50 years ago.

Jacob, holder of a nineth degree black belt, is known worldwide, and especially in the region, in part for his founding of some 50 dojos, which span as far north as Canada.

“I’ll be going back to Florida on Wednesday, and I am looking forward to organising the paperwork to bring the three students up,” said Jacob.

In addition to the hundreds of karate students, there was perhaps triple the number of supporters who arrived in droves, representing 16 communities, from Tobago to Debe/Princes Town, with colourful displays and emphatic cheers.

“The supporters have been great, coming from all over the country to encourage the students, North, West, East, South, Central, you know, you can hear the noise. We’re all very excited,” Jacob said.