MIDDLE REGION--There where loud screams. The sound of breaking boards and concrete blocks emanated from the gymnasium of St. Marie Laurence School over the weekend. It sounded like a demolition crew had been given the order to knock down the building.
In reality it was just eight members of the King Yen Tae kwon do School taking the final examination for their Black Belt.
“It is a proud moment for the students who had worked very hard over the years to attain the Dan level of Black Belt,” said the school’s Grand Master Theo Liu.
All eight that took the final examination met the World Tae Kwon Do Federation requirements and thus earned their black belts.
Paul Djasmin and Carlo Talkami both age 55 passed their “Adult” black belt examination.
Able to wear a Black belt for age 15 and over students are Tyrell, Pantophlet (18), Lee –Ann Liu (17) and Ivyanne Louisa (15.)
Grand Master Liu while proud of all the students had high praise for Lee-Ann who has trained hard with the master for 14 years of training. Lee-Liu has travelled with the St., Maarten Team to numerous regional and international tournaments as have all the students and won many medals and even atrophy for Best International Fighter. Master Liu noted the same last name, smiled and said softly granddaughter.
Just as popular and a hit amongst all the students is nine year old Justin Wilson. He was the youngest student in the group to earn a junior black belt for students under 15. Also earning Junior Black Belts Yannick Patrick (12) and Destiny Washington (13.)
Assisting in the examinations and also conducting several seminars for all the students in the school
was Grand Master Jose (“Chaco”) Cornelio.
Grand Master Cornelio is a 7th Dan black belt from Aruba. He served as President of the Aruban Tae kwon do Association, is an International and Olympic referee and a member of the technical committee of World Tae kwon do Federation and Pan American T ae kwon do Union for more than 20 year. In 2010 he was the Best referee of the world.
He has travelling around the world, almost weekly, to referee and be a director at the World Tae Kwon Do Federation tournaments.
Grand Master Cornelio knows the St. Maarten athletes very well, because of their participation in many International tournaments. He congratulated both Master Liu and St. Maarten in general on the good level of Tae kwon do that has been achieved.
“All of the students attained their Black Belt in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Kukkiwon (World Tae kwon do Federation Headquarters) for black belt promotion tests. They will receive their diploma from Korea on a later date,” announced Grand Master Liu.
