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At sports, Jamaican does it again
By Robert F Evans
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Nowadays Jamaican "sportsphoria" (euphoria in sports) includes that Jamaicans own the records for the two fastest hundreds in the world — Usain Bolt in 9.58 seconds and Chris Gayle in 30 balls! But, in the midst of all this, another Jamaican has done it again.
Master Garry Turnbull, chief instructor of International Shotokan Karate Federation of Jamaica (ISKFJ), after many years of physical, mental and spiritual training, achieved the Eighth Degree Black Belt title, making him the highest ranking in the entire Caribbean region.
Master Garry Turnbull (right) in action
1/1 
The award was given at the 47th Annual Master Camp of the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF), held in Pennsylvania, USA, on June 10, 2013. Under the auspices of the Japan Karate Association in the early 1970s, Master Turnbull, a practitioner for 45 years, is acknowledged as the person responsible for introducing Shotokan Karate to Jamaica. He is an international 'A' class instructor, examiner and judge and has the distinction of passing all his Black Belt examinations on the first attempt. He is the only person to have captured the Individual Kata Champion on four consecutive occasions and team Kata champion leader in the biennial Caribbean Tournaments, and has successfully coached the Jamaican team to numerous Caribbean and Pan American tournaments.
Master Turnbull, a civil engineer in his business life, is known as a calm, confident, and very approachable individual of quiet power and strength who, despite his lethal skills, conveys a non-aggressive and friendly demeanour -- the essence of a world-class karateka.
As one progresses in karate the emphasis is not only on fighting. From fifth degree or 'dan' upwards, the candidate must produce a satisfactory research paper of extensive academic content before being examined in kata (form) and self-defence. For ninth and 10th stages, the candidate is judged on maturity, knowledge, age and contribution to the development of the discipline in the region for which he/she is responsible over his/her lifetime.
Master Turnbull is currently responsible for the Northern Caribbean region, and no doubt, as time progresses, the area of his responsibility will increase.
Vice Chief Instructor of the ISKFJ, Gilbert Bellamy, a former banker, has also moved up the ranking to a seventh Degree Black Belt. Sensei Bellamy, a Black Belt since 1980, is a qualified international instructor, examiner and judge at the 'B' class level. At present he coaches the National ISKF Jamaica karate team. As a competitor, he was a member of two gold medal-winning Kumite (free-fighting team) at the biennial Caribbean and Pan American Tournaments.
The ISKF Master Camp is considered the 'Mecca' of Shotokan Karate and has been held for 47 years under the instruction of Teruyuki Okazaki, 10th dan and Master Yutaka Yaguchi ninth dan -- the former was a student of the founder of Shotokan Karate Master Gichin Funakoshi.
Many promote military training as an anodyne for social indiscipline, but karate which is a lifetime discipline as well as a sport has a similar benefit and has influenced the "whole personal" development of many successful individuals worldwide. Sensei Althea Young, who recently received the sixth degree, runs a dojo (karate school) and boasts that there have never been any teenage pregnancies among her students.
Jamaica should be proud of Master Turnbull and those who practise Shotokan karate under his dedicated leadership. Truly, this is a discipline that offers significant benefits to the development of a healthy body and personality and is all about stopping conflicts. To quote Master Turnbull: "It is not about fighting. It is about stopping the fights..." This is truly a model for much-needed peace in Jamaica.
Master Garry Turnbull (right) in action
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2a5146TPP
At sports, Jamaican does it again
By Robert F Evans
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Nowadays Jamaican "sportsphoria" (euphoria in sports) includes that Jamaicans own the records for the two fastest hundreds in the world — Usain Bolt in 9.58 seconds and Chris Gayle in 30 balls! But, in the midst of all this, another Jamaican has done it again.
Master Garry Turnbull, chief instructor of International Shotokan Karate Federation of Jamaica (ISKFJ), after many years of physical, mental and spiritual training, achieved the Eighth Degree Black Belt title, making him the highest ranking in the entire Caribbean region.
Master Garry Turnbull (right) in action 1/1 The award was given at the 47th Annual Master Camp of the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF), held in Pennsylvania, USA, on June 10, 2013. Under the auspices of the Japan Karate Association in the early 1970s, Master Turnbull, a practitioner for 45 years, is acknowledged as the person responsible for introducing Shotokan Karate to Jamaica. He is an international 'A' class instructor, examiner and judge and has the distinction of passing all his Black Belt examinations on the first attempt. He is the only person to have captured the Individual Kata Champion on four consecutive occasions and team Kata champion leader in the biennial Caribbean Tournaments, and has successfully coached the Jamaican team to numerous Caribbean and Pan American tournaments.
Master Turnbull, a civil engineer in his business life, is known as a calm, confident, and very approachable individual of quiet power and strength who, despite his lethal skills, conveys a non-aggressive and friendly demeanour -- the essence of a world-class karateka.
As one progresses in karate the emphasis is not only on fighting. From fifth degree or 'dan' upwards, the candidate must produce a satisfactory research paper of extensive academic content before being examined in kata (form) and self-defence. For ninth and 10th stages, the candidate is judged on maturity, knowledge, age and contribution to the development of the discipline in the region for which he/she is responsible over his/her lifetime.
Master Turnbull is currently responsible for the Northern Caribbean region, and no doubt, as time progresses, the area of his responsibility will increase.
Vice Chief Instructor of the ISKFJ, Gilbert Bellamy, a former banker, has also moved up the ranking to a seventh Degree Black Belt. Sensei Bellamy, a Black Belt since 1980, is a qualified international instructor, examiner and judge at the 'B' class level. At present he coaches the National ISKF Jamaica karate team. As a competitor, he was a member of two gold medal-winning Kumite (free-fighting team) at the biennial Caribbean and Pan American Tournaments.
The ISKF Master Camp is considered the 'Mecca' of Shotokan Karate and has been held for 47 years under the instruction of Teruyuki Okazaki, 10th dan and Master Yutaka Yaguchi ninth dan -- the former was a student of the founder of Shotokan Karate Master Gichin Funakoshi.
Many promote military training as an anodyne for social indiscipline, but karate which is a lifetime discipline as well as a sport has a similar benefit and has influenced the "whole personal" development of many successful individuals worldwide. Sensei Althea Young, who recently received the sixth degree, runs a dojo (karate school) and boasts that there have never been any teenage pregnancies among her students.
Jamaica should be proud of Master Turnbull and those who practise Shotokan karate under his dedicated leadership. Truly, this is a discipline that offers significant benefits to the development of a healthy body and personality and is all about stopping conflicts. To quote Master Turnbull: "It is not about fighting. It is about stopping the fights..." This is truly a model for much-needed peace in Jamaica.
Master Garry Turnbull (right) in action
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz2a5146TPP