Congratulations are in order for fifth-dans Thomas Seastrunk and Charlotte Bryant, who recently passed their Renshi exams for weapons (kobudo) in Shuri Ryu. Our system has separate tests for empty hand and weapons, with Renshi being the fourth level of six [the first level, Gakusei, is for kyu (under black belt) level and junior level students]. Bryant tested in Fort Wayne, Ind., during the ISA (International Shuri-Ryu Association) annual seminar before a board that included several high-ranking instructors along with O’Sensei Robert Bowles. Bryant was among about a dozen testing. A week later Seastrunk faced an equally, if not more difficult, exam before O’Sensei Bowles in Fort Mill, S.C., during the Shurite Martial Arts International Conference put on by Kyoshi Troy Price. It was a high-stress test – one I completely understand since I tested before O’Sensei Bowles (along with Hanshi Ridgely Abele, my teacher, as well as Kyoshi Dennis Wagner back in 2006. Both Bryant and Seastrunk did great jobs in earning another stripe (now they have two!) on their Kobudo patches desplayed in the attached photo.
Finally, yours truly, Rick Scoppe, was elevated to chief instructor in Shuri Ryu, which is a huge honor for me and something Hanshi Abele, who passed away in 2009, wanted for me. I know Hanshi is smiling down from above – and then telling me to get back to work. As chief instructor, I now get to wear a pine tree on my sleeve that includes the red sun, which also is depicted in the back of the photos above the mirror at our dojo in Lexington. I truly appreciate all the support I received in earning this honor from Hanshi Abele, my students as well as all the chief instructors who have accepted me into this exclusive group of karateka.
