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| Kyoshi Montez Dennis |
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| Kyoshi Rudolph Barfield |
To my surprise, I caught a bit of flack over this article, in the form of a gentleman who told me that the "real" ninth-degree black belt in Shorin-Ryu is a gentleman named Kyoshi Frank Hargrove, who operates a dojo very close by our neighborhood in the north end of Newport News. If the assignment comes in, I will certainly be happy to interview Kyoshi Hargrove. Regardless of who is where, the story of all these gentleman reaching such a high rank is amazing to me.
Nine years ago, both
Rudolph Barfield and Montez Dennis, co-owners of the Golden Sun Dojo in Hampton,
made karate history, becoming the first African-Americans to earn their eighth
‘dan,” or degree, black belt in Shorin-Ryu, their Okinawan-based discipline of
karate. In fact, the two, who earned “Kyoshi” or master status with the
promotion, became part of a select group. Very few martial artists ever attain
the rank of eighth degree, and it is even rarer considering that Shorin-Ryu is
best known on Okinawa, its home base, south of mainland Japan in the Ryukyu
Islands, as well as on the West Coast.
For both Barfield and
Dennis, earning their eighth degree was the culmination of decades worth of practicing
and teaching in the martial arts. At the time, Dennis, who started as
Barfield’s student, was in his mid-50’s, while Barfield was approaching the
standard retirement age (65). It would have been easy to rest on their laurels
and continue operating their successful school, which has been at the same
location on Big Bethel Road since opening in 1994.
Yet, the men had more
to prove. And on May 1st, 2015, Barfield and Dennis accomplished a
feat that is almost unthinkable, the earning of their ninth degree level of
mastery within the Tadashi Yamashita International Association.
To gain a rudimentary
understanding of the significance of this accomplishment, one only needs to
look at the certificates that were awarded to both men. As Barfield talked
about the process of earning this degree, he slid out a piece of 11-by-17
parchment from under the mat on his desk. Underneath the inscription noting the
granting of the rank in recognition for “your constant devotion to karate do,”
was a blank line filled in with black ink – “Barfield #5.”
“Dennis is number #6,”
said Barfield. “We are the only ones on the East Coast who have reached this
rank.”
And since Kyoshi
Yamashita is the only 10th degree practitioner, he had to personally
make the trip from California to conduct the test, which is less involved with
the physical aspects of the sport than expected.
“It takes years of
techniques and training that you have to remember,” said Dennis, now 61. “But
it depends more on how you teach it to others.”
In fact, while
earning lower degrees requires a strenuous weekend of physical karate activity,
the ninth degree test only lasts one day.
“He (Yamashita)
watches you teach and give a seminar,” said Dennis. “The test is shorter, but
the knowledge is longer.”
Dennis added that in
the higher degrees, the focus switches over to how much knowledge a student has
passed on to others.
And when does the
student feel confident enough to call the Grand Master to be tested?
Adds Dennis, “The
instructor tells you when you are ready. We don’t tell the instructor! If you
ask, you’re not ready.”
Would it be possible
for Barfield and Dennis to attain their 10th degree, seeing that
only one man, Yamashita, holds the rank?
“To get promoted
again, someone will have to die,” said Barfield, 73. “Or retire,” adds Dennis.
Asked about the possibility of the 76-year-old Yamashita stepping aside, Dennis
smiles and says, “No time soon.”
There is plenty to
keep Barfield and Dennis busy. They have been busy taking their message of
personal accountability and discipline through martial arts to the street,
working with local leaders to form a community-based network. Two events have
been held, and the first was at Heritage High School.
“We had the kids on
one side, and the adults on the other,” said Dennis, adding that police
officers, counselors, city council members, and even Rev. Anthony Cooper, his
senior pastor from the Miracle Temple Baptist Church, are involved with the
movement. “We’re aiming to get kids off the street,” he adds. Dennis was
surprised to learn that both adults and children shared some of the same
concerns and impressed with their level of questions for the community leaders.
To add another
incentive for visiting Golden Sun, boxing classes have started at the dojo on
Monday and Wednesday nights as well as Saturdays.
If the classes fail
to get one’s attention, perhaps a demonstration of the Masters’ skills will.
Barfield reflected on one type of skeptical spectator watching him perform.
“I have a
demonstration where I cut a cucumber off of someone’s head. And it seems like
there is always someone there who is just talk, talk, and talk. So, I’ll invite
the person up to assist and ask him to get on his hands and knees. Once he sees
the blade on the knife, his eyes start to roll around in his head!”
Karate remains a
family affair for Golden Sun. Dennis’ wife of 31 years, Natalie, is a sixth
degree black belt and instructor, while sons Carlos and Nikko have been
students, and instructors, at the dojo. However, the lineage of the students
training at Golden Sun is just as important.
“We have students who
go on to attend Harvard and other Ivy League schools,” said Dennis. “But they
start out as kids, and end up bringing their kids to the dojo. We have third
and fourth generation students here. Hopefully, we’re doing something right.”
On April 3, Golden
Sun Dojo will co-sponsor the East Coast Martial Arts Tidewater Challenge at
Bethel High School. Now in its 28th year, the tournament has
something for everybody, with over 300 participants from 110 divisions engaging
in many different styles of karate, including Kendo, Tae Kwon Do, and
Shorin-Yu. The event is open to all styles and associations, and there will be
a cash prize for black belt grand champions.
For more information, visit www.goldensundojo.com, or call (757) 722-5702 or (757)
531-5493.
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