Ninth Degree Black Belts?? -- Meet Barfield and Dennis

Kyoshi Montez Dennis

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 1^st, 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 10^th 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 10^th 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 28^th 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.

Shutdown Academy Is Now in Business for Hampton Roads

Engaging in one of my bad habits, the article that I submitted to the Daily Press was painfully too long - about 950 words. Not surprisingly, chunks of it were removed to fit in its prescribed space in Monday's paper. But, here is my original version, which includes a few extra nuggets with regard to last Saturday's wildly successful debut for Shutdown Academy.

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Shutdown Academy, the brainchild of former Virginia Tech standout Keion Carpenter, a model that will combine athletics, educational instruction, and the development of social skills, made its local debut on Saturday morning with a football and cheerleading camp that drew almost 700 young athletes to Denbigh High School.

Carpenter, who played for the Atlanta Falcons, and later started the first Academy in Baltimore, was on hand, as were current and former NFL players, including three from Newport News – Antoine Bethea, Elton Brown and B.W. Webb.

The football campers were split into two groups, 6-10 year olds, and 11-14. While one group practiced among a series of drill stations on the field behind the high school, the other campers, along with their parents, assembled in the gym to ask questions, as well as hear about the vision and mission of Shutdown Academy.

Brown arguably drew the most attention, not only because of his size (6’5” and 332 lbs. as an offensive guard with the Arizona Cardinals), but also because of his powerful message, one that was designed to remind campers that there is more to life than football.

“When I stopped being Big E, and started being Elton Brown, that’s when my life turned around,” said Brown, who went on to share the tale of a 17-year old college-bound athlete who went to a party and got in a fight, along with three of his football teammates. All three were charged with maiming by mob.

“The problem is, he put himself in a position to be judged. I got myself into a similar situation. And for the first time in my life, I actually got down on my knees and prayed. I told God, if you set me thru this one, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.” After evading serious trouble, Brown realized that he needed to continue on the righteous path.

“That’s what got me started on building the platform. Why should I watch you bang your head against a locked door if I have the key?” Brown, who starred at the University of Virginia before turning professional, went on to tell the audience that he was most proud of having earned three college degrees.

Commenting on the large turnout, Brown said, “I love it! I’m happy that people are receptive.” Speaking to the concept of Shutdown Academy, he added, “We want to show the kids that there’s something outside of here. For some of them, going through the tunnel is taking a trip. And while HU (Hampton) and Norfolk State are great schools, what if they could visit a school like Morehouse?”

The Academy will eventually expand to sponsor teams in football, basketball, baseball, cheerleading and soccer. The football team will begin in the fall, as a member of the American Youth Football League (AYFL). Bethea, a ten-year NFL veteran, now playing with the San Francisco 49ers, explained the academic aspect of Shutdown to the youths and their parents – one which will include mentoring from volunteers and local colleges, tutoring, college visits, and assistance with navigating the NCAA Clearinghouse eligibility process. But there is an expectation.

“Every week you will turn in a progress report to your coach. If it isn’t up to par, you will still be there to support your teammates, but you won’t be suiting up,” said the three-time Pro Bowl safety, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007, after his rookie season.

“This is a big thing; it’s something we’ve come together to do. We’re 757,” said Webb, the Tennessee Titan, who spent a good portion of the morning monitoring the ladder step drill in the corner of the south end zone. While 100 or so parents stood on the sidelines with cameras and video recorders, filming their sons (and a few daughters) engaging in football drills, Webb reflected on his own local heroes as a teenager.

“Coming from Warwick (High), I was big on Michael Vick because he came around a lot. Of course, Twan (Bethea) was from around the corner, and it was cool to be around those guys, and to aspire to be like them.”

The names of Vick, as well as Aaron Brooks, came up often among the Academy coaches as sources of youthful inspiration.

Not so coincidentally, Vick and Brooks’ high school football coach, Tommy Reamon (now with Landstown High) was in attendance.

“This is what it’s about. It’s special and unique, especially the energy of the people involved. It just goes to show that athletics can help you with a good life,” said Reamon, who previously coached at Ferguson and Warwick.

The Academy’s program director, Vaughn Parker, shared the optimistic viewpoint as Shutdown moves to its next phase.

“This is overwhelming and humbling. We have kids here from all Seven Cities.” Speaking to the larger life view of the program, he spoke in more basic terms.

“While the adults are out there doing their thing, it’s the kids who are suffering. We want to give our youth a platform, something that comes from guys who have been there and done that. We want to alleviate the model that nobody gives back. It’s about bringing back the concept of family; do you remember Saturday night family get-togethers? We want to have something in place so that when guys like Twan come home, they won’t have to look for somewhere to go to help out. It will already be here.”

Tyler Crabtree, a 12-year old from Newport News, learned about the camp from a friend. As he finished his third 20-yard wind sprint at the center of the field, and while high-fiving fellow campers, the youngster managed to muster a one-word response of his camp experience between heavy breaths.

“Good.”

For more information about Shutdown Academy, visit www.shutdownacademy.com.

Newport News (VA) NFL Trio to Head Shutdown Academy This Saturday at Denbigh High

Elton Brown

“We’re just trying to make a difference.”

If there was a single sentence to describe the impetus behind forming his Shutdown Academy camp, Antoine Bethea could probably feel confident using this one. Bethea, a Denbigh High alumnus and long time safety with the Indianapolis Colts (2006-2013), and now San Francisco 49ers, has been involved with community service in the Hampton Roads region since being drafted into the NFL from Howard University in 2006.

3-Time Pro Bowler Antoine Bethea

Much of the work has come through his Operation 41 Foundation. But, there have been other football camps. In fact, just eight months ago, Bethea returned to the football field behind his high school alma mater in Newport News. And while more than 200 kids benefitted from the experience of working with Bethea and his football compatriots, he knew that there had to be a better way to enhance the holistic camp experience. Fortunately, Bethea had friends who would get together and collaborate to think of a way of maximizing the camp project.

“There are so many athletes in the area,” said Bethea, who will be visiting the Peninsula area next weekend to help prepare for the launching of Shutdown Academy, which will hold the football camp element of its program on March 26, from 10 AM – 2 PM at Denbigh High School. “We support each other on various things,” added the ten-year veteran, before mentioning fellow NFL players from the area who have worked at previous camps such as Elton Brown (Arizona/Hampton High), B. W. Webb (Tennessee/Warwick High), and Keion Carpenter (Buffalo/Atlanta). It was Carpenter’s idea that planted the seeds for Shutdown.

“It started a few years ago. We were at a camp in Canada – Elton, Keion, and I. We sat down and started talking about how much of an impact something like this could have on Newport News.”

B.W. Webb (#38 for the Tennessee Titans)

Carpenter, who starred at Virginia Tech, before joining the NFL, was the first to put the plan into action, starting the first Shutdown Academy in Baltimore.

“He’s our guy,” said Bethea of Carpenter. “Keion is giving us the ropes.”

And while one of the ropes has to do with football, Bethea is quick to point out that there are several other aspects that are just as important.

“This is our introduction (as Shutdown) to the city,” said Bethea. “We will have a team and we will have five different age groups.”

And that is where the similarity to traditional camps and youth programs ends.

“But, this is bigger than football. If you want to be part of the camp, you’re going to have to do community service.”

There’s more. There are academic expectations and mentoring programs. In the long run, Shutdown Academy is about much more than football.

It’s more than a handful of professional football players can operate, and that is the whole idea. Community participation is the key, says Bethea.

“If we can come together (as players) there is so much we can do. But, it’s hard to get everybody home at one time. Hopefully, more guys can make it in the future, but this is bigger than me, bigger than Elton and bigger than Keion.”

How big? Due to a huge first wave of signups, the camp has now opened up 79 more camper slots, and is expecting as many as 600 young athletes, all between the ages of 5 and 14 to be in attendance on the 26th.

“It’s going to be a madhouse,” laughs Bethea, only half-jokingly. “But, the more, the merrier.”

And that’s where the community help comes in. Shutdown Academy is looking for football coaches and counselors, but is also seeking tutors, mentors, and anyone who is willing to enhance the community service piece of the Shutdown vision.

“If we can get kids, then we want to get parents,” he says. Shutdown Academy has an e-mail address (see below) where prespective volunteers can send a message with their name and which area of the program they would like to help with.

But getting back to football, one of Bethea’s former Colt teammates, Peyton Manning, recently retired, and the three-time Pro Bowler was asked about how the future Hall of Fame quarterback helped him with his own game.

“With Peyton, and Marvin Harrison (retired wide receiver and Hall of Famer), you see how they come to work, how they prepare, and put the grind in the classroom. He (Manning) could give you tips. You could ask him about a certain play and see how he played the strong safety in a certain situation. Picking his brain helped me with my growth (as a player).” With Manning and Harrison as teammates, the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 to win Super Bowl XLI in February 2007, after Bethea’s rookie season.

There was another benefit to playing with the all-time leader in touchdowns and passing yards.

“One day in the future when my kids are watching something about him on TV, I can tell them, “Hey, he was my teammate!”

Another recent development with his 49er team has been the hiring of Chip Kelly as head coach. Kelly, who was fired by Philadelphia after the 2015 season, brings a fast-paced offense to the Bay Area, but also has been known for his stubbornness and inability to get along with his players and superiors.

Bethea is approaching the regime change with cautious optimism. “I don’t know yet. We’ll wait and see how things look. He (Kelly) was a great college coach and had a successful first year in Philly. I don’t know what ever happened after that. But I’ll wait and see how things coincide. Team wise, I am excited about the upcoming season.”

- Jim McGrath

Shutdown Academy will be held on Saturday, March 26th from 10 AM to 2 PM at Denbigh High School in Newport News, VA. For more information about the camp, please visit antoinebethea.com. If you are interested in volunteering as a coach, tutor or mentor, please e-mail your name, contact information, and position of interest to shutdownacademy757volunteers@gmail.com.

Virginia HS Track Rocks: Article # 11. McGorty Breaks 6A 1600 Record While Completing Triple

It should be noted that the Charger quartet of Titus Jeffries, Michael Scopllite, Justin Loy and Brandon McGorty set a national HS record in the sprint medley two weeks late at the New Balance Nationals. Here's the Milestat.com article on that historic race: 

http://va.milesplit.com/articles/177600-chantilly-boys-smr-national-record-32402- 

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Chantilly's Brandon McGorty has been primarily driven by two goals during this indoor

season. The first was to win the 6A 1600-meter title, and break the meet record. His second goal is to capture the open 800 at next week's New Balance Nationals - an achievement that he almost earned last year, placing second in 1:51.5 despite inexplicably having to run from the slow heat.

While most runners would harness their focus to these two individual goals, let it be stated that most runners are not as intense as the Charger junior. So, last month, without provocation, McGorty approached Coach Matt Gilchrist and announced a new goal.

As Gilchrist recalls, "He came up to me with the idea to triple at States - to run the 1600, 1000 and four by four (4x400)."

Aside from wanting to be a good teammate, McGorty had another reason for wanting to triple.

"I decided that I wanted to test my strength. Coach thought it was a good idea, and we just went for it."

The first test came at the Concorde Conference meet.

The results were satisfactory. "It worked well," said Gilchrist.

The only "X factor" in completing the triple for States may have come from McGorty's competition in the 1600. "His best was 4:19, but he ran that at Christmas," added Gilchrist, keeping in mind that other milers, such as Cox's Jonathan Lomogda, would be stiff competition. If there were problems in the first race, it could have affected McGorty's performance later in the 1000 and 4x400.

The coach and runner mapped out a strategy. Go out hard for the early laps of the 1600 and aim to put the race away early. And McGorty stuck to script, sailing through the first 400 meters in 61.5 and the half at 2:05.

However, there was one problem. He was not completely alone yet.

"He was forced out hard early," said Gilchrist. "Lomogda ran a great race and made him work for it. We didn't expect him to hang for quite as long."

So instead of staying in gear and easing to victory, McGorty was forced to push through the next three laps. But, the end result was a first place finish, as well as a new personal best and state meet record of 4:13.46. Lomogda hung on for second in 4:17.91.

The effort exerted in the 1600 may have affected McGorty in his next race, the 1000. Although he came in with a seedtime of 2:25, McGorty maintained an even pace, hitting most of his laps in roughly 30 seconds en route to a 2:29.62 win, .71 seconds off his own meet record from the previous year.

In the process, he managed to retain enough energy to play a huge part in the Chargers' final act. McGorty ran the third leg on the 1600-meter relay, keeping the Chargers in contention before handing off to Titus Jeffries Jr., who blasted the remaining competitors, as Chantilly won with a time of 3:24.38, a full two seconds ahead of runner-up T.C. Williams.

Jeffries will join McGorty in another event this weekend, as the pair team up with a couple of 200-meter runners ("we don't know who yet") for the sprint medley. Last spring, the Chargers placed third at the Outdoor nationals, and they hope to claim the gold this year.

A national title would help Brandon to cement his own legacy among the McGorty brothers, but it is not something that he worries about.

"I try not to focus on it. It's a friendly rivalry. I just happen to have two brothers who are really good."

There's an understatement! In fact, the whole McGorty clan, all Chantilly men, excelled on the final weekend of February and first weekend of March. Oldest brother Sean had a breakout performance, as the Stanford senior clocked an all-time Cardinal best (and #4 all-time for college - indoor or outdoor track) time of 3:53.95 in the 1600 meters, while placing second behind Washington's Izaic Yorks at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships. The #4 standard will not be official because of the awkward 307-meter track. Meanwhile, the following week, Alex, a freshman at W&M, ran the leadoff 1200-meter leg for the Tribe's 5th place distance medley team at the prestigious IC4A championships.

Brandon might follow Sean to Stanford, but says he is keeping his options open for right now. Other suitors include Georgetown and Penn State. In all, there are seven schools, but that number will certainly grow exponentially in the coming months.

But they will have to wait. There are a couple of national championships to gun for at the Armory this weekend.