Students of the Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu Academy on St. Thomas and St. Croix will compete in the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame 2001 Tournament in Akron, Ohio, March 23 and 24, and St. Croix instructor Elvis Pedro will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
According to Louis A. Jackson, Ja Goju Jistu-Ryu grand master on St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands students "will be competing against top fighters from all over the world in all categories – forms, weapons and free fighting." Among the martial arts disciplines that will be represented at the tournament, he said, are Taekwondo, Kempo, Ishinryu, Shotokan, Goju and Kungfu.
Jackson, who holds an 8th degree black belt in his discipline, has been named to serve as one of eight referees for the event, which will take place at Akron's Fairlawn Hilton Hotel.
Competition will be in male and female divisions in four skill and age levels. And yes, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" fans, two of the categories are Tigers (ages 11 and 12) and Dragons (ages 13-15). In the single-elimination format consisting of three-minute bouts, four competitors in each category will advance to the semifinals, with the winners there meeting in the finals.
First-place winners will receive grand championship belts.
The event will conclude with an awards banquet honoring both the competition winners and the year 2001 inductees into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
The Virgin Islands inductee, Sensei Pedro, holds a 4th degree black belt in Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu. He is the lead instructor at the St. Croix school, which meets in the America's Paradise Gym.
According to the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame website, found at http://twmahof.com, the event is expected to attract grandmasters and other martial artists from around the world, as well as martial arts film celebrities. In addition to the tournament competitions, there will be self-defense seminars and demonstrations and special entertainment for the younger participants.
