At the recently held grading for students of the Universal Martial Arts Academy Robin RYU on Saturday November 12th, 2016, Sensei (Teacher) of the Academy, received an unexpected surprise. Accompanying Sensei Robin during the grading was one of his mentors Grandmaster Robert “Sugar” Crosson, Grandmaster of the Sugar RYU Jiu Jitsu based in Florida.
At the end of the grading, held in the Conference Room of the Garraway Hotel, Grandmaster Crosson, who has been practicing Martial Arts for over 57 years, presented Sensei Robin with his new rank of Sixth Degree Black Belt and the title of Shihan (Teacher of Teachers). He is the only Martial Artist is Dominica to ever achieve this rank.
Shihan Robin recently returned from a 6 month training course at the Henan University of Technology in China where he trained along with 19 other martial artists from around the globe in various techniques. Robin, despite being the oldest in the class emerged 1st in all categories. He also trained at the Shaolin Academy where he learnt the art of Tai chi. Both Shihan Robin and Grandmaster Crosson demonstrated some of their techniques at the grading.
The grading saw fifty (50) students from the two Dojos on island, in Roseau and Portsmouth, showcase their mastery of various techniques to advance to the next level. Many parents, family, and friends were present to provide encouragement. Students from both the children and adult classes were graded. Shihan Robin encouraged parents to play their part in moulding their children’s lives and also instructed the students to do their best in all things and not waste their sweat.
He also asked the students to have faith and confidence in the Dojo Instructors, who trained and prepared them for grading in his absence. This will be even more important as the Universal Martial Arts Academy will be expanding, and Shihan Robin will be travelling more frequently to setup new dojos, initially in Canada, then Barbados.
Congratulation Mr Robin. I have great respect for your art. I’m a Jiu Jitsu fighter from Dominica, who lives and trains in Denver Colorado USA, but born in Wesley village Dominica. Next time I’m home, I would love to visit your school. I train at Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Denver Colorado USA. My name is Ronald Robin; we could be related. Hope to meet you.
Congratulations Shanna
shana ,i am happy for you ,and i see you have a bright future ahead of you, But you must remind them of the best ,and still the best ,PAUL HONORE of portsmouth, maybe they dont know about him , because he is still holding the highest ranks in martial arts in dominica maybe you all could work togeather
Congrats Shihan Robin, well done, the Dominica martial artists world wide including myself, are proud of you.
CONGRATULATIONS SHIHAN ROBIN. Greetings from Botswana in Southern Africa. So wonderful to see such progress. Congrats to the students who also graded and achieved. When I return from Africa we can resume discussion on training. Continue to succeed.
Well Done My Boy
Always so proud of Shana and his accomplishments!! I know your Grandmother is smiling down at you and is extremely proud!! A true testament of where you start is not where you finish.
Good job Shannah…Keep making Dominica proud.
Congratulations!!
Congratulations Shihan Robin, your hard work has paid off once again!!
Congrats Sensei Robin!!!
Congratulations Sensei Robin. Hard work pays of brother and I am prout of you for following your dreams. Duplicate yourself among the younger generation and help build the positive mentality of future Dominicans.