certified instructors in their gentle art last week after they successfully passed all the requirements for the rank of shodan or first degree black belt.

Both men, who have a collective 24 years study in jujitsu, spent an intense week and a half with Professor Tony Maynard, a seventh degree black belt in jujitsu, at the American School of Self Defence in Kernersville, North Carolina.

Their exploits were the subject of a short article in the August 16 edition of the Kernersville News .

They also travelled to West Virginia and worked out with Ernie (Light foot) Boggs, the first American World Sports Jujitsu champion.

Boggs, who won this honour in 1990, is now the coach of the United States Jujitsu team that is preparing to go to the world championships in New Zealand in October.

At the American School of Self Defence, Hashim and Burchall worked out each morning with Professor Maynard and were tested on advanced break falls, grappling, self defence and sports jujitsu sparring.

Each evening they were required to teach his pee-wee (Under-7), junior (Under-12) and adult classes.

The teaching phase was part of their instructor's certification and is a requirement established by the American Jujitsu Association (AJA) headed by Professor George Kirby and Jujitsu America (JA), which is headed by Professor Wally Jay.

Professor Maynard is the southern regional director for both the AJA and JA.

Professor Wally Jay, 10th degree black belt and founder of the small circle jujitsu system, is Professor Maynard's instructor.

In West Virginia, Hashim and Burchall worked out with the United States jujitsu team which included senior champion Eric Latza who won the title in Argentina in 1992, Mark Hooker who was a silver medallist in 1988 in Australia and a bronze medallist in Argentina in 1992, and Craig Oxley a silver medallist in 1990 and a silver medallist in 1992.

Hashim and Burchall are now certified sports jujitsu instructors and will be putting together a Bermuda team to go to the next sports jujitsu championships in two years.

Professor Maynard was the first American to compete in the 1984 World Jujitsu championships held in St. Catherine's, Ontario.

He has since been instrumental in the move to make sports Jujitsu an Olympic sport through the United States Jujitsu Association which is affiliated with the World Council of Jujitsu Organisations.

The world council has branches more than 15 countries which include Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, Germany, and the Bahamas.

Both Boggs and Latza are Prof. Maynard's students. They now have their own dojos.

Hashim and Burchall are certified members of the AJA, JA, USJJA, WCJJO and the American School of Self-Defence.

They intend to open the Bermuda Combat Jujitsu Academy in the near future, and create the Bermuda Jujitsu Association for sports Jujitsu which will be affiliated with both the USJJA and the WCJJO.

They will also establish the Bermuda Jujitsu Union as an umbrella organisation that will oversee the development of jujitsu in Bermuda with an emphasis on standards set out by the AJA, JA and the American School of Self-Defence.

Master Richard A. Smith, head instructor of the Bermuda Taekwondo Association, recently travelled with other local instructors and students to the S.K.

Taekwondo Academy in Connecticut to attend a Martial Arts seminar.

Joining Master Smith were Charles Morgan, Laurie Zuill, Axel Bubenzer, Colin Paynter and Paul Christie. The seminar saw the local students participate in a sparring skills and rules clinics as well lessons for form and application, kicking techniques, self-defence and teachings on the philosophy of taekwondo.

The instructors were shown different styles and methods of teaching that enhanced their repertoire.

Running the seminar was Master Sang H. Kim is a renowned seventh dan black belt taekwondo master who is a professional martial arts instructor with over 30 years experience with a doctorate in physical education.

Taekwondo is a traditional Korean martial art and modern combat sport. It was an Olympic demonstration game in 1988 and 1992 and will now be an official sport in the 2000 Olympic Games.