sport to reach fifth Dan Master level in TaeKwonDo.

The 44-year-old, who represented Bermuda in the 1988 Olympics martial arts demonstration in Seoul, had to fight five men of equal rank -- simultaneously -- and knock them all out.

Other requirements included breaking concrete blocks on his chest while lying on a bed of nails, fighting blind-folded against a knife-wielding attacker and breaking a five-inch thick piece of pine wood with his fist.

The tests, which also included oral and written exams, left Avery so physically and mentally drained he needed a week's rest to recover.

Avery admitted it had been painful, but looked on the bright side: "At least there was nothing broken this time. Every other test I've taken, I've broken a bone.'' Three Masters flew over from Korea, Moses Choy, Ansoi Choy and Kwan Soo Moon, to fight against Avery and allow him to take the test, but Avery said despite the exchange of some painful blows, there had been no hard feelings.

"Afterwards we all ate a very hot type of Korean cabbage together. It's part of the ritual. TaeKwonDo is a very family-orientated martial art.'' Few students of the Korean martial art reach fifth Dan rank and it took Avery 30 years of practice and training to attain that level.

His achievement was all the more remarkable because Avery was forced to quit the sport temporarily after a back injury which required surgeons to remove a disc from his spine.

And it was only persistent persuasion from one of his students, third Dan Myron Burchall, which convinced him to start training again amidst a work schedule of 14 hours a day and to make fifth Dan rank his goal.

"Myron non-stop bugged me every day for three months, but I'm grateful for that now,'' said Avery.

After first becoming interested in TaeKwonDo during self-defence classes at high school, Avery came under the tuition of Grand Master Sun Hwan Chung, ninth Dan, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, still his instructor.

As the highest-ranked local exponent of the art, Avery has founded the Bermuda Federation of Korean Martial Arts, to help others learn the disciplines. He estimated there were more than 100 people involved in Korean martial arts on the Island.

"Whatever the schools in Bermuda need, I think I will be able to help them, particularly with grades and testings,'' said Avery.

TaeKwonDo had much to offer young people, he went on.

"It has given me the confidence to stand up to people twice my size without fear, knowing that I'm not going to get hurt.'' Avery is considering a public demonstration later in the year involving a test even tougher than those he has already taken.

He declined to discuss details, but suggested it would be "a step up from smashing concrete blocks on my chest on a bed of nails''.

Master class: Dave Avery (second left) poses with Korean martial arts experts (from left) Kwan Soo Moon, Grand Master Sun Hwan Chung, Ansoi Choy and Moses Choy, whom he had to fight, all at once, during his fifth Dan test.