Sunday Nov. 10, I was in Laconia, NH to participate as the head examiner on a board testing 4 students for the rank of Pending Black Belt in C&S Self Defense Association. It's always an honor to participate in these exams and see how a student presents the material that they have worked on for anywhere from 2 to 3 years. In this exam, because 2 of the students had begun their training as children and were now young adults, they had trained for 8 years.

Only black belt level students attend these exams, and most from the surrounding Seacoast of New Hampshire came to support those testing. The test was held in Laconia, NH where Master Russell Jones teaches as 2 of his students were taking this exam. I had one of my students taking the exam as did Master Tim House from Portsmouth, NH.

Two of my senior black belts, 5th Degree Black Belt Master Tim House and 3rd Degree Black Belt Rick Downs, and my new disciple 2nd Degree Black Belt Brian Serven picked me up at my house in Dover at 6:30am Sunday morning.

Rather than risk potential Veterans Day holiday traffic on the Spaulding Turnpike, we drove out Rt. 4 and took Rt. 107 up through Pittsfield, NH and into Laconia. While there was a light dusting of snow in the Pittsfield area, when we drove up the hills through Gilmanton, NH, the roads became icy. There was not only a beautiful white covering of snow across all of the trees, but there was a half inch or so of snow blanketing the ground. Very pretty, but it did slow us up.

We arrived at the test site just before 8:00am and got right to it. The exam was intense, as these tend to be, and lasted until almost 6:00pm; a long day for all. It was a pleasure to see the growth in all of these fine students, and to be part of their success. The following is the formal announcement that was sent out to all association black belts:

I'm proud to announce the following promotions to the rank of Pending Black Belt in C&S Self Defense Association:

• Sandro Bosnjak: Sachem Self Defense School, Master Russ Jones
• Andrew Mozier: Sachem Self Defense School, Master Russ Jones
• Marty Richter: Tai Chien Dojo, Master Tim House
• Eleanne Solorzano: Rose School of Karate, Grandmaster Peter Rose

Core Examination Board consisted of the following instructors:

• Grandmaster Peter Rose, Rose School of Karate
• Master Russ Jones, Sachem Self Defense School
• Master Tim House,Tai Chien Dojo

The exam was held Sunday November 10, 2013 in Laconia, NH. Grandmaster Rose, Master House, and Master Jones were on the testing board for this rather involved 9 hour exam. The exam, open only to black belt grade, was supported by almost a dozen C&S Self Defense Association black belts from the surrounding area.

We are all pleased with the hard work and dedication these martial artists have applied to their training. We wish them the best as they continue these efforts, all for the betterment of not only themselves, but of those they come into contact with.

In addition to these promotions, Steve Austin of the Shadow Dragon Budo Guild, Shumway, IL also received his promotion to Pending Black Belt the same day. Of special note is that he received this promotion from his instructor, Dwayne Beccue, who had just been promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt by a testing board consisting of 8th Degree Black Belt Grandmaster David Landers, 5th Degree Black Belt Master Kerry Bushue, and 5th Degree Black Belt Master Joseph Larison.