Several members of Club Karate traveled to Powder Springs (outside of Atlanta) Georgia to participate in black belt testing and seminars the weekend of April 19-20. Chuck Norris is the founder of the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF) which is the governing body of Chun Kuk Do (CKD). The United States is divided into regions and test boards that oversee the promoting of CKD. The tests are held twice a year in different cities.

[caption id="attachment_11634" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Sports-Club-Karate-6-13.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-11634" alt="Mike Mobely is in the middle row, second from right, and Veronica McLeod is third from left. Rome Wallace is in the back row, far right.  Instructor Chuck Elias is in the front row, third from left." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Sports-Club-Karate-6-13-300x174.jpg" width="300" height="174" /></a> Mike Mobely is in the middle row, second from right, and Veronica McLeod is third from left. Rome Wallace is in the back row, far right. Instructor Chuck Elias is in the front row, third from left.[/caption]

Club Karate member David Spears earned his first degree black belt at the event. The 45 year old has been actively training for the past six years. David enjoys working out with his 71-year-old father who is also a red belt at Club Karate. David has been married 23 years has two 4-year-old boys. His wife Katrina works at the Child Development Center. Besides karate, David is active with the Masons for the last eight years and has been a Boy Scout leader for the past nine years. He also enjoys motorcycling and firearms.

Mike Mobley earned his second degree black belt. The 55 year old is a deputy sheriff and has been with the department for 19 years. He is currently with the juvenile program. He served 15 years in the Marine Corps and retired as a staff sergeant. He has been married 34 years to Cindy, who is also a first degree black belt. They have three children and nine grandchildren. Besides karate he enjoys motorcycle riding, beekeeping and woodworking.

Also earning her second degree black belt is Veronica McLeod. She is a Beaufort High School 9th grade Honors Program student. The 14 year old has been training nine years. She is in Beaufort because her father is in the Navy stationed here.  She has three younger sisters. Her other interest include playing in the school band and also Beaufort Youth Orchestra.

New second degree Rome Wallace is 14 years old and has been taking karate for nine years. Born in Beaufort, he is in the eighth grade at Lady’s Island Middle School where he maintains As and Bs. He has two brothers and is very active in sports including baseball, basketball and dance (both modern and ballet). His pastimes are making  bows and arrows, sketching and sculptures.
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