MMAA holds spring belt testing and promotion ceremony
May 8, 2024
From Modern Martial Arts Academy
Shown above, front row, left to right, are Assistant Instructor Max Akers, Head Instructor Ernest Freeman, Little Dragons Instructor Faith James, and Assistant Instructor Ben Hamblett; second row, left to right, are Reese Newman, Lucious Richardson, Elizabeth Buntin, Cole Raney, Carson Driskill, Reef McIntyre, and Atlas Sack; back row, left to right, are Billy Updike, Nik Baliakoff, Preston Driskill, Brayden Jack, Jeremiah Hamblett, Noah Driskill, James Updike, and Nathaniel Hamblett.
Students from the Modern Martial Arts Academy of Cassville recently participated in the annual spring belt testing and promotion ceremony. Individuals were tested on different aspects of the martial arts and evaluated by head instructor, Ernest Freeman. It was a extra special day for three individuals from Cassville that tested for various black belt levels. Preston and Noah Driskill, sons of Mike and Amy Driskill of Cassville, endured over eight hours of testing over five consecutive nights culminating with them both receiving their 1st Degree Junior Black Belt. Also receiving new black belt distinction was Faith James, who received her 2nd Degree Black Belt.
"A lifetime of hard work pays off," says Noah Driskill, who has been taking martial arts lessons for over ten years.
"It feels awesome to be a black belt because others will be challenging me to try to take me down (get the better of me in sparring) and brag that they beat a black belt," says Preston Driskill, who is embracing the new adventures of being a black belt leader in the martial arts school.
Also receiving new belt ranks are the following individuals and the ranks they attained:
Billy Updike - Green Belt
James Updike - Green Belt
Cole Raney - Green Belt
Lucious Richardson - Green Belt
Brayden Jack - High Green Belt
Nik Beliakoff - High Green Belt
Atlas Sack - High Green Belt
Reece Newman - Blue Belt
Reef McIntyre - High Blue Belt
Nathaniel Hamblett - Purple Belt
Jeremiah Hamblett - Purple Belt
Elizabeth Buntin - High Purple Belt
Carson Driskill - Red Belt
"All of the students did extremely well," says Ernest Freeman, head instructor and 8th Degree Black Belt. "I'm especially proud of Noah and Preston for grinding through night after night of intense physical and mental testing to achieve their black belt. It is an accomplishment that most people will only dream about."
Modern Martial Arts Academy, formerly the RWTB Family Martial Arts Center, has taught martial arts in Cassville since 2001 and has produced over 30 black belts in that time. MMAA is an official Carlos Machado Jiu Jitsu Association school teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, and Taijutsu (a blanket term similar to Karate that means a system or style of hand to hand combat involving realistic body movement). They are located at 601 Main St. in Cassville, just one block off the historical downtown square. For more information about class times and the different programs they offer, you can reach them at 417-847-1415 or on Facebook.
"A lifetime of hard work pays off," says Noah Driskill, who has been taking martial arts lessons for over ten years.
"It feels awesome to be a black belt because others will be challenging me to try to take me down (get the better of me in sparring) and brag that they beat a black belt," says Preston Driskill, who is embracing the new adventures of being a black belt leader in the martial arts school.
Also receiving new belt ranks are the following individuals and the ranks they attained:
Billy Updike - Green Belt
James Updike - Green Belt
Cole Raney - Green Belt
Lucious Richardson - Green Belt
Brayden Jack - High Green Belt
Nik Beliakoff - High Green Belt
Atlas Sack - High Green Belt
Reece Newman - Blue Belt
Reef McIntyre - High Blue Belt
Nathaniel Hamblett - Purple Belt
Jeremiah Hamblett - Purple Belt
Elizabeth Buntin - High Purple Belt
Carson Driskill - Red Belt
"All of the students did extremely well," says Ernest Freeman, head instructor and 8th Degree Black Belt. "I'm especially proud of Noah and Preston for grinding through night after night of intense physical and mental testing to achieve their black belt. It is an accomplishment that most people will only dream about."
Modern Martial Arts Academy, formerly the RWTB Family Martial Arts Center, has taught martial arts in Cassville since 2001 and has produced over 30 black belts in that time. MMAA is an official Carlos Machado Jiu Jitsu Association school teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, and Taijutsu (a blanket term similar to Karate that means a system or style of hand to hand combat involving realistic body movement). They are located at 601 Main St. in Cassville, just one block off the historical downtown square. For more information about class times and the different programs they offer, you can reach them at 417-847-1415 or on Facebook.
