From early on I was an assistant instructor and ran class if the other instructors did not make it that day. I became ready for my black belt. However at that time two things needed to happen to obtain black belt. One our North American Uechi-Ryu Karate Association at that time did not allow submission to black belt below the age of 18 and even if my petition was accepted all the testing would need approval in Okinawa.

Waiting until several students were ready for the black belt exam I was granted special permission a year earlier than normal becoming the youngest person at the age of 17 ranked to black belt in Uechi Ryu in Texas.