Three Port Hardy residents have qualified as third-degree black belts.
Bettina Knopp, Robert Wright and Ken Knopp travelled to Vancouver to participate in a karate seminar from July 2-5.
On July 5 at the end of the seminar, the three tested in front of Master Yaguchi and all passed to become third-degree black belts.
Sensei Ivan DeToro of Bushido Shotokan Karate-do says that “it’s a great achievement” and that Port Hardy is lucky to have these three highly qualified individuals.
DeToro also says that the three-all more than 50 years of age-were training consistently leading up the challenging exam.