Barrera earns school’s first black belt

Fernandina Dojo, which opened its doors in 2019, has its first black belt.

Santiago Barrera, an 18-year-old student at Yulee High School, has trained in every martial art offered at the school and is part of the competition team. He has traveled across the U.S. to various competitions, representing his community well by garnering a medal at almost every tournament he has attended.

“He is Fernandina Dojo’s first black belt, but most certainly will not be its last,” Sensei Sean Watkins said. “Now, he will be helping others pave their ways to becoming black belts.”

Barrera started his martial arts training more than four years ago, when Fernandina Dojo opened.

“Over the years, he has developed from a shy and awkward teenager into a confident young man,” Watkins said.

To qualify for testing, students must achieve the rank of brown belt with a black stripe (first kyu). After reaching that rank, there is a minimum waiting period of six months to be eligible to take the first-degree black belt test (shodan).  After being recommended, students must travel to the annual Instructors Training Course in West Virginia.

“This course is intense, as it includes over 10 hours of training from Friday evening to Sunday morning,” Watkins said. “A typical schedule would be two hours of training on Friday evening, six hours on Saturday and three on Sunday. Although there is a physical exam on Saturday evening, you are being tested all weekend by various senior instructors from across the U.S.”

Barrera took a grueling physical exam that required demonstration and mastery of nine forms/patterns (kata). The test also includes sparring (fighting) and various self-defense scenarios, including being attacked with chokes and grabs or by someone with a knife, club or gun.

“Not only was he performing karate, he had to demonstrate proficiency in aikido, judo and jujutsu,” Watkins said.

The exam culminates in a board-breaking demonstration. Barrera chose to use a jumping front kick and elbow strike (through three boards), a spinning back kick (through three boards), a stepping side kick (through three boards) and a hammer fist through a one-inch thick slab on concrete.

His examination board included 15 of the highest ranking black belts from across the U.S. who are part of USA Martial Arts Federation, an organization celebrating its 50th year.

“They resoundingly agreed that he made his school and me proud by his performance, dedication and great spirit,” Watkins said.

Dojo Fernandina will host its fourth annual Friendship Cup on March 25 and the second  annual Seaside Karate Classic in the fall.

The school hosted its inaugural Fernandina Friendship Cup in 2020. This event is a small in-house karate tournament that helps expose students to the sport of karate, according to Watkins.

The competitive team formed in 2021, and the small team captured several medals in Miami. Two members competed in the Garden State Championships in New Jersey a year later. A five-person team brought home 14 medals from the USA Open and Junior International Cup in Las Vegas in 2022.

“We hosted the first traditional karate tournament, Seaside Karate Classic, in the winter,” Watkins said. “There were 225 athletes from over 12 states as well as members of the board of directors of USA Karate (the Olympic organization for sport karate).”

Dojo Fernandina is located in the Amelia Plaza Shopping Center. Call 310-6673 for information.