BACK TO SCHOOL
By Alicia Resnik
“Hai!”
PHOTOS BY LANKA BULL
“Competitions have taught me a lot. I’ve
seen the level of martial arts outside of
Bermuda. It helped me improve my skills
greatly,” says Jasmyn Renfroe. At 18 years
old, Jasmyn not only has a black belt in
Shotokan Karate, she was Valedictorian of
her graduating class.
J
asmyn began studying karate when she was 12
years old, at the Bermuda Shotokan Karate
Do. “My older brother was doing it for about a
year and then my little brother joined so my parents
said I may as well try it out too.” Jasmyn trains with
Sensei Princeton Bailey and Sensei Jerry Bailey.
Jasmyn did so well at the sport she skipped a belt. “I
skipped the purple belt or I’d have been at the same
rank as my little brother.” At 16 Jasmyn won her first
title - Black Belt Women’s Grand Champion Tourna-
ment in forms and weapons. She was competing as
a brown belt in a division that was above both her
age and range.
In 2013 Jasmyn competed in the black belt divi-
sion at the World Cup Open Martial Arts Champi-
onship in Virginia. She placed 1st in weapons and
2nd in form. In 2014 she competed again in this
championship – winning 2nd place in weapons and
3rd place in form. In 2014 Jasmyn won the Out-
standing Teen Award in the female sports category.
50
Jasmyn
did so
well
at the
sport she
skipped a
belt.