Competitor Spotlight

Spotlight Archive (By Last Name)

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Jerman Smith

Competitor:               Jerman (“Jeremy”) Smith

Rank:                         1st Degree Black Belt

Age:                          21 Years Old

Team:                        Team Illuzion

Base Style:                 Shorin Ryu

School:                     Bly’s Martial Arts Academy, Jacksonville, AR

2006 AKA Titles:       Lt Wt Sparring

Jerman Smith started Martial Arts at Bly’s Martial Arts Academy when he was just 9 year old.  Studying Shorin-Ryu, after 9 long years Jeremy would learn what it meant to earn a black belt.  Through sure grit and determination, he stuck with it as he watched students come and go.

 After his 18th Birthday, Jeremy was more than ready for his chance to take his black belt test.  After a 5 hour ordeal the board, impressed by his perseverance and “never surrender” attitude, unanimously announced that he would be promoted to the rank of First Degree Black Belt.  Working hard to achieve a goal is a lesson Jeremy would take to heart as he set his sights on a national title.

 His first year as a black belt competitor was a coming of age experience for Jeremy. While he often won,  he struggled with consistency.  In his own words in Eureka Springs in 2005 after placing second, “I don’t know.  It is just, sometimes it all works and sometimes...I just don’t know.  Things happen like they do today and I get kicked in the head.”

 Well, Jeremy must have figured it out because, in 2006, he terrorized sparring competitors in both the Northern and the Southern region with his iron-will and determination to be number one.  So effective was he in locking up his light- weight title, that late in the season he took a stab at adding the heavy-weight title as well!  Nearly succeeding, Jeremy fell just a few points short of combining the Southern Region 18-34 Mens’ Sparring Titles.

 When asked about his plans for this year, Jeremy told me recently, “Well, I’m going to win.  I mean what else is there to do?  Besides, I want to make Sensei proud, you know?”

 One thing is for certain - Whether Jeremy repeats as National Champion this year or not, like all our current and former champions, Jeremy will be a winner as he always gives his best and strives for excellence.