His dedication inspires us all. Local Heroes: Melissa, a 3rd degree black belt & dedicated karateka, trains at the Sault Ste. Marie International Karate Daigaku, located at 54 Wellington St West.

Ava Gillfillan. Each type of martial art has its own belt-rating system. There are six belt colours in karate: white, orange, blue, yellow, green, brown and black.

Participants’ ages ranged from 10 to 75, Otis said. But it wasthe black belts — those who have mastered karate through years oftraining — who were in the majority.