Former Pittsburgh

Steeler and Fayette County resident Greg Lloyd knows a little about facing

incredible odds and intimidation from his NFL career. Now, his son, James,

6, is learning from his dad. James defeated a black belt from Tennessee

at the Junior World Cup in Smyrna recently, giving the young man a title

and some added confidence in his abilities.

James, a white

belt, has been studying and training in karate at the Oh Do Kwan School

in Fayetteville, where his father is also an instructor, since the age

of three. In the Junior World Cup, James faced six other fighters, all

the same age but of different skill levels. The matches lasted two rounds

of two minutes each and were scored by a panel of judges. In the end,

James was crowned the champion.

"Many

schools award belts based on time at the school or time studying,"

said school director Joaquim Bonilla. "Here, at Oh Do Kwan, belts

are awarded due to degree of ability and skill." This was the fifth

junior world cup title that a student from the school has won.

When facing

his opponent in the championship match, James was in awe of the black

belt, but Bonilla told James he only needed to want it more. "Belts

don't make the person," said Bonilla. "The person makes the

belt." After defeating his opponent, James had one final match against

the winner of the five year old group. This opponent was another white

belt and James showed a lot of control in the win.

James will

continue to train with his father, who is his instructor, compete in tournaments

and, as they say at Oh Do Kwan, "keep on banging."

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