Two receive advanced black belt promotions
Vernon. Two longtime students at Vernon Valley Karate Academy were promoted to advanced black belt ranks in the Okinawan Shorin-Ryu karate system during a Dec. 20 ceremony.
| 22 Jan 2026 | 01:42
From left, Jillian Vazquez, Sensei Tom Shull, Monica McGovern
Two students from the Vernon Valley Karate Academy were honored Dec. 20 with promotions to advanced levels of karate black belt.
Jillian Vazquez was promoted to the rank of rokudan, sixth-degree black belt, and Monica McGovern was promoted to godan, fifth-degree black belt. Both ranks are considered high-level instructor designations within the Okinawan Shorin-Ryu karate system and are recognized internationally.
Sensei Shull, an instructor at the Vernon Valley Karate Academy, said both students have played an important role in the school’s success.
“These two students have been a very important part of the school,” Shull said. “Both have dedicated more than 20 years to training, demonstrating the skill and determination required for these advanced karate ranks. Jillian and Monica are an indispensable part of our teaching staff.”
