50 students who are soldiers and police officers graduated with First-degree black belts in Hapkido today after completing 10 months of training.
The best students were Mereani Cakacaka, Joseva Vakatikotamata, Alipate Tuwai, Meciusela Nasaunivalu and Ilisama Loganimasi.
While speaking at the 19th Black Belt Graduation, Director Unarmed Combat Training Academy Grand Master, Captain Tevita Teu Korovou says the main aim of the Hapkido training is to give the police officers and soldiers an ability to use alternatives to their firearms and act with confidence to any situation.
The different types of training which were provided to the police officers and soldiers were weapon protection, military close combat "man to man" for special forces, military knife fighting for special forces, using of different non-lethal weapon, control grounding, immobilizing and searching an individual, tactical self-protection and special operational situation training.
Captain Korovou says there are a total of 2, 831 First degree black belt graduates to date which also includes students that have completed a second black belt degree to 9th black belt degree.
He says RFMF will be hosting its first-ever Oceania Mulimpia next year which will be from the 8th to 9th September where different countries from the Pacific Islands, Argentina, and the USA will participate in the tournament.
Captain Korovou also thanked families for their support.
President Jioji Konrote commended the soldiers and police officers for their hard work and also thanked their families for supporting them.
The RFMF Unarmed Combat Academy was established in 2007.
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