THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409090317
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISSIE TAYLOR, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
It's not terribly unusual for a 13-year-old to have a black belt, but for Suffolk's Adam Burton, it was a real ordeal.
His father, Dr. John Burton, likened it to earning his dentist's degree because it took patience and persistence. Adam has those, but he had to overcome a few physical factors and demonstrate a spirit that would make Job weep with envy.
Burton started taking karate at Newman Perry's Karate Studio in Suffolk when he was 7. And he was studying Shorin-Ryu, which is the oldest kind of karate.
After five years, he was ready to test for his black belt, but the school closed. Although Burton had completed a majority of his work, it looked as though he might have to start all over again.
However, he began traveling to Hampton to train under Frank Hargrove, an eighth-degree black belt. And one weekend in March, Burton went through a grueling eight-hour physical test in Virginia Beach.
``It was extremely cold that weekend, and they had those kids up at 3 in the morning and in the ocean water,'' Dr. Burton recalled.
Young Burton passed the test, but Hargrove decided that the youngster needed to take a spirit examination, and it was scheduled for the last weekend in May. Just before that exam, he broke his ankle playing baseball and the test that took several hours had to be postponed for two months.
Finally in July, Burton leaped the final hurdle and Hargrove signed the certificate. But after all that, he decided to sit out of karate competition for a while.
``He's quiet and not real aggressive,'' his father said. ``He's definitely not about fighting.
``But he set his goal (for a black belt) and stuck with it until he achieved it.''
The son was matter of fact about the experience.
``I thought I had done it, but not yet to the top notch,'' Burton said. ``So I kept going to achieve what I wanted until I got it.''
An eighth-grader at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, he also plays basketball, tennis and is a good runner - in spite of the broken ankle. Burton has received the presidential fitness award eight times.
``Karate helps me condition and get stronger arms for shooting (baskets) and swinging a tennis racket,'' he said. ``It also helped me (mentally) so I can try to be a top notch athlete.''
If patience and persistence are good indicators, Burton will be successful in any endeavor. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Adam Burton splits a piece of wood held by his father, John Burton,
during a practice session in their Azalea Court backyard.
by CNB