BIRTHDAY boy Chris Evans of Raglan, who turned 58 on Thursday 27th November, was awarded his Shodan grade Black belt in Aikido this week.

Chris, who has been a member of Shodokan Wales for the past seven years, and has visited Japan twice in the course of his training, received his belt and certifi- cate this week from Japan having been awarded it by Sensei Tetsuro Nariyama 9th Dan, senior instructor

and director of the Shodokan International Federation in Osaka.

Chris Evans' son is also a martial artist and holds a black belt in Jujutsu.

The presentation on Monday evening in Chris' local club, Shodokan Wales at the Monmouth Leisure Centre, was made by Sensei Bob Forrest-Webb, 8th dan, who this year celebrated his 70th year in the martial arts and is one of very few Europeans to have attained this rank.