Minister for Health and Sports Mark Scotland opened the new Purple Dragon Martial Arts headquarters on Saturday in the Mirco Centre, welcoming hundreds of supporters and cutting the ribbon with a traditional Japanese sword.

The doors opened at 10am at the new “dojo” – a school for training in such Japanese arts of self-defense as judo and karate – on the upper level of the North Sound Way centre, admitting throngs of visitors, including families and children of all ages, well-wishers and the merely curious.

The brief 11am ceremony officially unveiled the new 4,500 square foot facility, which includes a pro shop, offering equipment, clothing and literature; a work room with desks and computer work stations for students completing school assignments while at the dojo; expanded changing rooms; and an enormous purple-carpeted function room, fitted with dividers to enable separate and simultaneous lessons.

The celebration, which superceded all classes on Saturday, extended until 2:30 with awards, speeches, demonstrations and fights.

Started 42 years ago in Trinidad – “under a breadfruit tree”, according to the literature – by Professor Don Jacob, Purple Dragon has grown to encompass 11 countries. The first Cayman Islands dojo opened in 1990, in the World Gym building on Lawrence Boulevard, led by Sensei Geddes Hislop, curator of terrestrial exhibits and education programmes at the Cayman Turtle Farm

He is assisted by fellow 4th-level black belt Sensei Floyd Baptiste, in charge of day-to-day operations, full-time instructor Sensei Cindy Allison and Sensei Karen Baptiste, overseeing the dojo’s 150 active members, with classes three times each week, open to all ages starting from 4 years old.

“I see a number of children and adults here this morning,” Mr Scotland said on Saturday, pointing to the membership of his own 4-year-old son, “and that is the beauty of martial arts. It is for young and old and, as Minister for Health and Sports, I can say martial arts is good for a healthy mind, a healthy body, good physical activity and generates self-confidence.

”It is not always used to fight, and Sensei Floyd and Sensei Geddes have been involved for many years here and are very much involved with the parents. I offer my congratulations,” he said.

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