More than 70 martial artists from across North and South Carolina and Maine attended the annual Shihan Barry Huneycutt and Hanshi Lemuel Stroud Memorial Seminar Saturday at Lenoir Community College. The seminar was hosted by Stroud’s School of Martial Arts in Kinston and Charles June Karate Institute of Greenville.

The day-long event featured 15 training sessions in different styles of karate, jujitsu, tai chi, and weapons. “The event brings some amazing martial artists together to train in different areas,” said Richy Huneycutt, coordinator of this year’s event. “It’s always a great day to see old and new friends and to share our expertise with each other.”

Many of those in attendance trained with Lemuel Stroud over the years. The event is done in his memory and in the memory of one of his students and instructors, Barry Huneycutt. “Both gentlemen had such an impact on so many people through the martial arts,” Huneycutt said. “They are both missed very much.”

Children’s classes were held in the areas of weapons and jujitsu. “It’s important to teach our younger students as they will be the ones that will take our places one day,” Huneycutt said. “I tell my students all the time that these are their good old days and that’s an awesome responsibility for us.” 

Instructors included Huneycutt, Tim Croom, Michael Riddick, of Stroud School of Martial Arts, Fleeta Griffin, Jeffrey Gay, Bill Brown, Charles June, Connor Gay of Charles June of Karate Institute, Tim Cunningham of Cunningham’s Isshinryu Karate Dojo., Bill Harmon of Carolina Martial Arts in Durham, LD Tomlinson and Christina Pernell of Hagakure Dojo in Black Creek, and Garrison Hall of South Carolina. Hanshi Kevin Gurganus of Carolina Martial Arts was the featured instructor. Special guest Hanshi Dennis Gordon of Maine also attended.

Next year’s annual seminar will be held at Charles June of Karate Institute,” Huneycutt said. “No matter how long we have been training, we all think of ourselves as students and lifelong learners.”