AfriKa CRY BLOOD

by Wayne Quintyne (Director/Head Instructor - Unified Martial Art Academy)

I cannot speak to the events immediately preceding the death of I’Akobi Maloney. Only those who were present at that time can say for certain what circumstances led to his unfortunate and disturbing demise. What I can say is that a life full of promise and potential has been lost to us - both as a community and as a people. Personally, I am still coming to grips with the news of I’Akobi’s passing and I am sure the same can be said for other students of the Unified Martial Art Academy to which I’Akobi just recently became a member.

As anyone visiting our Academy is aware, all prospective members undergo an interview process where we seek to establish the goals and motivations of the client and then marry them to the most suitable program for accomplishing those goals. What we do not tell the prospective candidate is that the interview also serves as a “weeding out” process, as not all prospects make a “good fit” for our institution.

I first met I’Akobi several years ago when he was a student of the Christ Church Foundation School. He was a member of the Shaolin & Samurai Techniques martial arts program which was being offered at the school and he was keen on participating in the upcoming 1999 Caribbean Martial Arts Olympics. Not only did he participate, but he was captain of his team and was trained to be an official for the event. He demonstrated at that young age discipline, leadership skills and a respect for authority that I admired.

It would be several years later that I would once again encounter this impressionable young man, when he called and inquired about enrollment to our Academy. He was still attending the Foundation School at the time and though he qualified for membership, financial constraints prevented him from enrolling. I would see him from time to time on the street and he would continually express an interest in getting back into martial arts training.

On March 14th 2008 I’Akobi called and scheduled an appointment to be re-interviewed. He said that he was now in a position to enroll at the Academy. I conducted the interview with him on March 22nd, 2008. During the interview I could not help but to be impressed with the character, honesty and intelligence of this young man. During this process I uncovered that the he recently returned from Trinidad where he had completed a degree in chemical engineering. He told me that he was currently working in St. Lucy which presented some challenges for him attending but he was nevertheless committed to resuming his martial arts training.

His focus was on holistic development as he wanted to regain the level of fitness he previously enjoyed at school while achieving mental and spiritual harmony. His time frame for achieving this goal was two years. He opted for our Capoeira program as it provided the cultural, physical and spiritual blend that he sought and emphasized self-development over competition or fighting skill. Because of its African origin he also found that it meshed well with his religious beliefs.

During his short time with us I witnessed an enthusiastic, light-hearted and determined individual. Respectful, disciplined and focused. No different in character than he was when I first met him ten or so years ago. Others may remember him differently, but that is the I’Akobi I will always remember. On behalf of the Unified Martial Art Academy, I wish to express condolences to his family and friends. Axé A’Ikobi Maloney – Gone Too Soon.

Unified Martial Art Academy

Tags: Capoeira, captain, Caribbean Martial Arts Olympics, discipline, foundation school, leadership, respect, Unified Martial Art Academy

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 9th, 2008 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Civil Actions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.