Eli LaRue, Ten-Year-Old From Clifton Forge, Earns Black Belt In Karate

Eli LaRue earned his black belt in American free-style karate at the Malta Martial Arts Leadership Training Academy in Lexington, on Fri., Oct. 21.

Son of Mike LaRue, a physician assistant for Carilion Internal Medicine in Lexington, and Rebecca, his wife, Eli completed the two-hour test conducted by Jeremy Hipes and Ryan Payne, both third-degree black belt instructors.

Prior to testing his students, Hipes revealed to those in the audience that statistics show that only one out of 100 students who begin taking karate lessons attain the black belt level.

Mike and Rebecca’s daughter, Emma, seven; was on hand to watch her older brother receive his black belt, and Michael and Marilyn Franklin, Eli’s grandparents on his father’s side of the family, were in the audience, having driven from Ala. for the event.

Before being hired by Carilion Clinic Internal Medicine, Mike LaRue served as an employee of the Jackson River Family Practice in Low Moor for 15 years. Both Mike and Rebecca are residents of Clifton Forge.

Hipes administered the test for black belt at his dojo, located across the mall from Tractor Supply in Lexington. George and Dean Jenkins, Eli’s grandparents on his mother’s side of the family, were present to observe Eli, pass his test.

George and Dean reside in Clifton Forge, and the sound booth in The Historic Masonic Theatre is named in honor of George, the original drummer for The Virginia Opry that debuted in the theatre on Oct. 17, 1992.

George retired in 2013 from WestRock where he had been employed as a storekeeper.

Dean has retired too. She was an entrepreneur in Clifton Forge where she owned a business, It Is Paper.

George and Dean’s eldest daughter is married to a doctor. Jennifer’s husband is Dr. Kevin Broyles, an ER physician at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Kevin and Jennifer have two daughters, Isabelle, 15; and Amelia, 12.

The Karate facility in Lexington is geared toward offering classes for families and for adults.

Displayed on one wall of the dojo are the following words: self-control, respect, self-discipline, knowledge, focus, courage, intensity and honor. Each word or phrase represents a belt in the martial arts program.

During the black belt testing, Caleb Carpenter and his wife Kate were present to watch their son, Elisha, a blue belt who is 12, partner with Eli to enable him to execute the various martial arts techniques required during the testing session.

Eli LaRue from Clifton Forge demonstrated his karate techniques during the test that he passed to earn his black belt in American Freestyle Karate at age 10. (Photo by M. Ray Allen)

Elisha Carpenter, a blue belt from Clifton Forge, stands behind Eli LaRue to assist him as his testing partner. LaRue received his black belt at age 10. (Photo by M. Ray Allen)