2008 Woodie Awards
Grad student to be inducted into World Martial Arts Hall of Fame
Greg Elias
Issue date: 4/3/02 Section: Campus
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April 3, 2002 - When one thinks of hall of famers in any capacity, the image that comes to mind is one of retirees long absent from the field in which they were honored. Not often is an individual honored early in their life, but one University of Rhode Island student can lay claim to that rare achievement.
URI graduate student Silas Pinto, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and is currently studying to receive his Ph.D. in school psychology, will be inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame (WMAHOF) as Instructor of the Year in a ceremony this weekend.
Pinto has been practicing martial arts for 19 years, both formally and informally, is the founder of the Brazilian Cape Verdean Capoeira style and instructor of the URI Capoeira Team, as well as co-owner of New Wave Self Defense and co-founder of Future Impact Martial Arts. He holds black belts in Tae Kwon Doe, Open Space Fighting Kung Fu and Shaolin Kempo.
"I started in Cape Verde Islands, very informal," Pinot said. "You know, you watch a Bruce Lee movie and you go insane, and everybody wants to go outside and be Bruce. But then when I got to this country, 1990 was when I started my formal training.
"I used to watch and try to imitate people. In my country it was too expensive."
Pinot learned of his induction in January of this year, and is joining fellow nominee and New Wave Self Defense Instructor Carlos De La Cruz in receiving the honor. Martial artist and WMAHOF Executive Board member Prof. Richard Petronelli nominated both Pinot and De La Cruz, with Pinot receiving an additional nomination from De La Cruz.
"First, you're nominated by either a hall of famer or a high ranking person, like a master, and they review your application," Pinot said. "You have to send in a resume with your martial arts background, things of that sort, and then they decide whether or not you get inducted."
During the ceremony, a martial arts presentation will be made by a group of URI students including senior Lao Vang, and juniors Chiv Heng and Nandy Debarros.
URI graduate student Silas Pinto, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and is currently studying to receive his Ph.D. in school psychology, will be inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame (WMAHOF) as Instructor of the Year in a ceremony this weekend.
Pinto has been practicing martial arts for 19 years, both formally and informally, is the founder of the Brazilian Cape Verdean Capoeira style and instructor of the URI Capoeira Team, as well as co-owner of New Wave Self Defense and co-founder of Future Impact Martial Arts. He holds black belts in Tae Kwon Doe, Open Space Fighting Kung Fu and Shaolin Kempo.
"I started in Cape Verde Islands, very informal," Pinot said. "You know, you watch a Bruce Lee movie and you go insane, and everybody wants to go outside and be Bruce. But then when I got to this country, 1990 was when I started my formal training.
"I used to watch and try to imitate people. In my country it was too expensive."
Pinot learned of his induction in January of this year, and is joining fellow nominee and New Wave Self Defense Instructor Carlos De La Cruz in receiving the honor. Martial artist and WMAHOF Executive Board member Prof. Richard Petronelli nominated both Pinot and De La Cruz, with Pinot receiving an additional nomination from De La Cruz.
"First, you're nominated by either a hall of famer or a high ranking person, like a master, and they review your application," Pinot said. "You have to send in a resume with your martial arts background, things of that sort, and then they decide whether or not you get inducted."
During the ceremony, a martial arts presentation will be made by a group of URI students including senior Lao Vang, and juniors Chiv Heng and Nandy Debarros.