In 1988, Sensei Buzz Durkin led the American Uechi community with the promotion of Lisa Paley to Junior Black Belt.

Prior to this promotion, all junior students were held in a “holding pattern”, at the rank of red belt, until they were able to enter the adult program. Since Ms. Paley’s promotion, thousands of young students (under the age of sixteen - minimum age for adult black belt) have been promoted to this rank. As a result, the Uechi youth population has increased dramatically and benefited greatly.

In 1996, Sensei Durkin continued building the junior program with the promotion of six Junior  Black Belts (Liam Paul, Griffin Casey, Mark Saindon, Charbel Dahbour, Aram Dulgarian  and Matthew Saindon) to the rank of Level Two (or “Junior Nidan”). Hundreds of young students have followed in their footsteps.

In 1998, Matthew Saindon (age Fifteen) was the first to be promoted to Junior Sandan (third degree black belt). Since then, one hundred and twenty-nine have been promoted to that rank.

At the graduation on May 20th, 2007, history was once again created as JB Taleb (1991-2016) became the first to be promoted to Junior Yondan (fourth degree black belt).

At the graduation in 2012, Matthew Saindon was the first Junior Sandan ever to be promoted to the rank of Rokudan. In 2013 Dawson Shyne-Appignani became the second person to receive the rank of Junior Black Belt—Level Four (or “Junior Yondan”). Since then, the below people have been promoted to Junior Black Belt - Level Four.

To the day, the level of Junior Black Belt (Level Three) is still a rare and highly recognizable rank in the Uechiryu Butokukai(tm). A full list of promotees to rank of Level Three Junior Black Belt below.