A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR GERMON MORINIERE-BEY, PH.D., OF COLUMBIA, FOR HER MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AS AN AFRICAN MARTIAL ARTS GRANDMASTER, INSTRUCTOR, AND AUTHOR, AND TO WELCOME HER TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOUSE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to salute Columbia's Germon Moriniere-Bey, Ph.D., for her many achievements as an African martial arts grandmaster, instructor, and author; and

Whereas, known affectionately by her students as "Mama G," the globally famed Dr. Moriniere-Bey is the founding elder of the R.I.C.H. program and has been a torchbearer in community service for over four decades; and

Whereas, this tenth-degree grandmaster and mother to countless youth and young adults has written about her experiences in her book You Can't Pound the Nail If You Can't Swing the Hammer; and

Whereas, presently, Dr. Moriniere-Bey is the only African martial arts instructor in the State, but African martial arts have taken Dr. Moriniere-Bey around the globe. As of this year, she has won more than 4,900 competitions in categories such as form, weapons, self defense, and fighting, including four world titles and two international gold medals at the World Games, and has earned the title Grand Matriarch; and

Whereas, today, she is one of only three instructors in the United States teaching African martial sciences, nomenclature she prefers over the more familiar "African martial arts"; and

Whereas, in her field, she is the only female recognized by her male colleagues as Askari, which means "enforcer" or "local soldier" in many East African countries. She developed what she teaches today, called the Akeru discipline sciences, based on the unique combat systems from various African civilizations; and

Whereas, proud to call her one of South Carolina's own, the House takes great pleasure in celebrating the many accomplishments of this outstanding Grand Matriarch of African martial arts. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Germon Moriniere-Bey, Ph.D., of Columbia, for her many achievements as an African martial arts grandmaster, instructor, and author, and welcome her to the South Carolina State House.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Germon Moriniere-Bey.

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