65 yr old Master becomes 1st Guyanese 2-time GOAT Honoree, Tests, earns 10th Degree Black belt

Aug 06, 2026 Sports

(Kaieteur News) – On Saturday July 25th, 2026, 9am, in the Lynchburg Grand Hotel, Lynchburg, Virginia, USA, a small country in South America called Guyana, was under the spotlight of a Judging panel of 9 International Martial Arts Grandmasters, and the eyes of dozens of high ranking attendees, who were Honorees of the GOAT HONORS awards.

The MAXIDO Street-Defence system, namely its Founder, 65 yr old Guyanese-born Verney “MAX” Massiah, determinedly intended to show the World why the system has earned its place among the best, and established that, in the very way *Judo originated in JAPAN, *Muay Thai in Thailand, *Hapkido in Korea, *Kung Fu in CHINA, *Capoeira in BRAZIL. – Here we have MAXIDO which originated in Guyana.

65 yr old Master becomes 1st Guyanese 2-time GOAT Honoree, Tests, earns 10th Degree Black belt

Soke Max Massiah at the event.

The Judges and onlookers were overwhelmed by the devastatingly effective defence responses (each one done in UNDER 4 seconds) demonstrated by a “small” man in his mid-60s, moreso where the “Uke” (attacker/s) were not his students, but high-ranking attendees he was able to secure (less than an hour before the start time) to assist.

MAXIDO is a PURE SELF-DEFENSE system, designed to end an act of physical/weapon aggression by *Submission *Limb dislocation or *Bone breakage, in UNDER 4 seconds. Structured where *size, *weight, or *height of the aggressor becomes almost irrelevant. Where the MAXIDO practitioner always pleas for PEACE, is disciplined not to offend, but defend to disable, for personal survival. And that’s what the judges saw, which earned “Soke” (Teacher of teachers) Verney MAX Massiah a 1Oth Degree Black Belt Certificate, and the prestigious GOAT (Greatest of All Time) Award and GOAT Ring.

Soke Max Massiah doing a demonstration at the event.

The organisations event host, Grandmaster Lawrence Arthur, was impressed enough to invite the Guyanese to sit at the Head table during the Awards dinner and ceremony, and (again) lamented the fact he was from Guyana, South America.

The proud Guyanese’s abilities and respect in the International Martial Arts Community has seen several appointments of representation of International bodies, including *IIMALECT (International Institute for Martial Arts Law-Enforcement and Counter-Terrorism), *WISDA (World International Self-Defence Association) *International Director of WKU (World Karate Union) etc etc.

Kelly Leo, an 8th Dan Heavyweight Mixed Martial Arts champion with several Black Belts in a number of Martial Arts disciplines, and also one of the GOAT honorees, was one of the persons requested at short notice to be involved in the demonstrations. Leo noted that he was impressed at the effectiveness of the MAXIDO system and how he, a much larger in size man, was disposed of by Master Max Massiah. The 8th Dan said he was in awe as Master Massiah threw him around and subdued him, a man twice his size, with ease. The highly decorated Leo stated that he highly recommended Martial Arts Practitioners to tap into the MAXIDO system.

Soke Max Massiah’s accolade of certification distinguishing him as a 10th Dan Grand Master in his Martial Art.

Several other Masters present and some involved applauded the Guyanese Master and his work and the effectiveness of the defence art he presented.

Soke Massiah mentioned he wishes to offer to the survivors of the MV Barima (those who are capable and willing) a FREE training programme in MAXIDO Street-Defence. “It would be a travesty to have someone miraculously survive such an ordeal, only to be injured or lose their life from an act of Robbery, Bullyism, Unlawful assault, Road rage etc. I have to inquire of a list of names from the authorities etc so the identifiable persons can benefit from this offer”. Any of the Survivors or a relative can contact (592) 704 4252.

Soke Max has 54 years of study and practice of the Arts, which led to the creation of Maxido, which was launched in a Church in Brooklyn, USA, in 2017. Other founding members are Master Anthony Durjan Sr, and Rev. Dr. Kennard Davis.

In just 8 years, with perseverance, faith, belief, confidence, uniqueness, skill, commitment, and mostly Prayer, MAXIDO has highlighted a place on the World Map, it’s called Guyana.

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Black Belt, Dan Grand Master, goat, Martial Art, Soke Max Massiah

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