Ronald Alfred's life's ambition is to return Jab Jab Mas to its place of pre-eminence in this country's Carnival.
Alfred, 40, is the leader of the Original Jab Jab band, and his family has been leading the way in the art form for some 60 years.
"I believe that before my time is up on this earth the Jab Jab will come back strong. My goal is to see the Mas live on," Alfred said.
Earlier this week, the Sunday Guardian visited Alfred's Couva home to speak to him about the art form.
The name of the street where Alfred's house is located is testament to his legacy. Alfred lives on Whip Master Avenue.
The trophy cabinet in his living room filled with more than 100 trophies was further evidence of the family's legacy.
"I always remember those who went before," Alfred said.
Alfred is a third generation Jab Jab. His grandfather Alfred Bachu was the king of Diego Martin and his father, Winston Alfred, was the king of Central.
After his father was severely injured by other Jab Jabs in a surprise attack, Alfred and his brother took over the band.
"He had some altercation with other Jab Jabs and they pelt him down with big stones.
"When he went Carapichaima to collect an award they challenged him but they could not beat him with the whip so about 12 to 15 of them took big stones and iron, all kind of thing and they pelt him up and they buss him up. He got a blood clot in his brain," Alfred said.
"When we came back from a performance at Queen's Hall in Port-of-Spain we saw him on the ground.
"He played a year or two after that but his body was not functioning properly. My brother and I then took over the band," he said.
Alfred's father suffered a stroke and eventually passed away about four years ago, he said.
The cremation site was packed to capacity to say goodbye to the "icon", Alfred said.
Alfred said back in the day, Jab Jab Mas was popular.
"In those days you go Princes Town you see real Jab Jab, you go Talparo you see real Jab Jab, Rio Claro you could not leave the village unless you bounce up a band and is real blows.
"As the time went by now you are seeing less and less, it has started dying out," Alfred said.
Alfred and his family, however, are trying to get interest back into the Jab Jab Mas.
So far, some 60 people will be playing in the family's band this year.
Alfred said his wife, Shalima Buckreedee-Alfred, is the "heart of the band".
"Without her we will not be able to make it," he said.
Buckreedee-Alfred sews the costumes for the entire band.
Buckreedee-Alfred was the first woman to ever play Jab Jab in this country.
The Jab Jab’s costume is made of satin and silk and embellished with mirrors and bells.
The name of this mas is derived from the French patois term “diable diable” translated "devil devil".
But what is the Jab Jab?
For one, many people tend to confuse the "pretty devil" with the Jab Molassie or the "blue devil", Alfred said.
"Jab Jab is a whip fighting thing," he explained.
Alfred said his family's involvement in the art form stemmed from Kali worship.
"People say we deal with the devil but it is not so. I am the most peaceful man in the village," Alfred said.
Preparation for being a Jab Jab is a spiritual, physical and mental process, he said.
"You have to prepare yourself. Forty days before Carnival we start fasting and spiritual preparation. You have to prepare yourself. When you bathe with your bush Carnival Sunday night you set yourself for war," Alfred said.
"It is a preparation for battle. Spiritually, physically and mentally you have to get ready. That is how I learn it and that is how our band continues playing it," he said.
"We are the hardest hitters in the game. Is real lash, if you can't take lash then don't play the game. That is the rule," Alfred said.
After the bush bath on Carnival Sunday the men are stripped bareback and struck with the whip.
Alfred said the lash of the whip is made from the "Lash plant."
"We use a plant and we beat it and get the fibre from it. You beat, you fibre, you dry it, you plait it back in your whip and that same plant lash would cut you so bad that you would not believe it is a plant doing that," Alfred said.
Alfred's children also form an integral part of the band.
Ronaldo Alfred, 19, can crack two whips at a time using both of his hands. It was definitely a sight to behold.
Renella Alfred, 14, and Revaldo, 11, both cracked their whips with ease and showed various techniques at the family's training ground opposite their home during the Sunday Guardian's visit.
It is at this site that the "Jab Jab" hospital is located. The "Jab Jab hospital" is where various concoctions that are made from the plants in the garden are stored to heal the injuries that are sustained during the whip fights.
As the family trained, the crack of whips sounding like gunshots echoed through the village.
Alfred's aim of spreading the word about the Jab Jab saw him being visited by television personality Anthony Bourdain during his time in this country recently.