By Rawle Toney

The Guyana Wado-Ryu Karate Association added an expansion to its  organization after officially opening a school at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo on Sunday.

Sensei Winston Dunbar, who is a world renowned fifth Dan Black Belt, along with the association’s president, Darren Nurse, together officially declared the dojo (academy) open and said they were happy to see growth in the sport.

Students of the newly-formed Tuschen dojo show their readiness to help move the sport forward. (Clairmonte Marcus photo)

Nurse, who is a  first Dan Black Belt, said that he was overwhelmed at having the sport expand outside of Georgetown and, based on what he has seen he was optimistic that it will grow as the years go by.
He made reference to the dojo which was opened a few years ago at Wales but which suffered from a lack of interest. “Looking at the support shown by the parents of the students at this dojo, I think we will definitely be seeing growth. They are showing a great amount of enthusiasm and that is what the sport needs,” said Nurse.

Dunbar told the gathering at the opening that since his weekly visits to the community  he has seen vast improvements in a few of the students.
“I hope that the students here who are showing great amount of passion for Wado-Ryu Karate can spread the word to their colleagues at school and around the neighborhood and that way it will certainly grow, ” he opined.

Some 15 students are presently enrolled at the dojo and according to Carwyn Holland, who practices that form of martial arts, he was happy to play a part in having the sport grow especially in his community. Person’s who are interested in joining the dojo will be required to pay a registration fee of $2000 dollars and a monthly fee of $1000 dollars. But according to Dunbar the registration fee is presently being wavered to encourage more persons to join. Classes are held every Wednesday and Saturdays.