The Black Hawk Martial Arts Management Network has a significant lead according to unconfirmed result after the first day in the Harpy Eagles Marshal Arts Academy’s anniversary two-day competition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The level of competition was described as high by United States’ Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association (FSKA) coach, Randall Sanders who is officiating in the tournament.
Sanders who led his team to the FSKA world championships two years ago said that he is impressed by the talent he has seen so far in the competition. Sanders said that he has a good eye for talent and is pleased with what he saw but feels that the talent needs to be refined.
“They have tremendous speed and agility and the way they are able to move is phenomenal. If their talent is refined, they can compete at the world level”, he said. He said that specific attention has to be paid to punching skills. “They need to make their punches straight and clean”, he said.
The competition which began yesterday saw the Black Hawks’ Garfield Newton winning the advan-ced kumite heavyweight division, coming out on top of the Harpy’s Eagle Annand Mahadeo who placed second. For the kumite light heavy weight category the Harpy Eagles dominated with Bryan Hassell and Trevor Smith placing first and second respectively.
For the Kumite junior advanced level the Black Hawks again excelled with Sherwin Newton and Axel Marks securing the second place positions for the team. The Blacks Hawks party continued with a clean sweep in the Kumite beginner’s level. Yannick Nurse took the gold while Hubert Nieuenkirk won the silver and Roy Bishop the bronze for the team
The day also featured Kata displays which saw Kynday Coleridge winning the gold in the 18-34 begginners level for the Black Hawks. Terry Slowe of the Harpy Eagles was second. In the 16-18 age group Black Hawks took the gold and silver with Christopher Ray and Roy Bishop coming in first and second respectively.
Sanders believes there is a lot of potential in Guyana but says that an organization must be formed that brings together all of the Marshal Artistes in the country. “You cannot have divisions if the sport is to develop”, he said. He recommended that a standard set of rules be created and consistent national competitions be held so that the best from all groups could be selected to represent Guyana.
The American coach came to Guyana through his association with President of Harpy Eagles Troy Bobb who he has been working with after recognizing his talent in an international competition. Sanders came to Guyana for a 12 day stint for training, grading and the competition.
The other club in the local competition is the Diamond Shotokan club. Action continues today at the sports hall with a training seminar in sword sparring in the morning and competition in the Weapons Kata, team sparring and self defence categories.
