Seventy-six karatekas promoted

Seventy-six karatekas graduated recently when the Guyana Karate Collage (GKC) held its annual mid-year grading examination at the Malteenoes Sports Club dojo in Thomas Lands.

This examination  was judged by Chairman and Chief Instructor of the International Karate Daigaku, Master Frank Woon-A-Tai, M.S., a 9th degree black belt holder. Headlining the grading at this event was Aubrey Bettencourt, a senior karateka, who was promoted from a second degree (Nidan) black belt ranking to a third degree (Sandan) ranking; Tashana Wong, Kenny Wong and Tenecia Plowell who were elevated from first degree (Shodan) black belt rankings to second degree (Nidan) rankings, and Tabita Goolsarran and Alexander Hohenkirk who ascended from first kyu (brown belt) to first degree (Shodan) black belt ranking.

Students displaying their certificates after the examination concluded.

Additionally, twenty-one 10th kyu ranked karatekas (white belt)  were promoted to 8th kyu (yellow belt), while  five 9th kyu (white with yellow stripe) were elevated to 8th kyu (yellow belt), four 7th kyu (orange belt) to 6th kyu (green belt), six 6th kyu (green belt) to 5th kyu (blue belt), thirteen 5th kyu (blue belt) to 4th kyu (purple belt), nine 4th kyu (purple belt) to 3rd kyu (brown belt) and seven 3rd kyu (brown belt) to  2nd kyu (brown belt).

Climaxing the grading exercise were  outstanding performances by Kerry Ramkumar and Bharat Jhiant of the Timehri Dojo, both of whom showed considerable proficiency and flair in the execution of their katas and kihon and were skipped from 3rd kyu (brown belts) to 1 kyu (brown belts). Other notable performances were recorded by Daniel Jailall, Hannah Farinha, Brittney Ramkissoon, Rachel Ramlal and Rebecca Ramlal.

Senior Instructor and Vice-Chairman of the GKC, Sensei Jeffrey Wong, a 6th degree black belt, indicated his satisfaction at the continued high level of performance by his students. However, he emphasized  that this was not the time for the students to become complacent as a consequence of their consistent successes.

He stated that it was his belief that karatekas from other countries would be stepping up their game to catch up with the GKC or even to try  surpassing  the level set by the college when they meet again next year in St. Vincent at the Caribbean Karate Champion-ships and in 2015 in Venezuela at the next World Karate Championships.

The GKC was buoyed by their recent and unparalleled success at the World Shotokan Karate Tournament  in July this year in Toronto, Canada, where they copped second place securing 24 gold, 4 silver and 17 bronze medals, defeating many other karate powerhouses from across the globe.