This year’s Caribbean Karate Championships gold medallist Leah Shariff was promoted from Shodan to Nidan when the third and final grading exam concluded on Sunday at the YMCA Hall at Thomas Lands.
The 12-year-old performed creditably at her grading exam, showcasing excellent form during her demonstration of various karate fighting styles and combinations. She has now graduated from the first to the second degree black belt. “I was a bit nervous during my performance, but I thought it was a good performance,” Shariff told Stabroek Sport yesterday in a telephone interview.
Shariff started her career in karate at the tender age of six and has amassed a number of gold medals at prestigious events such as the 2008 International World Cup in Canada where she competed in the 8-9 age category, the 2009 Caribbean Championships in St Lucia where she competed in the 10-11 age category, the 2010 Pan American Championships in Guyana where she also competed in the 10-11 age category and this year’s Caribbean Championships as well.
The talented young lady gave a very mature answer when this newspaper asked her why she participates in such a sport. She said, “Besides helping me to be more disciplined and focused, it will also help with my career that I want to go into and that’s being a detective.”
Shariff, who attends Marian Academy and trains for the YMCA Karate Club under Sensei Natalie Gibson and Amir Khouri, asserted that more children should get involved in the sport and she would like to reach the 10th Dan – the highest level in karate – which would give her the title of ‘Master’ though she admitted that that might take some time. With the last exam over, Shariff will now train for the Karate World Cup and the International Karate Championships next year where she plans to win gold. Shariff extended gratitude to all the people who have helped in her success: her parents, Roger Crune, Patrick Cheeks, Lance Wilkie and both of her Sensei.
