Over 100 students were successful when the Guyana Karate College (GKC) held its end of year grading examinations last Friday.
The examinations were conducted by senior instructor and GKC Vice Chairman Sensei Jeffrey Wong at the college’s main dojo, which is located at the Malteenoes Sports Club in Thomas Lands.
Wong, according to a press release from the GKC, indicated his satisfaction with the improvement among the students since the previous grading in August. He credited the improvement to the dedication of the instructors and the application of the students.
The students were from the GKC’s dojos at the Marian Academy, the Timehri Community Centre and the Malteenoes Sports Club. Wong highlighted the “high performances” of the students of the Marian Academy Dojo, to whom he has been giving his individual attention, along with the support of other instructors, including Phillip Ramalho, Claire Martelly, Aubrey Bettencourt and Jennifer Rameshwar.
According to the GKC, 30 tenth kyus (white belts) were successful at the examinations and promoted as were seven ninth kyus (white belts with yellow stripes), 19 eighth kyus (yellow belts), four seventh kyus (orange belts), nine sixth kyus (green belts), five fifth kyus (blue belts), ten fourth kyus (purple belts), nine third kyus (brown belts), seven second kyus (brown belts), and two first kyus (brown).
In addition, a number of the karatekas skipped ranks. They included Adrian Persaud, Ariel Miggins, Ronald Persaud, Jeremiah Poulis, Aiden Singh, Anish Sharma, Dillion Persaud, Jontierre Singh, Sookraj Singh, Joshua Zaman, Daniel Lowe, Scott Habibullah and Yogendra Sookdeo, who all skipped from 10th to eighth kyu.
Deron Austin, Jennifer Singh, Nicholas Darry and Devendra Ramsundar skipped from 10th to seventh kyu, Garrett Da Silva, Michael Alphonso, Andrew Ally and Alexander Ally skipped from ninth to seventh, while Brittney Bettencourt, Malika Persaud, Stefon Smith, Eon Bollers, Shaquille Dalton skipped from eighth to sixth, and Otho Harris from sixth to fourth kyu.
The GKC said headlining the grading examination was the successful elevation of Aftab Rahaman and Wayne Kendall from 1st kyu (brown belt) to shodan (black belt), while other brown belts, Khalid Adams, Anna Farinha, Britney Ramkissoon, and Dianand Dial, were all elevated after outstanding performances.
Meanwhile, the GKC added that the next grading examination is due in March of next year when Chairman of the World Karate Organisation, the International Karate Daigaku Master Frank Woon-a-Tai is expected to visit Guyana for the 45th anniversary of karate in Guyana.
The college also proposes to begin preparatory training and selection of karatekas for Team Guyana in the Caribbean Karate Championships, which are scheduled to be held in July 2013 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The GKC is working to maintain its outstanding record of extraordinary accomplishments at international tournaments, it said.
