Guyana Karate Council holds first Quarter Grading Exams

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:02 by GxMedia

The Guyana Karate College (GKC) on Sunday March 30,2013 held its first grading examinations for the year 2013 at its main dojo located at the Malteenoes Sports Club in ThomasLands in Georgetown.

The timing of the examinations coincided with the visit of 9th Degree Black Belt Shihan Frank Woon-a-Tai, who is visiting from Toronto, Canada where the headquarters of the world karate organization, the ‘International Karate Daigaku’ that he heads is located. His visit to Guyana is on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of karate in Guyana.

Seventy-two (72) students undertook their grading examinations on this occasion .

Spearheading the list of Karatekas successfully promoted were 9 year old Hannah Farinha, of Marian Academy, Kerry Ramkumar of Timehri,  Matthew Hurry, Antoine Herod and Bharat Jhiant all of whom achieved the rank of Shodan, or more commonly known as  first degree Black Belt. Following them from second kyu to first kyu (Brown Belt) were Khalid Adams of Marian Academy, Zane Low, Ashley Seelall and Kenrick Cheeks. 

Stefon Smith was outstanding and the only person to have skipped from 7kyu (Orange Belt) to 5 kyu (Blue Belt).

Promoted from third kyu (Brown Belt) to second kyu (Brown Belt) were Rachael Ramlal, Rebecca Ramlal, Mickelly Rahaman, Zackary Persaud,  Rajiv Lee, Ahren Singh all of Marian Academy and Arvin Seelall and Brad Reynolds.  

A number of Karatekas of the GKC are still to be graded as several of them are currently out of the jurisdiction of Guyana engaged in Easter Holiday travel, or otherwise engaged in the remote areas of the country. Arrangements are being put in place to make possible the undertaking of their grading examinations.     

After leaving Guyana, Master Frank Woon-a-Tai will be moving on to other Caribbean destinations under the purview of the International Karate Daigaku including Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincent.