History-making karate examination held in New Amsterdam
Senseis Khouri, Moriah and Ali are flanked by the newly promoted karatekas at the Trinity Street Dojo in New Amsterdam.
Senseis Khouri, Moriah and Ali are flanked by the newly promoted karatekas at the Trinity Street Dojo in New Amsterdam.

AFTER two decades, karatekas in Berbice finally had the opportunity of being graded in their hometown.

Last Sunday, head of the Guyana Karate College (GKC) and Chief Instructor of the Association, do Shotokan Karate (Guyana) which falls under the International Karate Daigaku (IKD), 6th Dan black belt Sensei Amir Khouri journeyed to New Amsterdam to conduct the examination.
Sensei Khouri was joined by local instructors – 5th Dan Clinton Moriah and 4th Dan Hazrat Ali on a panel that graded six karatekas at the beginners’ level.
Marlon Baird and Seshram Persaud excelled by skipping belts. They moved from the white belt level to the orange belt grade (7B Kyu), while one child attained the full rank of orange belt (7 Kyu) and three others gained green belts (6 Kyu).
The simple grading exercise was conducted in the presence of parents and guardians of the karatekas and saw the small group display a competitive level of sparring skills and kata (karate form).
Speaking with Chronicle Sport after the session Sensei Khouri said that the group missed the major grading exercise on August 1, which was conducted by Master Frank Woon-A-Tai in Georgetown and it is the objective of the IKD to ensure that all karatekas are graded.
“Though they are only six in number, they do play a major role in the development of karate-do and we see it necessary to ensure that they are all promoted to a higher rank,” he said, while adding: “Berbice is a remote community and the IKD wants to promote the disciplined art of fighting by encouraging youngsters to work at their own pace … karate is an ancient art but, we have developed modern strategies in conducting training sessions and practical examinations.”
Training sessions in New Amsterdam are conducted on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Trinity Street Dojo by Clinton Moriah between 16:30hrs and 18:00hrs, while Hazrat Ali conducts sessions on Tuesdays and on weekends at the Albion Community Centre during the same hours.
Interested persons can contact Clinton Moriah on cell phone 668-4297.
The next major grading exercise will be conducted at the YMCA Hall, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown by Master Frank Woon-A-Tai, during the month of November.

(Michael Khan)

 

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