SEVENTY-NINE (79) students were last Saturday successful when the Japan Karate Association/World Federation (JKA/WF)/Guyana held its first grading exercise for this year at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).
The Grading was conducted by local Chief Instructor – Sensei Christopher Chaves (4th Dan), with assistance from Sensei Marvin Singh (2nd Dan) and other senior members.
“Pleased” and “improvements” were amongst the terms expressed by the examiner as he recollected the performance at the previous Grading held last November, with students coming from JKA/WF Guyana’s headquarters dojo in the National Park, as well as dojos in Canje and Port Mourant, Berbice.
Chaves was authorised at short notice to conduct the grading exercise after the flight was cancelled for Examiner and Operating Director of JKA/WF America 6th Dan, Class A Instructor and Judge and Class B Examiner Sensei Yasuaki Nagatomo, from JKA/WF America’s HQ in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.   
Some 80-odd parents and spectators were in attendance and some were even overheard expressing satisfaction with the improvements they saw in their child’s performance and the manner in which the grading was conducted.
At the end of the exam, Sensei Chaves urged the students to continue to train hard and announced that the next grading exercise will be conducted in August of this year by Sensei Nagatomo.
Sensei Chaves thanked Sensei Marvin Singh and the other senior members who assisted in the exercise; the National Sports Commission, parents and supporters and Mr Omeshwar Srikishun, Youth Development Officer of Region 6, who facilitated the transportation of students from Berbice.
Promotions were as follows:  
White – 1st Yellow Belt:  4 students from 10 Kyu to 9 Kyu.
4 students from 10 Kyu to 9B Kyu.
White – 2nd Yellow Belt: 6 students skipped from 10 Kyu – 8Kyu.
1st Yellow – 2nd Yellow Belt: 2 students from 9 Kyu to 8 Kyu.
2 students from 9B Kyu to 8B Kyu.
1 student from 9 Kyu to 8B Kyu.
2nd Yellow – Orange Belts: 9 students from 8 Kyu to 7 Kyu.
1 student from 8 Kyu to 7B Kyu.
Orange – Green Belts: 10 students from 7 Kyu – 6 Kyu.
3 students from 7B Kyu – 6B Kyu.
1 student from 7 Kyu – 6B Kyu.
Green – 1st Purple Belt: 8 students from 6 Kyu – 5 Kyu.
2 students from 6 Kyu – 5B Kyu.
1 student from 6B Kyu – 5BKyu.
1st Purple – 2nd Purple Belt: 3 students from 5B Kyu – 4B Kyu.
2nd Purple – 1st Brown: 3 students from 4 Kyu to 3 Kyu.
4 students from 4B Kyu – 3B Kyu.
1 student from 4 Kyu – 3B Kyu.
1st Brown – 2nd Brown: 9 students from 3B Kyu – 2B Kyu.
2nd Brown – 3rd Brown: 2 students from 2 Kyu to 1 Kyu.
2 students from 2B Kyu – 1B Kyu.
1 student from 1B Kyu – 1 Kyu.