FOR the second time this year, the Japan Karate Association/World Federation of Guyana overwhelmed parents and spectators in attendance at their grading exercise which was held last Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and saw some 71 students come out successful. Sixth (6th) Dan Japanese Class ‘A’ Instructor and Judge Yasuaki Nagatomo, who flew into Guyana on Friday morning, conducted the grading exercise followed by a clinic for the students, much to the delight of the parents gathered at the venue.
Prior to grading, Sensei Nagatomo conducted a training clinic on katas, schooling the students on katas Heian 1-5, Tekki 1, Bassai-dai, Jion and Empi and emphasised the need for standardisation of the Katas in accordance with JKA/WF – Japan.
Sensei Nagatomo conducted the grading exercise with assistance from local Chief Instructor of JKA/WFG Sensei Christopher Chaves who is a fourth Dan karateka and Instructor Marvin Singh (2nd Dan). 
After testing the 71 students from the National Park, Canje and Port Mourant dojos, Sensei Nagatomo expressed satisfaction with the improvements he saw in the standard of the local karatekas since his visit here last November 2010 and encouraged all members to keep training hard and be consistent to maintain the integrity of the JKA/WF.
Of the 71 students tested by Sensei Nagatomo, there were 13 White belts, 12 Yellow belts, 7 Orange belts, 10 Green belts, 14 Purple belts (11 – 5th Kyu and 3 – 4th Kyu) and 15 Brown belts (10 – 3rd Kyu, 4 – 2nd Kyu and 1-1st Kyu).
Exceptional results were as follows: Shaquan Richmond moved from 9B kyu (1st yellow) to 8 kyu (2nd yellow), Athena Arjoon and Jaheem Barton moved from 8B kyu (2nd yellow) to 7 kyu (orange), Pfizer Whyte moved from 6B Kyu (green belt) to 5 kyu (1st purple), Ray Marcus Persaud, Shyrece Singh and Natasha Persaud moved from 5B kyu (1st purple) to 4th Kyu (2nd purple), Xavier Arjoon moved from 3B kyu (1st brown) to 2nd kyu (2nd brown) and Daniel Ifill and Kristalia Chaves moved from 2B Kyu (2nd brown) to 1st kyu (3rd brown).
The JKA/WFG was pleased to have had as its examiner the Operations Officer of its parent organization, the Japan Karate Association/World Federation America, which is the USA’s official branch of the Japan Karate Association, World Federation in Japan. 
At the end of the grading exercise, there was a brief meeting with Sensei Nagatomo and the operating committee of the JKG.
Also present at the meeting were Chaves, Singh, Secretary/Treasurer Stephanie Kerry, and committee members Mr Shankar Singh, Ms Jennifer Cyrus, Mr Neville Holder, Mrs Christina Chaves and Mr Shawn Naughton.