Successfully undertaking their exams and being promoted were 30 tenth KYU’s (White Belts), 7 ninth KYU’s (White Belts with Yellow Stripes), 19 eighth KYU’s (Yellow Belts), 4 seventh KYU’s (Orange Belts), 9 sixth KYU’s (Green Belts), 5 fifth KYU’s (Blue Belts), 10 fourth KYU’s (Purple Belts), 9 third KYU’s (Brown Belts), 7 second KYU’s (Brown Belts), and 2 first KYU’s (Brown).
Performing exceptionally well were a number of karatekas who skipped ranks.
They included Adrian Persaud, Ariel Miggins, Ronald Persaud, Jeremiah Poulis, Aiden Singh, Anish Sharma, Dillon Persaud, Jontierre Singh, Sookraj Singh, Joshua Zaman, Daniel Lowe, Scott Habibullah, and Yogendra Sookdeo, who all moved from 10th kyu to 8th kyu.
Also making upward moves were, Deron Austin, Jennifer Singh, Nicholas Darry and Devendra Ramsundar from 10th kyu to 7th kyu (B), Garrett DaSilva, Michael Alphonso, Andrew Ally and Alexander Ally from 9th kyu to 7th kyu (B).
Brittney Bettencourt, Malika Persaud, Steffon Smith, Eon Bollers and Shaquille Dalton from 8th kyu to 6th kyu (B) respectively, while Otto Harris moved from 6th kyu to 4th kyu (B).
Headlining the examination was the successful elevation of Aftab Rahaman and Wayne Kendall, who moved from 1st KYU (Brown Belt) to Shodan (Black Belt), whilst other brown belts Khalid Adams, Anna Farinha, Britney Ramkissoon, and Dianand Dial were all elevated after putting in outstanding performances.
Sensei Wong expressed his satisfaction with the improvement and standard that he has observed since the previous Grading that was held in August and credited the improvement to the dedication of the instructors and application of the students.
Of particular note were the high performances of the students of the Marian Academy Dojo, with whom he has been giving his individual attention with support from instructors including Phillip Ramalho, Claire Martelly, Aubrey Bettencourt and Jennifer Rameshwar.
The next grading examination is due in March 2013, when Chairman of the World Karate Organization, the International Karate Daigaku Master Frank Woon-A-Tai is expected to visit Guyana on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Karate in Guyana.
The GKC also proposes to commence preparatory training and selection of Karatekas that will form Team Guyana to participate in the Caribbean Karate Championships scheduled to be held in July 2013 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
