A TOTAL of 87 students were successful two Saturdays ago, when the Japan Karate Association/World Federation Guyana hosted its final grading exercise for 2013, at their Thomas Lands based headquarters dojo.
“Pleased” and “improvements” were amongst the sentiments expressed by parents and others in attendance as Chief Instructor and fourth dan Sensei Christopher Chaves and his team conducted the grading exercise.Seventy-two (72) of the students, who were successful, came from the JKA/WF Guyana Georgetown and Craig East Bank Demerara Dojos and after this exercise, Sensei Chaves and his team travelled to Berbice to conduct grading exercise there with the combined Dojo’s of Port Mourant and Canje which saw another 15 students undergoing examinations and promotions.
Upon completion, Sensei Chaves and his team enjoyed the hospitality and company of the Berbice students who catered for showing off their culinary skills.
In his and closing remarks, Sensei Chaves took the time to emphasize the need for students to continue to train as that’s the secret to Karate-do, announcing that the next grading exercise will be a big one, slated to be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall sometime in March or April next year, under the instructions of sixth Dan – Japanese “A” Class Instructor and Judge, Sensei Yasuaki Nagatomo.
In addition to the color ranks, students, amongst whom will be the first batch of examinees from the newly opened Mae’s Primary School Dojo, will also be testing for Shodan (1st Dan) and Nidan (2nd Dan) and also notable is their upcoming participation in the 2014 Japan Karate Association/World Federation America Karate Camp and Tournament, set for Panama City, Panama in June.
Mentionable for JKA/WF Guyana in 2013 were the establishing of two new Dojos at Craig which has been in operation since September 2102) and Mae’s Primary School who practices the art at Millington Street, Campbelville and now boasts a membership in excess of 22 students.
Sensei Chaves stated that these are in line with their aim to spread this rich Japanese art form throughout Guyana, adding that they will be aspiring in 2014 to have Dojo’s on the East Coast of Demerara as well as the West Bank/West Coast Demerara.
Special thanks were expressed to his team, parents, spectators, sponsors and well wishers for contributions to making this grading exercise it was.