TASHANA Wong became Guyana’s newest third degree karate black belt holder after topping the Guyana Karate College’s (GKC) grading examination which was held last Saturday at the St. Joseph’s High School, Woolford Avenue.According to a release, the GKC held the third of its triannual grading examinations for the year 2016, for students belonging to its dojos, and the afternoon saw Karatekas of all ages undertake testing for the various belt ranks from 9th kyu (white belts with yellow stripes) all the way to 1st kyu (brown belt).
This year, the GKC is celebrating the 10th anniversary since its establishment and the grading capped off a number of activities that were held this year to coincide with this significant milestone.
The Judging team was led by Guyana-born Shuseki Shihan,Frank Woon-a-Tai,Chairman and Chief Instructor of the IKD, and it includes Sensei Jeffrey Wong,a 6th Dan Karateka,who is the Senior Instructor and Vice Chairman of the College,along with 5th dan Sensei Dr. Guy Low,5th dan Sensei Lavern Jones and Sensei Aubrey Bettencourt,who is also a 5th Dan Black Belt holder.
“Leading the list of promotions for these grading examinations for the GKC was the attainment of a Sandan rank or third degree black belt by Tashana Wong, a Caribbean and World Champion who has successfully represented the GKC and Guyana at many regional and international tournaments” the release stated, adding “Ms. Wong showed poise and grace as she went through her katas while displaying true grit, stamina and determination as she faced and defended herself against multiple attackers, predominantly males,who were physically sturdier and stouter than her and who were experienced martial artists.”
The other successful karatekas and the ranks the attained are: Moving from 10th Kyu to 9thKyu (White to White with Yellow Stripe) – Eli Jordan, Ameer Shariff, Daniel Amos, Prosper Jacobus, Josiah Ramnarine. David Persaud.Skipping from 10th Kyu to 8th Kyu (Yellow) are Chinelo Enekwechi, Anusha Jodhan. And skipping from 10th Kyu (White) all the way to 5th Kyu (Blue) were Najuma Gibbs and Jermain Holder.
Moving from 9thkyu to (White with Yellow Stripe) to 8thKyu was Rizwan Mahadeo. Moving from 7thKyu (Orange) to 6th Kyu (Green) were Rishabh Ramessar, Micaiah DePeazer, Omar Shariff, Joshua Aaron and Adisa Congreaves. Whilst skipping from 7thKyu (Orange) to 5thKyu (Blue) were Jared Bird, Daniel Gonsalves, Jadon Lee, Laurie Baptiste, Aretha Trisho Persaud, Esha Fredericks. Moving from 6thkyu (Green) to 5thKyu (Blue) were Laurence Baptiste, Angelina Campayne, Amber De Goeas, whist skipping from 6thKyu (Green) to 4thKyu (Purple) was Jose Rodrigues.
Moving from 5thKyu (Blue) to 4thKyu (Purple) was Sherlock Scott while Somlata Bispat, Sophia Mittelholzer, Joshua Gibbs Grant (Sr) skipped from 5thKyu to 3rdKyu. Daniel Denny moved from 4th (Purple) Kyu to 3rdKyu (Brown), whilst Brandon Yong jumped from 4thKyu (Purple) to 2nd (Brown)
Moving from 3rdKyu (Brown) to 2ndKyu Brown were Paula Louis-Grant, Jayden Jettoo-Sewnarine, Nathanael Archer, Nalini Rampersaud, whilst Javed Nurhausain skipped from 3rd Kyu (Brown) to 1st Kyu (Brown. Moving from 2nd Kyu (Brown) to 1stKyu (Brown) were Diego De Nobrega, Zaine Bispat, Jonathan Ng-A-Fook, Taissa De Nobrega, Josiah Dyall.