40 medals for ISKF-Guyana Karate Team at 2022 US Int’l tournament

Forty medals – 10 gold, 13 silver, and 17 bronze – were won by the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) Guyana team at the 42nd ISKF US Nationals and International Goodwill Karate Championships.
This is usually an annual event, where all ISKF territories rendezvous for fellowship and training and culminates with a tournament. This is the first major ISKF international event held post-COVID-19 and Team Guyana were revved up. The 31-member team travelled from Guyana at midnight on November 18 to arrive in Philadelphia at the Marriott Old City Hotel just after lunch the next day.
They were accompanied by parents/guardians and other supporters of ISKF Guyana Dojo bringing Guyana’s total contingent to 56 persons.
The launch of this year’s Camp & Tournament commenced with a memorial service to recognise the passing of ISKF founder Master Teruyuki Okazaki on Friday, November 18, 2022.
The US Nationals was held on Saturday, November 19, 2022, and the International Goodwill Tournament was held on Sunday, November 20, 2022, which started at 8:30 am.
Given the prestige and highlights associated with the international tournament, 15 countries enlisted. Among the largest contingents were teams from Guyana, the USA, Canada, and Australia.
The local team were up against fierce competition. Recognising this, our local karatekas stepped up to the task and that led to the propelling of our country’s reputation as formidable. It was this step up that elevated the junior kata team to secure bronze after a synchronised and excellent kata display, facing off against Australia and the USA who won gold and silver respectively.
Another performance highlight was the adult male team kumite (free sparring) contest where the heat was pervasive. In this division, Guyana met with its South American counterpart Argentina, but lost owing to the use of excessive contact when young adult phenom Alex Rodrigues floored his Argentine opponent with a Jodan punch (reverse punch to face). His disqualification led Argentina to cop the bronze, Canada the silver, and Australia ultimately copping the gold medal. Full details of the 31-man team results are listed below by division and categories.
After the tournament, a grand banquet was the culmination of this year’s Camp and Tournament where all the karatekas were able to interact and network with each other and share about their respective countries and training methodologies.
Chief Instructor of ISKF Guyana, Sensei Christopher Chaves expressed great satisfaction with the team’s performance and conveyed his gratitude to the competitors for their commitment. He also thanked parents, sponsors, and his assistant coaches – Shermon Best, Storm Katchay, and Alex Rodrigues – for being instrumental throughout the process.
Sensei Chaves posited in closing that whilst competing at the international level brought unmatched exposure, training at the National Park, Thomas Lands dojo continued as normal upon their return, since one’s character development is an underpinning philosophy of Shotokan Karate.

Gold medals for Guyana:
5-7 years old yellow to green belts kata: Gia Mc Pherson
5-7 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Gia Mc Pherson
8-10 years old yellow to green belts kata: Davidge Rock
8-10 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Javier Davenand
10-12 years old yellow to purple belts kumite: Jeremy Persaud
10-12 years old yellow to purple belts kata: Leia Pugsley
11-13 years old brown to black belts kumite: Aiden Persaud
12-15 years old brown to black belts kata: Malachi Hall
15-17 years old yellow to green belts kata: Brandeia Simpson
15-17 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Yohance Nedd

Silver medals:
5-7 years old yellow to green belts kata: Sven Clementson
5-7 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Sven Clementson
7-9 years old yellow to green belts kata: Chelsea Harrison
7-9 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Emily Ibbott
8-10 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Davidge Rock
8-10 years old yellow to green belts kata: Javier Davenand
10-12 years old yellow to purple belts kata: Jeremy Persaud
10-12 years old yellow to purple belts kumite: Leia Pugsley
15-17 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Brandeia Simpson
15-17 years old yellow to green belts kata: Yohance Nedd
11-13 years old brown to black belts kata: Gael Mc Pherson
11-13 years old brown to black belts kumite: Leisha Bhimsain
12-15 years old brown to black belts kata: Jedediah James

Bronze medals:
5-7 years old yellow to green belts kata: Christopher Harrison
5-7 years old yellow to green belts kumite: Christopher Harrison
11-13 years old brown to black belts kumite: Gael Mc Pherson
11-13 years old brown to black belts kumite: Leraj Bhimsain
12-15 years old brown to black belts kumite: Malachi Hall
14-15 years old male green to purple belts kata: Govinda Prasad
14-15 years old male green to purple belts kumite: Govinda Prasad
14-15 years old female green to purple belts kumite: Nashavia Davis
16-17 years old male black belts kata: Kristian Chaves
16-17 years old male black belts kumite: Kristian Chaves
15-17 years old female black belts kata: Tempest Katchay
18-44 years old male brown belts kata: Vishnu Ramlagan
18-44 years old male brown belts kumite: Vishnu Ramlagan
45+ female black belts kumite: Rosita Katchay

Team Kata 7-17 years old
Bronze Medals: Team Guyana (Kristian Chaves, Jedediah James, Malachi Hall)