Seven Berbician karatekas recently had the opportunity to be assessed in their hometown when the head of the Guyana Karate College (GKC) travelled to the Ancient County to conduct a grading exercise. This was held on Sunday, 19th March, at the New Amsterdam Town Hall.
The Berbicians were assessed by Head of the Guyana Karate College (GKC) and Chief Instructor of the Association do Shotokan Karate, 7th Dan black belt Sensei Amir Khouri, who was assisted by local instructors 6th Dan Black Belt Sensei Clinton Moriah and 5th Dan Black Belt Sensei Hazrat Ali. Guyana falls under the International Karate Daigaku (IKD).
The simple grading exercise was conducted in the presence of parents and guardians of the karatekas, and saw the small group display a competitive level of sparring skills and kata (karate form).
karatekan Leam John did well enough to skip belts, moving from white belt to purple belt (4 Kyu). Two others — Aaliya Ahmad and Reaud Mohabir — received the full rank of orange belt (7 Kyu), while four others gained yellow belts (9 Kyu).
Sensei Khouri noted that two objectives of the programme related to the GKC wanting to promote the disciplined art of fighting by encouraging youngsters to work at their own pace in the ancient art, and to develop modern strategies in conducting training sessions and practical examinations.
Training sessions are held at two locations in Berbice. In New Amsterdam, sessions are held by long-serving Sensei Clinton Moriah on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Trinity Street Primary School within the timeframe of 16:30h and 18:00h. And at the Albion Community Centre on the Corentyne Coast, sessions are conducted by Hazrat Ali on Tuesdays and on weekends during the same hours.
Sensei Khouri disclosed that a new school will be opened at the School of the Nations at Savannah Park in New Amsterdam, and will be like the one at the same school in the city, thus students of the school are being encouraged to attend. (Andrew Carmichael)
