Bettencourt’s stand out as top Karate family of Guyana

Sensei Aubrey Stanislaus Bettencourt began his involvement in the martial art of Karate-do at the age of 14, training at the residence Archbishop of Guyana Benedict Singh in Kingston in 1971. Training for Sensei Betten court was extremely rigorous, training every day, twice each day including Sundays and holidays under the watchful eye of the legendary Master Frank Woon-a-Tai.

So gruelling was the examination for a black belt in those days that he had to undertake  the examinations thrice before being successful the third time and obtaining his Sho Dan rank or black belt  at the age of 18 in 1975.

Three years he underwent examinations to be promoted to the Ni Dan rank, this time however he was able to receive his second degree black belt after two tries.

Sensei Bettencourt currently holds the rank of Go Dan or fifth degree black belt, and is an internationally accredited instructor, referee and judge. Additionally he was the second Vice-President for the Guyana Karate Federation (GKF), for two years and is a part of the Parent Sensei Committee (PSC) and a Trustee and Instructor of the Guyana Karate College. Sensei Aubrey as he is popularly known is a solid fighter with well-rounded skills that has experienced his share of success. For tournaments, he participates and represents Guyana in the Masters’ Division. In the first International Karate Daigaku World Karate Tournament that was held in Toronto, Canada in 2012 he  received a bronze medal for team kata; whilst later that year whilst participating in the Guyana Karate Federation tournament he received a silver for team kata. In Barbados 2013 at the Caribbean Karate Championships he received a gold and two bronze medals for the enbu, team kata and team bunkai respectively. Later that year in September participated and received a silver medal in team kata for a Guyana Karate Federation tournament. In 2014, at the International Karate Daigaku South American tournament he received one gold and two silvers in team bunkai, team kata and team enbu respectively; whilst later that year received silver medal  for team kata in the Guyana Karate Federation tournament. He then went to Caribbean Karate Championships in Trinidad where he received one silver and two bronze medals for team events.

In 2015 for the second International Karate Daigaku Karate Championships he received a gold medal for team enbu and bronze medal for team bunkai; later he received gold medal for individual kata and silver medal for team kata for GKF tournament. In all, his medal cabinet contains a total of 17 medals, a most remarkable achievement.

A firm believer that karate must return to its original source and be a true reflection of Budo, Sensei Bettencourt trains with the constant goal of perfecting his technical skill.

His daughter, Britney Bettencourt, joined the Guyana Karate College in August 2012, at the age of 13 and two years later she received her Sho Dan rank or first degree black belt in August 2014. She presently holds the rank of Nidan or 2nd degree black belt which she was tested for in December 2015 by Master Frank Woon-a-tai. In total she already has 14 medals, including gold, silver and bronze medals which she obtained from participating in the Guyana Karate Federation and Caribbean Karate Championships, and the International Karate Daigaku Federation  South American and World tournaments in kata, kumite and team events.

Additional she obtained gold and silver medals in tournaments other that those sanctioned by the International Karate Daigaku and the Caribbean Karate College including a gold medal in female kata division for the LFS Burnham S.C O.E. Memorial Karate Tournament 2015 and a silver medal in Battle in the Amazon Karate tournament 2016 in a unisex kata event held by the Global Korean Martial Arts Federation.

She is a well- rounded student of the prestigious Marian Academy, having considerable academic and athletic achievements, including excelling recently at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations. She enjoys running and became the female champion for the Marian Academy Run 2015.In CSEC PE 2016 she did karate as her main sport. She was a prefect at Marian Academy and has graduated as part of the Class of 2016 and is now looking toward the Sixth Form or advanced level.

Britney is a good, young fighter with the right attitude. She has succeeded in defeating solid opponents and clearly there is likely much more to come from her.

The youngest daughter, Emily Bettencourt , a high performing student of the highly ranked Bishops High School, joined the Guyana Karate College in August 2012 , just before she turned 12; and two years later in August 2014 received her Sho Dan or first degree black belt. In 2016, she received her Nidan rank or second degree black belt. Over the years she has received two medals in the 2014 International Karate Daigaku South American tournament for kata and kumite, respectively. More recently whilst participating in the second International Karate Daigaku Tournament received bronze for team bunkai.The Bettencourts will certainly leave their mark in the annals of Guyana’s Karate History