Teenage Karate sensation Hannah Farinha was among the top performers as the Guyana Karate College (GKC) held its first grading examinations for 2018.
The grading which kicked off on February 28 was conducted under the expertise of Chairman and Chief Instructor of the International Karate Daigaku (IKD), Shuseki Shihan 9th Degree Black belt Frank Woon-a-tai.
Anna Farinha
Other senior officials included were from the Canada-based headquartered IKD, including 8th Degree Black Belt Shihan Maureen Woon-a-tai, 7th Degree Black Belt Shihan Bernice Hughes and Senior Instructor and Vice Chairman of the Guyana Karate College (GKC) 7th Degree Black Belt; Shihan Jeffrey Wong.
Headlining the examinations was the Marian Academy Farinha, who earned her 3rd degree black belt (Sandan rank) following crisp executions of her martial arts skillset.
The next best Karateka on show was Jonathan Robinson who graduated from first degree to second degree black belt (Nidan rank). Other fighters to advance to black belt included; Angelina Campayne, Jadon Lee, Gavena Doodnauth, Vanita Chulie, Banesha Doodnauth, Jayanti Ram and Najuma Gibbs.
16 of the Karatekas that were graded were from the Guyana Karate College Shakties Dojo – West Coast Demerara, who comes under the instruction of Sensei Kenrick Cheeks. Four of these Karatekas earned their Shodan Rank or 1st Degree Black Belt.
Also, 5 senior Black Belt Karatekas successfully sat an Instructors examination as part of their quest to become fully certified International Karate Daigaku Instructors and they were ; Kenrick Cheeks, Aliya Wong, Somlata Bispat, William Grant Snr and Paula Louis-Grant.
Another grading examination will kick off in July as the GKC team prepares to represent Guyana at the IKD World Karate Tournament set for Barbados in August 2018
