The Guyana Martial Arts Masters Association International (GMAMAI) held a successful Hall of Fame ceremony at the New Thriving Chinese Restaurant on Main Street, Georgetown on Sunday evening, presenting 45 awards to 40 individuals.
There were 14 Hall of Fame Awards Categories, namely: Outstanding Karate Kid, Outstanding Student, Outstanding Competitor, Outstanding Black Belt, Outstanding Instructor, Fighting Spirit, Warrior’s Spirit, Distinguished Persons, Outstanding Parent, Distinguished Parents, Community Spirit Award (Person(s) that were involved in Community works), Ambassador Award, Special Awards to other sportsmen and women, and the Humanitarian Award.
At the Hall of Fame Ceremony, past, present and further Karatekas were honoured, with a total of nine awards going to the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association (GMMAKA). That body carted off six ‘Karate Kid of the Year’ awards, two ‘Outstanding Students of the Year’ awards, and one Outstanding Parent Award.
The awardees take a photo op following the 4th GMAMAI Hall of Fame Ceremony
Grandmaster/Prof. Dr. Khedeo and 5 of his students of the Shuriken Karate School of Suriname received 7 awards. They copped one each of the following awards: Outstanding Student of the Year, Outstanding Competitor of the Year, Outstanding Black Belt of the Year, Fighting Spirit of the Year; and the Ambassador Award, which is claimed by persons who competed and won locally and internationally.
Dr. Khedeo accounted for the other two awards, which were an Outstanding Grandmaster award and a Lifetime Achievement Bronze Award.
The Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy (GIKMAA), however, walked away with the lion’s share of the awards: 4 Karate Kid of the Year awards, 1 outstanding Student of the Year award, 2 Fighting Spirit of the Year awards, 2 Warrior’s Spirit awards, 1 Outstanding
Instructor of the Year, 1 Community Spirit Award, 1 Ambassador Award, 3 Outstanding Parents, 2 Distinguished Persons, and 2 Distinguished Parents awards.
Grandmaster Soke of GIKMAA, Dr. Abdool Nazim Yassim, received a Lifetime Achievement Bronze Award and a
Sokeship award, giving GIKMAA a total of 21 awards.
Grandmaster/Prof. /Dr. Christopher Norville, president of GMAMAI, also received 2 awards: a Lifetime Achievement Bronze Award, and a special Achievement Award for his Outstanding Work and Contribution to the Martial Arts in Guyana.
Grandmaster/Dr. Euasta Cuffy, General Secretary of GMAMAI, received an Outstanding Grandmaster award and a Lifetime Achievement Silver award.
Grandmaster Lloyd Ramnarine of the Guyana MixedD Martial Arts Karate Association, and PRO of GMAMAI, was also among the masters that received awards.
The Humanitarian Award went to Lennox Shuffler, while Special Awards went to Nicolette Fernandes, Kristian Jeffrey and Major General (Retired) Joseph Singh.
The Guyana Martial Arts Masters Association International is very thankful for the support of the following entities and persons: Republic Bank Water St. Branch, Toucan Industries Inc., Hand in Hand Insurance Company, Woodpecker Products, Kevin Jeffrey, Ernesto Chiooa Fat and Suresh Beharry.
