The Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy (GIKMAA) fourth Open International Martial Arts Championship took place recently at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, with Shihan Abdool Nazim Yassim dubbing it a huge success.
Over 60 karatekas, drawn from seven schools, competed in the two-day event, namely, the Tang-Soo-Do International Guyana; Stanleytown Shotokan Karate Dojo; National Martial Arts Association; Black Hawks Rising Sun Dojo; Best of the Best Martial Arts School; the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association and GIKMAA.
GIKMAA, with 17 students, won 29 medals, inclusive of 14 gold, seven silver, six bronze and two fourth place finishes.
Sensei Kelvin Walcott of the Enmore Branch of the GIKMAA won two gold and had a fourth place finish, while Sensei Parsuram Arjune from the Wales Branch won three gold and Samuel Fraser two gold.
Zoann Shuman and Brandon Ferreira of St. Cuthbert’s Mission also won two gold medals each. Other outstanding students were: Tadious Edun (gold, silver and bronze), Umish Parsaram (gold and bronze), Christian Freeman (gold), Leonel Chacon (two silver) and Omesh Lallchand Silver.
Sensei Kelvin Walcott in the heavyweight division (Enmore); Tadious Edun in the middleweight division (Wales); Umish Parsaram and Omesh Lallchand and Parsuran Arjune (Wales) once again thrilled the audience with the full contact fighting.
Sensei Parsuram Arjune, Tadious Edun and Marcell Lynda Yassim received their ‘Life Membership’ of the GIKMAA, while Garfied Newton of the Black Hawks Martial Arts Management and Roland Eudoxie of the Tang-Soo-do Int’l Guyana received special appreciation Martial Arts Brotherhood Awards for their work with the GIKMAA.
The GIKMAA is expressing gratitude to the National Sports Commission, Red Cherry Cafeteria, Right Price Lumber and Grandmaster Abdool Nazim Yassim for sponsorship of the tournament.
“Special thanks also go to the Judges and Referees, along with the parents and supporters that help to make the tournament a successful one. Maranda Bennett, Grace Harry, Shawn English, Ryan Patterson, and David Critchlow brought the crowd to their feet with live singing. Shihan Nazim is also thankful to Nerissa Vanvield of VOG (Radio) and Max Massiah of Maximum Sports Combat & Strength (T.V) for having us on their programms to promote this tournament,” the GIKMAA said in a release.
Shihan Nazim Yassim and his team will now turn their attention to the Bragging Rights tournament in December.
