Guyanese karatekas excel in Suriname

Team Guyana, which consisted of two Martial Arts clubs- the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association (GMMAKA) and the Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy (GIKMAA)- turned in an excellent performance recently in Suriname.

At the just concluded International Martial Arts championship in Nickerie, the Guyanese captured a large number of medals with GMMAKA collecting a whopping 58 and GIKMAA earning 21 (14 gold; seven silver).

Master Lloyd Ramnarine, Sensei of GMMAKA, congratulated his students on their performance and encouraged the team to work and train harder.

Grandmaster Soke Nazim Yassim, Sensei of GIKMAA, was also pleased with the performance of the students and urged them to continue to put their best foot forward. Listed below are the top performers of the two clubs.

GMMAKA

Isaiah Busby– 2^nd Traditional Kata, 2^nd Weapon Kata, 3^rd Free Form, 4^th Sparring

Shamar Francis– 1^st Sparring, 2^nd Weapon Kata, 2^nd Traditional Kata

Mahendra Gorakh– 1^st Traditional Kata, 1^st Weapon Kata, 2^nd Sparring, 4^th Free Form

Jaffer Ramnarine– 1^st Weapon Kata, 2^nd Traditional Kata, 2^nd Free Form

Tyrese Harris– 1^st Sparring, 2^nd Traditional Kata, 2^nd Free Form

Chandrapaul Sukhu– 1^st Traditional Kata, 1^st Free Form, 3^rd Weapon Kata, 3^rd Sparring

Altaf Singh– 1^st Free Form, 2^nd Traditional Kata, 3^rd Sparring

Zafar Ramnarine– 1^st Traditional Kata, 1^st Weapon Kata, 1^st Free Form

Adrian Rambarran– 1^st Free Form, 3^rd Sparring, 3^rd Traditional Kata, 3^rd Weapon Kata

Justin Gildarie– 2^nd Weapon Kata, 3^rd Free Form, 3^rd Traditional Kata

Mohan Sahadeo– 1^st Weapon Kata, 3^rd Free Form, 3^rd Traditional Kata

Alliyah Ramnarine– 1^st Traditional Kata, 1^st Weapon Kata, 1^st Free Form

Daniel Persaud– 2^nd Weapon Kata, 3^rd Free Form, 3^rd Traditional Kata

Roman Pollard– 1^st Sparring, 2^nd Traditional Kata, 3^rd Free Form

Randolph Chrisen– 1^st Free Form, 3^rd Traditional Kata, 3^rd Weapon Kata

Raul Joseph– 2^nd Free Form, 3^rd Weapon Kata, 3^rd Sparring

Deigo Adams– 2^nd Free Form

Philip Jaikisson– 3^rd Traditional Kata, 3^rd Free Form, 3^rd Weapon Kata

Abrar Wahid– 2^nd Traditional Kata, 2^nd Weapon Kata, 4^th Free Form

Akesha Wills– 1^st Traditional Kata

Master Ramnarine would like to extend special thanks to Demarara Distillers Limited and Busta, who donated beverages, the Guyana National Horse Racing Company and the parents of the GMMAKA for their continuous support and hardwork.

He said the GMMAKA is always in need of assistance, financial and otherwise, and donors can contact the club on 698-6727, 266-2869 or 679-3297.

GIKMAA

Vikash Somwaru (Enmore; 16-19 Division) thrilled the audience, winning three gold medals in Traditional Kata, Traditional Weapons Kata and Kumite/Fighting.

Instructor Kelvin Walcott (Enmore; 30 & Over Division) copped two gold and a silver in Traditional Kata, Traditional Weapons Kata and Kumite Full Contact Fighting.

Instructor Marcell Yassim (Parfaite Harmonie; 30 & Over Female Division) copped two godl in Traditional Kata and Full Contact Fighting.

Christian Freeman (Wales; 10-12 Division) copped two gold in Traditional Kata and Kumite/Fighting.

Parashuram Persaud (Enmore; 16-19 Division) copped one gold and two silver in Traditional Kata, Traditional Weapons Kata and Kumite/Full Contact Fighting.

Govind Ramkuar (Enmore; 16-19 Division) copped a gold and a silver in Traditional Kata and Points Kumite/Fighting.

Samuel Fraser (Wales; 13-15 Division), Madona Thomas (Parfaite Harmonie; 16-19 Female Division) and newcomer Bhudesh Silchand (Tuschen; 16-19 Points Division) also won a gold medal each.

Instructor Maranda Bennett (Wales; 25 & Over Female Division) earned two silver in Traditional Kata, and Kumite/Fighting, and Joshua Bascombe (Wales; 16-19 Division) took silver in Kumite.

Soke Nazim Yassim and team now turn their attention to their fifth International Martial Arts Championships on October 1, 2017, at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

Following that, GIKMAA students will be taking their examinations- Kelvin Walcott and Parsuram Arjune for Third Dan; Maranda Bennett, Marcell Yassim and Tadious Edun for Second Dan; Vikash Somwaru and Reggie Persaud for First Dan, while Parashuram Persaud and Govind Ramkuar for their 1^st Kyu Brown Belt exams in November.