East Gate Karate Academy holds first examination ceremony

EAST Gate Karate Academy held its first kyu examination ceremony for its students at the Ekere Fitness Dance Studio in Port Moresby on Dec 19.
Kyu is a numbered grade of the less advanced level of proficiency in judo, karate and other martial arts.
Fifteen students went through a three-hour physical test of skill, strength and stamina in front of an expert panel of senior karate instructors and trainers of the Shotokan style.
They included vice-president of the Papua New Guinea Karate-Do Federation (PNGKF) also known as Karate PNG, Roy Stanley, former national coach Willie Leslie, instructors John Ali, Doris Joseph Karomo and senior instructor Cosmas Saliawali.
Students were tested in basic movements and techniques (kihon), preset patterns and forms (kata) and fighting and combat applications (kumite).
Sensei Roy was impressed with the performances of the students and congratulated them for their hard work in training.
He said karate was a way of life that was open to everyone who were interested to take it up.
Sensei Roy encouraged students to continue to train and develop their knowledge and skills.
“It is a three-dimensional training that looks at the physical, spiritual and mental aspects of life to groom students,” he said.
Sensei Roy encouraged students to consider the sporting aspects of karate, which is additional to their traditional martial arts training.
He said karate could bring them opportunities to participate nationally and internationally.
From the Kiddies class (six-12-year-olds), the grading saw the yellow belt (Hachi kyu – 8th kyu) presented to Wesley Jr Aruga, Feisatu Wong and Varea Wong.
The girls recipients were Nanoana Ketsin, Moale Karori and Hane Nou.
In the Budo Class for teens and adults, Andrew Molen was promoted to the brown belt (Sankyu – 3rd kyu) while green belt (Rokyu) recipients were lone female Audrey McRubin and males Terence Rau and Ketsin Robert.
Junior Tony Mitu received an orange belt (Shichi Kyu – 7th kyu) while the yellow belt (Hachi kyu – 8th kyu) went to Nathan Lavari, Alex Akop, Hayden Rambu, Steven Esilom and Rivu Rivu. Academy head instructor Julius Piku was pleased with his charges who had been part of his new dojo since its opening in April this year.
“We’ve only been open for about seven months, but it was good to see students coming for training in every session, especially the little ones who came with their parents,” he said. The academy dojo operates under the hospice of the Ekere Fitness Dance Studio in Waigani and follows the Shotokan Karate Budokai (SKB) syllabus, which has its headquarters in Brisbane, Australia.
It runs programmes for children from six to 11 years of age, teenagers and adults. There are also street smart self-defence programmes for women held at intervals throughout the year.