Guyana 10-member karate team returns with 13 medals

The 10-member Japan Karate Association/World Federation (JKA/WF) Guyana team returned home with 13 medals after their impressive performance in the 2012 JKA/WF America Karate Camp and Goodwill tournament that was held from June 7-10 in Panama City.
The karatekas copped five gold medals, six silver medals and two bronze at the championships.
Seven-year-old Camiel Melville (eighth kyu) placed first in kata and second in kumite in the male category. And 11-year-old Loren Black (seventh kyu) placed first in kumite and first in kata in the female division. Both of them competed mainly against Panamanians.
Then 13-year-old Xavier Arjoon (first kyu brown belt) aced all his competitors, who were Panamanians, Costa Ricans, US and Mexicans, to place first in both the kata and Kumite. His division also had a merger of brown and black belts to whom he made easy work of. And 15-year-old Shaqueel Amin (1st Dan) had strong competition from Panama and the USA but made his mark and managed to gain second place in both the kata and kumite.
Shodan first degree black belt, Marlon George competed against higher ranked fighters but managed to put up a good show; he placed third in the kata. Meanwhile, 61-year-old Godfrey Taylor met competition from the US, Panama and Mexico in the Over-45 division and was lauded for his strong opposition.
The day’s competition climaxed with the team kata. Guyana again penetrated this category as Shankar Singh, Marlon George and Shermon Kyte, all first Dan black belt karatekas, put together a strong Jion to gain second spot.
The JKA/WF Guyana team came in for high praise from the Operations Office of JKA/WF America Yasuaki Nagatomo at the countries representatives’ meeting. He stated that Guyana is the role model for excellence, making particular mention of their outstanding administration, documentation and proactive nature.
He also invited the chief instructor Sensei Christopher Chaves to take his fifth Dan testing at the next international event.
JKA/WF Guyana committee and team thanked their main sponsors, Courtney Benn Construction Services Ltd, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire and life Insurance and mother company Cellular Planet Inc., along with DDL and Geddes Grant who all played instrumental roles.