SVG karatekas bring bronze from Caribbean Championships

St Vincent and the Grenadines was able to gain bronze medals at the hosting of the 11th International Karate Daigaku/Caribbean Karate College Caribbean Karate Championships, which were held in Trinidad Tobago, August 15 to 17.{{more}}

Represented by Claude Bascombe Jr, Jahmito James, Jahvad James, Zak Burke and Terrance Providence, the Vincentians were able to pouch two triple bronze medals, attained in the men’s team Bunkai and adult men’s team Kumite finals, as well as in the junior boys’ 8-10 years Kata finals.

The adult team progressed to the finals in both categories after beating rival teams from Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica and the host nation.

Team captain Bascombe Jr successfully defeated Trinidadian Adrian Cruickshank to clinch the bronze.

Bascombe was also the lone adult team member to progress to Kata and Kumite finals, placing fifth in Kata, after being defeated by Kevin Cox of Barbados, who went on to win bronze in the Kumite.

Meanwhile, the lone individual medal was gained by Providence who made it all the way to the junior boys 8 to 10 yrs individual Kata finals, but had to settle for the bronze.

Providence is the youngest black belt in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The other team member, Zak Burke, was unable to compete because of injury, but was the recipient of the Dojo Kun Award for St Vincent and the Grenadines.

This award was presented by Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-a-Tai, founder of the International Karate Daigaku.

According to Bascombe: “The team wishes to express foremost special gratitude to God for his blessings; Karthina Providence and Leroy James who accompanied the team, along with Sensei Allan Burke and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Shotokan Karate Club.”

Bascombe further added: “We thank the members of Seishin Karate Club and the staff of Yin Yang Martial Arts and Fitness Centre for their encouragement and support and also to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines who we have been honoured to represent.”

Following the championships, a three-day camp was held from August 18 to 20, and saw the organization boldly breaking the bonds of its tradition by hosting Hanshi Cyrus Madani as its guest instructor.

The three-day event focussed on the World Karate Federation (WKF) competition rules, mental and physical conditioning and technical aspects of Kata and Kumite.

Hanshi Madani, an eighth Dan, has developed new concepts for generating inner power and strength in karate techniques through proper breathing and has pioneered teaching methods for developing speed and agility at all ages.

Madani is the founder and chief instructor at the International Martial Arts Association (IMA), which was established in 1991.

Having started his Shotokan Karate training in 1966, Madani has been a Pan American and World Karate Federation referee for over 30 years and has also been a member of the WKF technical committee from 2002 to the present.