1st August, 2012
Karatekas in the country will have another opportunity to be upgraded as the 18th National Black Belt College/JKA Grading with SHIHAN IWATA hold from 6-11 August in Abuja.
The event, which includes seminars and workshops, is designed for the upgrading of karatekas in the country who aim to advance from a lower belt to a higher one.
In a chat with P.M.Sports, Head Coach of the Golden Martial Art Academy, Henry Kurumeh, revealed that karatekas at the academy will avail themselves of the opportunity presented by the tourney to upgrade themselves.
“We are working very hard in order to storm Abuja with a solid team that will come back to Lagos with good grading. Karatekas in our academy want to make use of this rare opportunity to upgrade themselves because they know that the event comes once in a year,” said Kurumeh.
He said: “It is an event where karatekas can test their skills and display the techniques that they have learnt. We hope to win medals in different categories because we intend to feature both male and female karatekas in order to boost our chances of winning medals.”
On her part, one of the karatekas who will feature at the tourney, Helen Beetse vowed to win a gold medal at the tourney.
“I am not going to Abuja for sightseeing but I am going there for serious business to compete and win. I have made up my mind not to settle for anything less than gold and I will do the utmost to achieve the goal,” said Beetse.
—Bimbo Ajayi