On Sunday 12th March over 110 Karate players met at the Mountfitchet Romeera Leisure Centre for the Shotokan Karate Ryu (SKR) quarterly Kyu grading. Also attending were 5 karate players attending a mock black belt (Dan Grade) examination in preparation for their test next month.

Kyu Grade candidates had to perform their grading syllabus of Kihon (basic techniques), Kumite (Sparring drills) and Kata (formal exercises) before SKR Chief Instructor Sensei Michael Ring (6th Dan). As students progress through the grades, the syllabus becomes progressively harder and the number of Kata (formal exercises) they have to perform increases so that Brown belts will have to know and demonstrate up to 8 kata, making gradings increasingly difficult.

For the students attending the mock Dan grade examination and aiming for Black belts or higher Dan grades in April, where they will be under the scrutiny of Sensei Dave Sharkey (8th Dan) one of Europe’s top Karate practitioners, the going was even harder. The mock commenced with Kihon Renshu (basic combinations) given rapidly in Japanese by Sensei Ring the test was intense and followed by Kata (formal exercises) with 11 Kata to remember for 1st Dan (Black Belt) candidates rising to 22 Kata for the 3rd Dan candidate. The final phase of the mock examination turned to Kumite (sparring drills) with candidates performing defence and counters against full speed attacks to Jodan (Head), Chudan (Body) and from keri-waza (Kicking techniques). The experience deliberately intense to prepare them for the real thing.

Sensei Ring commented: “The calibre of students has consistently improved over the last 6 years with Sempai (senior grades) leading by example. The Kyu grades did exceptionally well, and if the Dan grade candidates perform to the same standard for Sensei Sharkey they should acquit themselves well.”

“Sensei Sharkey often comments on the high standards of SKR students and that the standard of Karate remains amongst the highest in the country”