Cadence and Padayachy promoted to 3rd Dan Black Belt |14 March 2015

The two newly promoted karatekas

During the visit of Shihan Kenny Uytenbogaardt 7th Dan late last year, two senior members of the Kyokushinkai Karate School underwent a Black Belt grading session which lasted for three hours and thirty minutes at the Young Lions Dojo at Belonie.

Sempai Roy Cadence and Sempai Jimmy Padyachy both 2nd Dans, attempted the grade of 3rd Dan (Sandan). A Kyokushin student from Mauritius also took part in the grading. Shihan Kenny was assisted in the grading by local Kyokushinkai Branch Chief, Shihan Phillip Moustache 6th Dan and Shihans Phillip Verghese and Francis Francoise, both 5th Dans.

During the grading, the karatekas were required to demonstrate all the basic and advanced techniques of Kyokushinkai Karate which includes Ido Kihon (Standing Basics), Ido Geiko (Moving Basics), Renraku (Combinations) and Kata (Forms).  They were also required to perform numerous strength and endurance exercises and Katas up to the grade of 3rd Dan.

Kumite (Fighting) was undoubtedly the hardest part of the test as the Sandan candidates had to fight 30 opponents with all the fights being conducted under the International Karate Organisation (IKO) full contact rules. Their opponents included the school's best fighters but they demonstrated a strong spirit and were still standing by the last fight.

Sempai Cadence and Sempai Padayachy were recently informed by Shihan Moustache that their promotion to 3rd Dan Black Belt has been approved by their headquarters in Japan. They were presented with their Belt and Certificate this week by Shihan Moustache who also bestowed them with the title of "Sensei" (Teacher) in Kyokushin Karate.

Congratulations to the two newly promoted Senseis!