A NEW generation of West Devon karate experts took their first tentative steps last week when they were graded for their red belts.
The six children, aged from eight to 13, make up part of the first junior section of the Shikukai Devon Wado-Ryu karate club, run by sensei — teacher — Steve Chamberlain, a 4th Dan black belt.
Daniel Moran , 8, and his sister Jodie, 10, Gemma Henry, 10, Anoushka Metcalf, 8, Shaun Blissett, 13, and Adam Copeman, 10, were all successful when they were tested last Friday evening and received their belts the following day from the Shikukai chief instructor Sugasawa sensei, 6th Dan.
The youngsters were then put through their paces by Sugasawa sensei with children from other Shikukai clubs.
'All the children left tired but happy that they had been able to train with their chief instructor and were shown how much more there is to learn in Wado-Ryu karate,' said Steve.
Also achieving their first grading were Anoushka's father Simon, almost 40, and Hugh Williams. Sally Baldwin and John Kent were graded by Sugasawa sensei for their 6th kyu grade — those grades below black belt.
Sugasawa sensei also took a two hour class for the adult kyu grades and a further class for brown and black belts.
'Although everyone was tired after the first two hours, the training went up a gear for this last hour,' said Steve. 'It was good preparation for this year's annual Wado Academy's summer course, which takes place this year in Barnstaple in the first week of August.'
Shikukai Devon trains at the Ockment Community Centre in Okehampton on Fridays between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.