by The Papua New Guinea Mas Oyama Kyokushin Karate Association (PNG MOKKA) held its first grading for the year on Saturday (10th March) which saw a total of 13 students including 3 kids endure a grueling 3 hours of testing.
The grading which took place at the Kyokushin Dojo at 6 Mile (Magila Street) saw adults Ken Langa, Posou Obed, Daniel Gimana, Adamson Winnis, Daniel Potuku, Arturo Giniaru, Jerry Nawani, Paul Taus and Bernard Sinai tested on their mastery of the basic techniques including basic combinations, stamina, strength, forms or kata and kumité or sparring.
Also tested were 3 kids Masaki Makioka, Ethan and Tristan Schnaubelt.
The grading was conducted by Sempai Samson Benroy and assisted by Sempai Sailas Piskaut with support from senior students Alfreda Kurabi and Jude Ragir. Also present to witness the test were a few parents and members of the public.
Sempai Benroy thanked Sensei Walter Schnaubelt for establishing the association and apologized for his absence. However, he said that while Sensei Walter was not actively involved it did not mean that Kyokushin was dead. He assured the public that the art was still alive and Sempai Sailas and he would ensure that it stays that way.
He also thanked the student for their commitment stating that it was because of them that the organization existed. He said the organization had a few problems in the last couple of years trying to find a secure location and hence the last grading was in December of 2009. However, he said there would be regular grading throughout the year starting with this one.
Meanwhile Sempai Sailas Piskaut called on for more females to go into martial arts. He said the benefits of learning martial arts were many with only a handful of females in the arts. He also said that with the upcoming PNG Grassroots Games in November at Kokopo, the association would consider affiliating with the NCD or PNG Karate Association which would give its students a chance to be selected to compete.
He also said Kyokushin is a full contact style and is not like the point scoring or “speed karate”. In tournaments there is no protective padding and divisions and competitors must face all sorts of opponents. He said full body punches are delivered which include the use of elbows, thigh kicks and others.
The dojo at 6 Mile is the only internationally recognized Kyokushin dojo in the country and was opened last May.
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