Congratulations to Geovanny Sanchez Salazar, Lucas Muniz and Kyle Cochrane.

On Friday 11th of November Chief Instructor of Washinkai Shihan Chris Thompson awarded a new black belt to club president Geovanny Sanchez Salazar who successfully attained 4th Dan status. He gave a powerful demonstration of advanced karate skills in an examination of Kata, Kihon and Kumite (free fighting.) He was assisted by Lucas Muniz 2nd Dan for the partner work and Elliot Morton 2nd Dan in the free fighting.

Also grading to 2nd Dan was Lucas Muniz and to 1st Dan Kyle Cochrane. Lawrence Phillips 1st Dan assisted Lucas with the partner work and free fighting and Oscar Louis Morton 1st Dan worked with Kyle.

This is only the 4th time that Washinkai Karate Dan grade examinations have been held under the Spanish Tribunal System. Black belts can only be awarded twice a year in Spain and it takes many years of hard work for students to attain the levels required to pass the exam. Assisting Shihan Chris Thompson on the tribunal panel was Shihan Paco González Saiz who was there to record the gradings on behalf of the Valencian Karate Federation. Paco is a technical advisor to the Spanish club and also a World Karate Federation Referee. The third member of the tribunal panel was Sensei Sarah Lakin 3rd Dan and senior grading instructor for the Spanish club.

Speaking after the examinations Shihan Chris Thompson said , “The standard of karate in Spain remains very high. It is one of the oasis of true martial arts in Europe .”

March 2017 will see the 40th year celebration of the Washinkai School of Karate in the UK and a team from Spain are busy preparing to compete in the UK Nationals.