Congratulations to Domonic Cobo, Nic Cannon and Matias Maciel Silveira for achieving their Black Belts in Washinkai Karate. The gradings were held last Friday 4th September 2015 in the Jávea Polydeportivo on the Costa Blanca Spain and were awarded by Shihan Chris Thompson 8th Dan who led the tribunal made up of Shihan Francisco González Saiz (Paco) for the Valencian Karate Federation and Senior Instructors Sensei Geovanny Sanchez Salazar and Sensei Sarah Lakin.

These achievements mark a milestone for the Spanish club, as the last Shodan gradings took place over a year ago in May 2014. Shihan Chris Thompson commented that he was pleased with the high standard of the club and was looking forward to visiting again in February, when he expects the club to be ready for a number of second Dan gradings.

Shihan Chris Thompson reminded students that a Black Belt awarded by Washinkai Karate was recognized throughout the world by the World Karate Federation, the Japanese Karate Federation and the British Traditional Karate Association. In addition, the gradings have also been recognized by the Valencian Karate Federation who have registered the Dan grades within their own organization.