Redding Shotokan Karate

Congratulations to all the kyu test participants!

The test was last night during the regular class period. We had 14 students testing, including two each from West Side Shotokan (Scott Kingsbury) and Shasta College (Dallas Adams).

Three students - Lynette, Sammy, and Jeremy (Shasta College) - tested for 6th kyu. Everyone else was unranked. We were happy to be able to promote all the students who tested. Jun, a Japanese exchange student, has only practiced with us for about two months, but his dedication and hard work paid off: he was promoted from unranked to 7th kyu.

All the students showed great progress. The students from other dojos did very well and it was good for all to have the experience of facing the new students in kumite.

Hiroko made it clear that practice does not stop at the test. Testing is only an assessment of current level, not an end result. Students should immediately return to class without taking a vacation. I commented that we're giving them 12 hours off. Then practice begins again. :)

Thanks to Scott and Dallas for continuing to support SKA karate in Redding and for working together with us to benefit our students. Thanks to Hiroko and David, and the Sun Oaks staff, for making this event possible!

And a big thank you to the parents of our younger students! I know it can't be easy shuttling them back and forth, and making time to come watch the kyu test. We really appreciate your support!