Eight students of Bodhi Dharma get black belts

MUSCAT: The Bodhi Dharma Martial Arts Academy put eight of their students to a real test, recently. For a week, these students underwent a series of gruelling tests.

On the first day they ran 25km plus at a stretch, then on the second, they did around 1,700 strenuous exercises and then on the third, they did 32 including displays with weapons and within that week, they did various other tough tests too.

In fact for nearly six months, these eight students of the Bodhi Dharma Martial Arts Academy, which is under the White Rose Institute in Darsait, were put to the endurance test of their lives, which culminated with the final week of their test where they went through the most crucial and the excruciating battle for their titles.

But, it was worth it, for at the end of it, the eight, whose ages varied from 13 (youngest) to 42 (eldest), were suitably rewarded for their efforts: they were awarded their black belts in the presence of top officials, media and their family members.

Out of the eight, Karthick Raja and Ashwin Arjun are both 2nd Dan black belt holders while the rest, Joel Thomas Ninan, Surya Narayanan, Hepsan Sankar, Priyanka Chandra Mouli, Shawn Sebastian and Amit Prashanth are all 1st Dan black belt holders.

The guests of honour were Tsuyoshi Hirata from the Japanese Embassy, Ali Qassim Al Lawati, Hussain Sameer Al Lawati and Saleh Al Khamyasi.

Dream come true

“It was a dream come true for the students of the black belt batch of 2017 to receive their black belts. Especially since the certificates were sent directly from the grand master, Kichiro Shimabuku, 10th Dan, president of IWKA (Isshinryu World Karate Association),” ‘Renshi’ G. Kumar, the head of Bodhi Dharma Academy, said. The Bodhi Dharma Academy has been training students in the Isshinryu style of karate since the last 15 years and it is affiliated to IKWA, headquartered in Japan.

Discipline of life

The students who received their Sho Dan (first degree) and Ni Dan (second) degree black belts noted that Renshi Kumar was an inspiring figure for them in many ways. “It is not self-defence alone, we learn the discipline of life at the Bodhi Dharma academy under Renshi Kumar,” they enthused.

Officials from the Japanese embassy were also present among other officials at the colourful awarding ceremony, which was held at Al Maasa Hall in Ruwi.