Balachandran proves a belter on the floor
BLYTH South Beach Karate Club has welcomed a new black belt to its ranks.
Kanushanth Balachandran passed his grading for Shodan
(First Dan Black Belt) at his first attempt.
He becomes the first student from the Northumberland club to pass their black belt examination in more than 15 years - and the first to pass under the guidance of current club instructors Sensei Dylan Gibson, Third Dan and Sensei Gemma Gibson, Third Dan.
Balachandran travelled to Cowdenbeath in Scotland to take the examination under Sensei Frank Brennan, Eighth Dan and chairman of the Karate
Union of Great Britain. The first- time pass rate for black belt gradings is low – many of the students who passed their grading on the day were taking the exam for the second or third time.
Dylan and Gemma Gibson said: “We are very proud of Kanushanth becoming the first black belt in the club for many years.
“The examination is gruelling and difficult but Kanushanth excelled in his basics, kata and kumite.
“We are very proud of all the hard work he has put in to achieve this and we are sure all of our club members will be very excited to have a black belt in the club.”