Latest update March 29th, 2025 5:38 AM
Youth in Focus: When a 1st degree Black belt just isn’t enough
Alliyah Ramnarine aspires for the 2nd degree Black belt ranking
When one thinks of karate and Kung Fu, the names Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, two world renowned practitioners, immediately come to mind. Visions of men dressed in white, in ominous face offs are natural expectations; hardly anyone would imagine a 12 years old female, dressed in all white and decorated with a Black belt around her waist, matching the feats of her male counterparts, yet Alliyah Ramnarine has defied that conventional theory and is engaged in Karate, a
Alliyah Ramnarine
sport once regarded as male oriented.
Alliyah, a student of the Richard Ishmael Secondary School, was born into a family that loved the sport (her uncle Quacy Baveghens was a 6 Degree Black Belt) and trains under the tutelage of her father, Master Lloyd, in West Minster where he has constructed a small gym at his home. Otherwise she travels ‘across the river’ to the Diamond ECD gym where she also hones her skill.
“I started practicing Karate with my dad since I was 9 years old,” revealed Alliyah. She said that though she loved the sport she initially found the exercises and training regiment somewhat demanding. “The exercises were a bit difficult but dad was always there to encourage me on,” she continued.
The young practitioner further said that through application and determination she was able to apply herself to the tasks. “I had to balance between school work and karate activities and most times I had difficulties but my dad continued to encourage and assist me,” she further revealed.
During her initial years Alliyah was taught a mixed style of Shotokan, judo, stick fighting and Brazilian jujitsu among others. Slowly, she gelled into the sport and went through the 10 stages to clinch her current rank. She now has her eyes set on the 2nd degree ranking which, if she continues in the current trend, can be attained within the next year.
But how does Alliyah view her sport? “Martial arts is a way of life,” she declares; I feel confident when I am alone, even on dark roadways that I could defend myself against predators,” chuckled Alliyah. She encourages all women to take up the sport as a means of self-defence. She said that she is appalled by the high incidence of domestic abuse where the women are the victims and offers advice to the affected women, “There are insane men out there with no respect for women; we cannot just lay back and take the abuse; martial arts presents a practical way out of our predicament and sends a strong message to all men that women can also protect themselves,” declares Alliyah.
During her spare time she loves surfing the net but also finds time for her studies. Alliyah also likes to curl up with a good love novel as she feels reading is a very good vocation and can serve to improve one’s perspective of life.
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