ISKF-Guyana Karatekas achieve Back-to-Back success locally and internationally

Jun 21, 2025 Sports

Guyana’s ISKF team copped a few medals including a gold following the end of a successful ISKF Masters Camp held in the USA.

Kaieteur Sports – Guyana’s martial arts scene reached new heights in June as the International Shotokan Karate Federation of Guyana (ISKF-Guyana) proudly represented the nation at the 56th ISKF Master Camp, held in Pennsylvania, USA.

The spirited 20-member team returned home with several commendable accomplishments after participating in the week-long event, which took place from June 6 to 13. The camp brought together ISKF members from around the globe and featured training sessions led by esteemed instructors, including Hiroyoshi Okazaki Shihan (9th Dan, ISKF Chief Instructor) and Shojiro Tobita Sensei (7th Dan).

A major highlight of the camp was the international tournament held on June 12, where Guyana’s athletes tested their skills on the global stage.

Justin Sampson captured gold in the Male Open Kata (Under-18) division, while Nyota Rodrigues earned bronze in the Female Open Kumite (18+ division) and added a silver medal in the Female Mixed Kumite category. The Male Team Kumite (18+) trio of Bradley Mohabir, Alex Rodrigues, and Shawn Jemmott also secured bronze medals, adding to Guyana’s impressive medal tally.

Preparations for the Master Camp were bolstered by a successful National Tournament held on May 31 at the Marian Academy Auditorium. The event featured 98 competitors across various categories and served as a key step in identifying top talent for international representation.

Karatekas pose for a group photo after medal award ceremony at the Marian’s Academy Auditorium.

The tournament concluded with several individual awards, underscoring the depth of talent in the Guyanese squad. Aiden Persaud received the Best Junior Male award, while Chelsea Harrison and Zemira McKoy were named Best Female Juniors. Talitha Kissoon delivered a dominant performance, winning both the Female Kumite and Kata events, and taking 1st place in both categories of the 15+ Female Blackbelt Contest. Kristian Chaves mirrored her success, clinching gold in both the Male Kumite and Kata (20+) divisions.

In a significant development during the ISKF Country Directors’ Meeting, Guyana formally proposed to host the 6th Shoto Cup World Tournament in 2029, ISKF’s most prestigious global event. In recognition of their contributions, ISKF-Guyana was also honored with the ‘Best Supporting Country’ award.

Looking ahead, ISKF-Guyana is setting its sights on the 5th Shoto Cup World Tournament in Mexico in 2026. Medalists from the recent national competition are being considered for selection to represent Guyana at the upcoming global event.

Outside the competition arena, ISKF-Guyana’s Secretary, Marlon George, successfully completed the examinations to earn his ‘C’ Class Judges License, a significant achievement attained during live tournament judging.

The association extended heartfelt thanks to its partners, including Guyana Beverages Inc. and Trophy Stall, for their continued support in advancing martial arts in the country.

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ISKF Master Camp, ISKF-Guyana, Karate, karatekas, Shojiro Tobita Sensei

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