Sensei Williams named to world karate body

MARTIAL Arts expert Darryl Williams continues to fly the Trinidad and Tobago flag high in his adopted homeland of New York, USA.

The former Diego Martin resident, currently chief instructor of the Karate Centre in New York, was recently elevated to the position of General Secretary of the Shuko-Kai Internation-al, the international umbrella body for the Shito-Ryu style of  karate . This type of the art form is pioneered by the Japan Karate-Do Federation (JKF), the governing body for the sport there. The appointment was made by the president of Shuko-Kai International, Shihan Kunio Miyake, Eighth Dan, vice-chairman of the USA-NKF (USA National Karate-Do Association).

USA-NKF is the National Governing Body (HGB) for the sport in the US and are associated with the Pan American Karate Federation and the World Karate Federation. Sensei Williams is one of TT’s most accomplished karatekas, holding a Fifth Degree Black Belt from both the International Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Kai (February 2002) and Shuko-Kai (January 2003). He is also a league referee with the USA-NKF and a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education (TTASPE). Sensei Williams has also distinguished himself as a successful participant of two highly recognised graduate coaching programmes in the US.

Among his responsibilities as the new General Secretary of Shuko-Kai will be working with international members to meet compliance regarding the technical and administrative areas of the organisation. The top TT karateka is also expected to visit India later this year to conduct a series of technical workshops. Currently in TT on a short visit, Sensei Williams announced that the 2004 Pan American Shuko-Kai Championships will be staged in Port-of-Spain and already 12 countries have indicated their participation. For information about Shuko-Kai Trinidad and Tobago, contact Michell Omar or Sensei Archie Leiba at telephone number 672-2309.