23 black belts (not including Kancho Larry Giordano) spanning decades of attendance at Methuen Karate Association (MKA) were on deck Sunday, October 27th for their annual Black Belt Review. The morning session was primarily a rigorous test for 3 junior grade black belt candidates that included a brief warmup, a 1 mile run, review of some kihon (basics), kumite (sparring), kata, and tameshiwari (board breaking). The students were tested on both their physical and mental preparedness and evaluated not only on their technique, but also the spirit and endurance that they exhibited.
The review also provides a time for all the active black belts to hone their skills in kihon and kata. Kancho explains, “The continuing education and training of our black belt instructors and consistent demonstration of kata and basics is important to delivering a quality martial arts education to the Methuen Karate students.”
