Black and Kyu Belt tests held at Gillam Grant

Black Belts promoted at Gillam Grant (Collamer-Jones) Karate on June 2 were: front row kneeling (l-r) Shihan Cyndy Jones, Rick Hawley, and Jim Koudelka; middle row (l-r) Russell Adams, Nicholas Adams, Nicholas Gartley and Toby Mahan, Bob Finn, Lori Kloesz, Lynn Heath and Josh Lyons, back row (l-r) Alan Uthman, Mark Lyons, Duane Gutowski and Stan Stephenson.

Blue Belts promoted were front row (l-r) Lisa Paul, Brittany Rada, Ashley Bates, Amie Fox; back row (l-r) Kyle Lattau, Jimmy Muscatella, Fred Farnum and Jen VanValkenburg.

Brown Belts promoted were: Alyssa Smudzin, Therese Smudzin, Jacob Rada and Jamie Owen.

Green Belts promoted (l-r) Daniel VanValkenburg, Kerri Bates and Mary Platek.

Black and Kyu Belt tests held at Gillam Grant

On June 2, Karate black belt promotion tests were held at the Gillam Grant Center in Byron-Bergen. The test started with a celebration by the school of Shihan Cyndy Jones and Sensei Rick Hawley's promotions to eighth and sixth degree Black Belt, respectively. These high level promotions came from Okinawan Master Kichiro Shimabuku, head of the Isshin Ryu Karate System. Shimabuku honored both instructors for their efforts in promoting and teaching Isshin Ryu Karate.

The test continued with the evaluation and promotion of eight students to the rank of ShoDan (First Degree Black Belt). They are Robert Finn, Duane Gutowski, Lynn Heath, Lori Kloesz, Josh Lyons, Mark Lyons, Stan Stephenson and Alan Uthman.

Russell Adams, Nicholas Adams, Nicholas Gartley and Toby Mahan earned Second Degree Black Belt Promotions. Sensei Jim Koudelka was promoted to Fourth Degree Black Belt.

Jamie Owen, Jacob Rada, Therese Smudzin and Allyssa Smudzin were promoted to brown belt. Kerri Bates, Mary Platek and Daniel VanValkenburg were promoted to green belt. Kris Petote, a brown belt, was promoted to Sempai. Ashley Bates, Amie Fox, Fred Farnum, Kyle Lattau, Jimmy Muscatella, Lisa Paul, Jen VanValkenburg and Brittany Rada were promoted to blue belt.

This karate belt rank test took place on the last class of the session at the Gillam Grant Center. The Byron-Bergen karate program was started over 20 years ago by Shihan Jones, and she was recently honored for this by the Gillam Grant Community Center.

For information on summer martial arts classes at the Collamer-Jones Dojo in Byron-Bergen call Jones at 585-548-2801. Fall classes at the Center (585-494-1621) start on September 29.