PUHI — Local youth Kilinoe Brown has been promoted to shodan, or first-degree black belt, from a local school of the International Shotokan Karate Federation.
“For our organization, because it’s an international organization, she’s not tested by me. She’s tested by a member of a technical committee that consists of 13 people throughout the United States that can offer the test,” said instructor Edmund Acoba. “We had to fly the person in, and they administer the test. She was tested in front of sensei Cathy Cline, who’s the highest-ranking female black belt in the entire organization. It’s kind of a big deal.”
Brown had been studying karate for about six to seven years, Acoba said.
Brown, of Moloaa, passed her exam in July.
“To reach that milestone makes me very proud,” Acoba said. “It wasn’t like it was biased on my part that she passed. She had to pass through other eyes. … They have to perform three things. One is showing basic movements. For her level, it was more than basic movements. Her level is a little more advanced in executing techniques.
“Then, there was doing a set of forms where it simulates multiple attacks on you, and then actual sparring. So, being able to defend yourself and also counterattack. She passed all three phases. There were seven students that tested, and only two passed. Jenna Galiza was the other one,” he added.
Brown couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.
Acoba has been teaching karate since 2010 when he received his black belt. The class meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the Wilcox Gymnasium at Island School in Puhi.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
