On Saturday, November 4, the Sochin Shotokan Karate Clubs held their first grading at Dyffryn Taf Sports Hall in Whitland. The grading examiner was Sensei Bob Poynton 7th Dan of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB), who travelled down from Liverpool, especially for the event. Participating clubs included Whitland, Tenby, and some students from as far afield as Cwmbran. A two-hour instructional course was held before the grading for the karate students, this was enjoyed by everyone. Afterwards, parents and family were allowed into the Sports Hall to watch the grading exam itself. A total of 43 new students, a mix of adults and juniors, successfully gained their very first grade of Orange Belt, or 9th Kyu, and some even double graded to Red Belt, or 8th Kyu! More advanced students also successfully gained their Yellow, Purple and Brown Belts. Senior instructor of the clubs in the area, James Masterman, said: "Sochin Shotokan Karate Club was proud to invite such a renowned senior karate instructor as Sensei Poynton to conduct our first course and grading and look forward to welcoming him back for all of our future gradings." With such high quality instruction and dedicated students the new Sochin clubs are growing steadily and are set for a bright future.   Special thanks to Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, Whitland, for all their help on the day, and since the club started at the Sports Hall last May. The Sochin Whitland Club trains every Tuesday at Dyffryn Taf Sports Hall from 7.30 until 9 pm, and also has clubs at Greenhill School, Tenby, on a Thursday from 6 - 7.30 pm, and Crymych Leisure Centre on a Friday, also 6 - 7.30 pm, as well as in Cwmbran, Caerleon and the University of Wales, Newport, in East Wales. For further details, contact James Masterman on 07955 114702.