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Alfred smashes his black belt grading assessment

Alfred Koenig (centre) graded to black belt, Standing with instructors Don McKay and Lindon McKenna
Alfred Koenig (centre) with instructors Don McKay (left) and Lindon McKenna (right)
Alfred (centre left) and Max (centre right) passed their grading on 5 June 2023
Alfred Konig (centre left) and Max Geale (centre right) passed their grading on the 5th of June 2023

Kofukan Karate Australia welcomed a new black belt to its ranks on the 5th of June 2023. Alfred Koenig (aged 14) achieved his junior Shodan at his home dojo in Kwinana in front of a panel of black belts.

Max Geale (aged 12) also graded to 2nd Kyu brown belt. Both students excelled at the grading and were pushed to their limits in kumite (free sparring) by older students and black belts.

Alfred writes in his grading application that he was inspired by the movie Karate Kid and thought karate would be fun. He likes “learning new things then improving, talking to friends, and seeing my improvements.”

“[Karate] provides a series of principles to live by and has given me extra people I class as family,” says Alfred. Alfred has ambitions to be a karate instructor.

Don McKay (4th Dan), Alfred’s and Max’s instructor, oversaw the grading and put them through their paces. Iain Humphrey (3rd Dan) and Brandon Didsman (1st Dan) assessed Alfred, and Lindon McKenna (3rd Dan) and Corey Parker (1st Dan) assessed Max.

Kofukan members progressing to 2nd Kyu and 1st Kyu brown belt and to black belt must grade before a panel. This ensures the quality and uniformity of our senior karate-ka. Members can find the grading requirements and assessment criteria for their 2nd Kyu, 1st Kyu and Shodan gradings in the Member Area.