Garon Wilkinson Earns Black Belt In Kickboxing
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Garon Wilkinson, the Bermuda Sanshou Association president, has become the island’s first World Kickboxing and Karate Association [WKA] graded black belt.
Wilkinson earned the distinction at the recent WKA World Championships in Prestatyn, Wales, where he coached Bermudian mixed martial artists Kallan Todd, Che Durham and Krista Dyer to medals.
The WKA is one of the oldest and largest amateur and professional sanctioning bodies for kickboxing and karate.
Wilkinson also has black belts in Northern Shaolin Kungfu and Gyaku Shin Kai Karate and is an advanced student in Capoeira, a Brazilian art form.
He won a gold medal and two silver medals at the Pan American Kungfu Championships in San Jose, California, in 2019.
“I’ve never been tested in pure kickboxing before,” Wilkinson told Bernews.
“I was pleased with the way I faired. There were about three hours of pad work and some conditioning work. I’ve sparred with our athletes and trained consistently, so I’m in good shape.”
Wilkinson, who lived and trained in Japan for six years, said his lifelong passion for mixed martial arts remains as strong as ever.
“I’m still a student in the sport and pride myself on learning, he added.
“Whenever I travel, I pack my training gear and visit different schools and dojos. It’s a global community and very welcoming.
“It’s always good to solidify your learnings and teachings under a set curriculum. My knowledge of the sport has grown as an athlete and coach.”
