Led by Sensei Rodney Ramlal, the kickboxing division was the most active group of the T&T Karate Federation (TTKF) this year, and the federation is encouraging more T&T kickboxing clubs to register for 2014.Sensei Ramlal was graded to 4th Degree black belt by the global arm of the Brazilian Traditional Kickboxing Federation (CBKBT). The CBKBT, led by president Carlos Silva, is recognised by the Brazil Sport Ministry and has over twenty thousand members in Brazil with branches in 17 countries, including T&T.
Sensei Ramlal is also a 2nd degree in Shito-Ryu karate and 3rd Degree in Nihon ju-jitsu. In addition he is also a graduate of the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) Coaching Principles course.Ramlal, once ranked ninth in the world under the International Kick Boxing Federation (IKBF), was encouraged by Silva to run kickbxing in T&T. Earlier this year, Ramlal became the director of kickboxing in T&T and the country has seen a surge in the art form. Sensei Ramlal was proactive in 2013, bringing the sport to the forefront of T&T martial arts by targeting rural areas of the country such as Rio Claro.
Ramlal would like more semi-contact and full contact kickboxing tournaments in T&T. He believes contact kickboxing is important for self defense. In the upcoming year, Ramlal plans to bring Silva to this country to have workshops and coaching sessions to improve the standard of kickboxing. The TTKF is confident that under Ramlal's continued supervision, kickboxing will keep expanding. Ramlal already has several tournaments planned for the new year. T&T kickboxing clubs can contact Sensei Ramlal at 706-4583 to register for 2014.