The combat skills of at least thirty-three officers in the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force and the Prison Service have been greatly enhanced with a five-month martial arts course facilitated by two officers from the Chinese army.

The aim of the course, which ran from March 31 to August 29, was to enable students to have a perfect command of special fighting skills and to enhance their psychological qualities under battle conditions.

The course was facilitated by Captain Lu Shuangtao, instructor and Captain Zhu Yuze as the interpreter.

According to Lt Drumson Maccaulay, who was also a student on the course, twenty of the students were from the GDF, ten from the police force, five from the Presiden-tial Guards Department and five from the prison services. Some students dropped out during the course.

The syllabus comprised of several subjects, including jumping and balancing, combinations, forms (shaolin shadow boxing, long shadow boxing), wrestling methods, arresting and anti-arresting, confrontation and reaction, comprehensive arts of attack and defence and psychology.

According to Lt Mac-caulay during the training two students were hospitalised, one for an injured neck and the other is presently suffering from injuries to the lower back.

He recommended that a medical orderly be attached to any future course at all times so that accidents could be better dealt with.

Yesterday the students displayed some of what they learnt over the last five months.

Assistant Prison Officers, Patrick Crawford and Dane Fullington won awards for the best all-round student and the most improved student respectively. GDF Private, Karlson Softleigh was the runner-up best student.

All students yesterday received certificates while Major Enoch Gaskin delivered the charge to the students.