Newsletter #03 - 10 July 2009

Sensei Bob stayed with us just prior to the Nationals which gave us time to discuss our ongoing relationship. The outcome of that discussion is that we both agreed that it would be in the best interest for Shitoryu Palmerston North to fully align ourselves with Shitokai New Zealand. Sensei Bob is very supportive and without his involvement, promoting Shitoryu in Palmerston North would have been all the more differcult. Sensei Bob is very please with the decision and fully welcomes Palmerston North into the Karatedo Shitokai New Zealand organisation.

To complete the transition, we will now operate as Karatedo Shitokai New Zealand - Palmerston North

Nicky Roberts makes the World Junior Champs Morocco Squad - 2009

Nicky Roberts, has been named to represent New Zealand in the 6th WKF Cadet and Junior World Championships in Rabat, Morocco. I know that Bob and Nicky have been under a lot of pressure waiting for the announcement and to finally get there, is a great achievement. Many times when I have spoken to Bob, we have touch on the subject and now after hours of training each week, the work has paid off for only one competitor from each country is selected. Certainly having watched Nicky perform the two Shitei kata during the kata off at the Nationals, Nicky is looking very sharp and I would expect that she is in very good form for the WSKF World Champs in Beijing, China next month and then later for Morocco in November.

So from the Palmerston North group and I'm sure many others :-)

Congratulations Nicky and Bob 

Pre-Nationals Training

As mentioned above, we were fortunate to have Sensei Bob and Nicky Roberts and her mum stay with us before the Nationals which allowed us to get some one on one training. Nicky spent time with Hasegawa Sensei earlier this year working specifically on technique and we were lucky enough to have Sensei Bob and Nicky instruct us on the finer points of kata, which I know helps us a lot before heading down to Wellington for this year Nationals.

                                    Nicky demonstrates and explains the finer points in kata

       Sensei Bob working with Kieran on Kihon.                  Sensei Bob, Nicky, Dave, Kieran and Ann

Karatedo Shitokai New Zealand - Whangarei update (Sensei Bob Dalton)

June was another very good club month with several more gradings completed. The standard of Karate within the club continues to rise, & I am particularly impressed with the way everyone continues to put 100% into their training. It is certainly showing in the standards of the club.

As I said last month we are now into the real competition season for Karate, & the nationals are only 2 weeks away. We are taking seven competitors to the Nationals, plus Murray Burns & myself as coaches, & a further three competitors from our Palmerston North club. We have not had this many competitors at the Nationals for more years than I can remember, & when you consider the financial times plus the cost incurred in airfares, accommodation etc. it is very heartwarming, & confirms my thoughts that Karatedo Shitokai is in very good heart with a great future. I t makes me very proud to be  your instructor. As a bonus, I think we will do very well at the competition, although I do not mind how everyone goes, as long as they do their best, which everyone always does. We are all staying at the same Wellington motel, walking distance to the tournament venue, which means a weekend full of laughs & hard competition. Last year was tremendous, & with the big team this year, it will be even better, just dress for Wellington, not Whangarei Add in our Beijing trip & it all adds up to a great club!

Speaking about Beijing, fund raising is now in full swing, with a raffle underway & our wine sales in full swing, plus a garage sale at the end of July. Certainly life is full on at the moment!

We also took 6 competitors to the Hamilton tournament on the weekend, another long car trip entailing getting up at 4.30 am & getting home again at around 8 pm. However the club did well, with 4 gold & 4 silver medals. I received an email from the tournament organiser & chief referee, Robbie Smith, complimenting us on the standard of our competitors.

Nicky Roberts was again the standout competitor with gold in junior & senior women kata. She was in imperious form, brushing off her competition with ease & earning individual praise from two international kata judges. Nicky has been training 6 days a week since the NZ Open, including kihon & resistance training & 2 days a week at gym weight sessions. I do not know how she does it, as she is also a gifted young woman scholastically. She simply says she copes with the support of her Mum, & with great difficulty! I never predict medals at tournaments, particularly Nationals, as talk is cheap & can come back & bite you. All I will say is that I think she will do quite well, as will the other competitors. Zara also earned individual praise on her kihon standard, & I think all the extra training she has done with me is now beginning to pay off. Matt & Daniel Burns also performed well with Matt winning 1 kumite gold & a kumite & kata silver, & Daniel won silver in his first ever competition. Well done Daniel! Joseph also collected a kata silver, with the only person missing out, Aaron Springford. However, Aaron was in a particularly competitive division & it was no disgrace to lose. He gave it 100% which is what matters.

Nicky's Mum, Nicky & I are calling into Palmerston North on the way to Wellington to give them some extra training. Dave Nuku & Murray Burns are trying for their Nidans this december. PN will probably be cold, but the softies there have a heated dojo, so it should not be too bad. Ideal for us Northlanders used to sub tropical temperatures!

That is it again. Continue to enjoy your training & keep raising your standards, as all of you are doing now.

Bob Dalton

Regards