Newsletter #06 - 14 June 2010

So What's New for June 2010

Karate Do Shitokai continues with it's very busy year, with members making the New Zealand Oceania squad, competing in Competitions and a number of gradings. One of the big events is Hasegawa Sensei visit back in April in which Sensei Bob organises, when possible every year. This year, it was Nicky and Matt who had some intensive training sessions with Hasegawe Sensei.

2010 OCEANIA TEAM Selected for Tahiti in September.

(From Sensei Bob) Another success was the National training camp held on the Monday and Tuesday after the NZ Open and despite the mixed open results, Shitokai New Zealand had four club members selected for the NZ team, which is the most we have had since 2001. Back then, it was James Halilovich, Blair Cardno, Travis Butler and Kayla Neho, who were the club stars then. It is great to see a new group coming through and it is a testiment to their hard training and determined attitudes.

The two Senior Kata spots (male and female) went to Nicky and Matthew, who were also selected for the Special Oceania category of 18-20 years. Matt Burns, who impressed many people with his kumite improvement was selected for Junior Men -68kg kumite. The surprised selection was Zara Wech, who, although she had a very disappointing NZ Open  result, was selected for 14-15 years female  -45kg kumite. The selectors needed a lightweight fighter and put Zara "through the hoops" at the camp and were very impressed with her gutsiness and determination, announcing her place in the NZ team at the camp. Way to go Zara! Now Zara has to really get stuck into kumite which she will, and I am sure she will perform with distinction in Tahiti.

Well done all of you, once again you have done the club proud, congratulations.

2010 Oceania Team Selection

Zara Welch, Nicky Roberts, Matthew Burns and Mathew Baird

Palmerston North Grading and NZ Nationals 2010

Very busy time for gradings and congratulations to a number of successful members. For Palmerston North, Ann successfully graded to 5th Kyu with the help from Kieran and our newest member Tom Green. With grading completed, it is full focus for the Nationals in 4 weeks time and a time when we get to catch up with the other team members. Last year we had 9 competitors with Sensei Bob and Murray in coaching roles. This year, Ann will have her first chance to compete in the Development grades.

                                                                   And the supporters  

              Ann Grading

Karate Do Shitokai New Zealand expands to Kamo

Sensei Bob is very pleased with the recent opening of the new Shitokai New Zealand Kamo Branch at the Kamo Intermediate School. The club head instructor is Murray Burns, an excellent Karateka of many years experience. The branch was opened in response to an increasing number of new members and to accomodate the growth in Karatedo Shitokai membership. With membership beginning to exceed 50, Sensei Bob was in the unfortunate position of having to restrict further membership at the head dojo in Western Hills Drive.

With Murray Burns now running the Kamo Branch, classes are held in the "DARE TO DREAM" room at the school, on Mondays and Thursdays, 5.15pm until 6.45pm. Classes are mixed, children and adults.

The Kamo branch is an excellent opportunity for Kamo and surrounding suburbs to learn Karate, with the convenience of not having to travel far to train.

For further information and /or questions, please phone Murray Burns on 09 4353161

or the Karatedo Shitokai New Zealand Head instructor, Sensei Bob Dalton, on 09 4371119

Message from Sensei Bob Dalton

What a tremendous club we now have! It is the biggest it has been for many years and in fact, since about the mid 80's when Karate was very popular among adults (very few children trained in those days). It appears Karate is having a resurgence again and this time with many young people wanting to learn the art. Our club is most fortunate, as we have a very good adults/young people balance, and we are also fortunate in having some excellent black belt instructors to help. I certainly could not manage a club of this size without the help of our black belts, and I sincerely thank them for their involvement & time.

Murray Burns has now opened his Kamo branch in the "Dare to Dream" room at Kamo Intermediate, and I look forward to his reports. On our club site there is now a separate area for the Kamo branch and Murray will be updating it regularly. What with our Palmerston North branch and our "Sister" club in Noumea, Karatedo Shitokai is going from strength to strength, which is fantastic.

Speaking of our Noumea club, Matthew Baird and I are flying to Noumea from 23-31st July, to teach and help improve them. As most of you know, three of their black belts travelled to Whangarei over Easter this year to train with Hasegawa Sensei and their improvement was immediate, so I expect to see big jumps in their level in July. Incidentally, New Caledonia in July , won't be half bad. As the saying goes, it is a tough job but someone has to do it!

The club has just completed a big number of 4th and 3rd kyu gradings. It is good to report that all were successful and the standard in the main was high. We can now concetrate on improving their levels and have our new young members move up to higher grades.

As for most years, this one will end with two or three Shodan and one Nidan grading. Matt Burns is gearing up for a Nidan grading and possibly three others for Shodan, so they are all working hard towards that. The club is "maturing" nicely, which is fantastic to see, while giving us an increasing core of skilled instructors.

Enjoy your training and train hard.

Bob Dalton

Regards Dave Nuku