ABILITYKIA ORA!
Welcome to the Spring issue of the New Zealand Disability Karate Association newsletter.
This is the last newsletter of 2023. What a year we have had, our club has more than doubled in size. There are now classes at Manaaki Ability Trust for the Trust's clients. And most recently we have run classes for the students of Wellington High School.
And the year is not over we still have one more grading and our special Christmas class!
Wellington High School
We are currently running a short karate course for Wellington High School. This is as part of the students with complex education needs end of year programme.
Thank you to Liz Mckay and the students for welcoming us into their community. It is great to see the students enjoying karate.
Karate @ Manaaki
The Manaaki Ability Trust clients have reached a major karate milestone. 12 clients are now yellow belts!
By this time next year, it is likely there will be green belts at Manaaki Ability Trust.
Karate on the Beach
Over the summer holiday it would be great if both dojos were to meet up and train together.
If we could all meet up near the pier at Petone on Saturday 13th January 2024 at 11am. We could train for an hour and then have lunch together. If the weather is bad we can always meet up on the following Saturday.
If this is something you would like to do let Sensei know so that he can get an idea of numbers.
Rainbro and the Art of Kobudo
The fifth book in the Rainbro series is nearing completion. In this book Rainbro learns how to use weapons such as the Bo, Sai, Tonfa and nunchaku.
Any money made from book sales will go towards running the club.
The copies in the dojo will sold at the special price of $15, which is a saving of nine dollars.
Book five will be out in January 2024.
Okinawa Trip
Sensei recently travelled to Okinawa to train with Nakamoto Hanshi. There were 9 instructors from New Zealand. Each day the group would start training at 10am and stop at 1pm for a break.
Training would then continue at 7pm until 9pm with Nakamoto Hanshi, along with his senior instructors.
Nakamoto Hanshi has been training since he was 6 years old and is now in his mid-90s. He has almost 100 years of karate knowledge that he shared with us!
It was a privilege to be in the same dojo as him.
Who has graded?
There has been two gradings since our last newsletter. We have 2 new members. There have been 16 yellow belt gradings.
In our club there are now
- 7 white belts (10th kyu)
- 35 yellow belts (9th kyu)
- 3 orange belts (8th kyu)
- 2 green belts (7th kyu)
- 4 blue belts (6th kyu)
What is coming up
Our plans for the next quarter
- Complete the story for book five in the Rainbro series.
- Finish work on the new club information pack.
- Have an awesome Christmas break.
- We are targeting businesses around Wellington for funding support.
- Have a stand at the DIA Christmas market.
- Grade our orange belt students to green.
- Remember you can invite your friends along to class.
Special Christmas Class
On Wednesday 13th December we will have our Christmas class. There will be lots of games and fun.
There will be lollies and Christmas crackers.
This will be our last class of the year.
Look out for the Summer issue and feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.
Membership is free and open to anyone who wishes to take part in the martial arts training offered by the club. All the details are on our website. www.karatedojo.nz
Ngā mihi