ABILITYKIA ORA!
Welcome to the Summer Edition of the New Zealand Disability Karate Association Newsletter!
We're excited to share our very first newsletter of 2026 and kick off another fantastic year together!
This year we will be holding our second club tournament, and our Lower Hutt Saturday classes are going from strength to strength with three full hours of training:
- Karate
- Kobudo
- Karate Legends (for our younger students)
Let's make 2026 a year of growth, confidence, and connection for our karate whānau!
Hop into Our Easter Class!
Join us on Wednesday 8th April for a special Easter-themed class! Come dressed in your favourite costume. Will you be a hopping bunny, a chirpy chick, or something completely unique? We can't wait to see your creativity.
The class will be packed with fun, Easter eggs, a lolly scramble, plus lots of games and activities.
This class is open to everyone, current students, past members, and newcomers alike. So bring a friend and let's make it a class to remember!
Who has graded?
Since our last newsletter, we've held two successful gradings. We are incredibly proud of everyone who stepped forward and showed their progress. Our next grading will be in March, giving plenty of time to sharpen skills after the summer break.
Our club now includes:
- 26 white belts (10th kyu)
- 11 yellow belts (9th kyu)
- 21 orange belts (8th kyu)
- 21 green belts (7th kyu)
- 4 blue belts (6th kyu)
- 7 purple belts (5th kyu)
Keep training, keep learning, and let's reach new milestones together!
Plans for the year ahead.
We have big goals planned for 2026:
- Publish a book on developing inclusive and accessible karate programmes.
- Approach Wellington businesses for sponsorship support.
- Host a stand at Armageddon Expo in April.
- Update the syllabus to align with Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate.
- Open a third dojo.
- Hold our second club tournament.
- Send the 2025 annual report to Charities Services.
- Remember you can invite your friends along to class.
Rainbro's Black Belt
The sixth book in the Rainbro series has been published in time for the Armageddon Expo.
Any money made from book sales goes towards running the club.
The copies in the dojo will be sold at the special price of $15, which is a saving of nine dollars.
This is the final Book in the series and concludes Rainbro's karate adventures.
Look out for the Autumn 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