Well done to those that attended the Autumn Grading, it was great to see some real positive improvement among those that challenged with most people passing confidently.
For those that were not successful this time please continue too work hard on your basics, frequently refer to the grading requirements for your level and ask for help and advice to ensure you can be ready for the next grading. Sensei Adam will be able to provide you specific direction if you ask.
Our next Junior & Senior grading is the winter grading. Almost everyone should be setting this as a target date to challenge for your next belt so start to fine tune your training towards being ready for this grading.
Don’t forget you can find all your grading requirements, information on how gradings work, technique guides and more in the eDojo website.
I was 54 years old the very first time I walked into a karate dojo. That made me the oldest person there. I was a successful professional, I had sailed in world championships, and I was in the first 15 rugby team at school. But none of that prepared me for what I’d find in the dojo.
I was reluctant to even try karate. That first Thursday night was a free trial class that my wife and kids were keen to try out. They were excited. Here’s what was going through my mind:
I’m too old for this.
I could get hurt.
I’m going to look stupid.
I don’t have time in my busy schedule for this.
I didn’t even make up my mind to try the class until the last minute. Then, I took a deep breath and stepped onto the mats.
And here’s the truth. I did feel a little silly. For about five minutes. Then I realised a few really important things:
No one was looking at me.
No one cared how old I was.
I had stopped thinking negative thoughts and was concentrating on paying attention and learning what to do.
I was learning karate!
At the end of that first class, the whole family was hooked. Me included.
The unexpected benefit of karate
That first class was six years ago. I’ve since progressed to the first of three brown belt levels. And I won’t lie: there have been some challenging moments. But now, if I don’t train at least three times a week, I feel antsy and uncomfortable.
I travel a lot for my work. A lot. So, I learned to do hotel room karate, finding space to train wherever I was in the world. Anytime I was home, I made it to the dojo as often as possible. I listened to the feedback and advice I received from my sensei and from senior students (sempai) and I worked hard to improve.
And the one thing that has improved the most as a result of karate is something you might not expect.
My mental health.
When I first started karate, my mind was often racing all over the place. It was hard to get a handle on my thoughts. I would often stand up to do a kata (form) and forget how to even start. I would get halfway through a kata and just stop, drawing a complete blank on what to do next.
But the more I’ve trained in karate, the clearer and calmer my mind has become. Sure, I still draw a blank sometimes. But nowhere near as much as I used to, and no more than anyone else in the dojo.
Everyone gets different benefits from the type of exercise they choose. For me, karate is the perfect mix of physical exercise and mental stimulation. Sometimes we just concentrate on getting our heart rate up and working up a sweat. Other times, we’re focused on activating certain muscles or perfecting certain techniques.
At the beginning and end of class, we take a few minutes for silent contemplation or meditation. These moments of stillness help centre me and prepare me for what’s next.
Here’s what I’ve learned about karate:
You’re never too old. You can go at your own pace and work around any injuries or limitations your body may have.
It’s not dangerous. We practice safely and everyone in the dojo is committed to learning, not trying to show how tough they are.
I’m happier and calmer, and my brain works more effectively, when I’m training versus when I’m not.
There’s always time for karate, even if you can’t make it to the dojo.
Being part of a dojo gives us a community, a karate family, that supports and challenges us.
** Upper Coomera Saturday Class – 9:00-10:00 (New Time) **
I am very excited to announce that we have secured a new more convenient time for our Upper Coomera Saturday class with the class now starting running from 9:00-10:00.
We have always wanted an earlier time slot for our Saturday classes and after a couple of years of perseverance we have now been given the opportunity
The first Saturday class for the year is Saturday 13 January 2018, see you there!
2017 Little Champions Karateka of the Year – Dylan Preston
You can read why these karateka received their awards plus a full review of the 2017 year in our annual yearbook by downloading here -> 2017 Year Book (11MB).
For Gold Coast Chito-Ryu Karate members you can also view all our Year Books in the eDojo.
Our final grading for the year was a small one but with a very good standard. Congratulations to the following students for successfully achieving new ranks.
Brand new Yellow Belts at Gold Coast Chito-Ryu Karate.
Summer Grading participants
2018 Gradings
The next grading will come up very quickly so please everyone keep working hard towards achieving your goals, if your keen to grade at the Autumn Grading you will need to keep up your training over the holidays. What you require for gradings can be downloaded from the new members eDojo website (check your email for the eDojo password to access the site). As always if you need help please ask a senior student or instructor.
The grading dates for in 2018 (12th – 4th Kyu) are:
Autumn Grading – Friday 2 March
Winter Grading – Friday 1 June
Spring Grading – Friday 24 August
Summer Grading – Friday 30 November
Gradings for 3rd-1st kyu will occur on the following Friday when required.
On Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 November we were fortunate to host Soke Sensei as part of his annual Australian tour. Soke Sensei was accompanied by one of his senior students and master of kobudo Higuchi Kyoshi. Shihan Martin Phillips from the Sunshine Coast dojo also came down for the 2 days of training.
In a world were there are lots of different martial arts schools of all different flavours (and new flavours being invented every day) we are very fortunate to have access to the real budo arts through our Chito-Ryu family. To see the benefits of training diligently in a style of karate that has many layers to it, and what can be achieved through years of dedicated training is truly inspirational. To have Soke Sensei visit our dojo and share his knowledge is a true honour.
Soke Sensei took the regular classes starting with our Little Champions (4-7yrs) on the Wednesday night.
Little Champions Karate Class with Soke Sensei and Higuchi Sensei
The young kids loved the opportunity to train under Soke Sensei’s guidance and where very eager to show their best. They particularly loved getting to be koalas jumping onto and hanging on the bags.
Little Champions Koala’s with Soke Sensei and Phillips Shihan
The juniors class (8-11yrs) was a good test of spirit with lots of jumping to make the kids work hard.
Soke Sensei had the kids doing lots of jumping.Soke Sensei overseeing the Juniors karate classWednesday Nights Junior Class with Soke Sensei
The final class with the seniors was lots of basics and hard work for the first half and then splitting into groups for the second half. The beginners got to work with Soke Sensei which was a great thrill for them, the intermediate levels did some work on kicking with Martin Phillips Shihan, whilst the seniors spent their time with Higuchi Sensei working on kobudo.
Wednesday Nights Senior Class with Soke Sensei
Thursday night saw some good numbers of keen kids in the first class which was a combination of the Little Champions and the Juniors. Once again the kids were keen to impress Soke Sensei with their attitude and karate.
Soke Sensei working with the JuniorsThursdays combined Little Champions and Juniors Karate Class with Soke Sensei
The second class was a special kobudo class for 1st kyu and above with Higuchi Sensei. Higuchi Sensei has a great way of teaching where he is very encouraging and adds layers to your technique as your confidence grows. His enthusiasm is contagious and the 50 minute session went very quickly.
Bo training under the watchful eye of Higuchi Sensei.
The final session was again another good hard workout with lots of basics finishing with a run through all the kata up to Sanchin. For many of the students it was the first time they had seen some of these kata and the first time they had seen a karateka of Higuchi Sensei’s level perform kata. After speaking to some of the students afterwards they said it was a very impressive sight. The other observation from some of the senior students was how they could see the clear progression in technique from Sensei Adam to Phillips Shihan to Higuchi Kyoshi. Once again the depth of knowledge in Chito-Ryu Karate and the benefits of years of dedicated training was evident. Interestingly when some of the senior students remarked to Higuchi Sensei how impressed they were with his technique, Higuchi Sensei just shook his head and pointed to Soke Sensei indicating that he has some ways to go to reach Soke Sensei’s level.
The second half of the final session had Sensei Martin, Sensei Adam, Senpai Monica and Kazumi continue to work on weapons, this time with the sai. The remainder of the group continued to work very hard with lots of jumping kicks and kumite drills. There were some very sweaty bodies by the time the class ended.
An enjoyable dinner with our special guests to finish their trip to the Gold Coast. Soke Sensei discussed a little about the different paths of karate being sports karate and real karate. He discussed the secrets contained within kata and how when the student is ready to seriously study kata and real karate they will move away from the sports karate side of things (thanks Kazumi for helping translate). I felt we only scrapped the surface of the conversation and it is one I would like to continue at a future date.
The end of enjoyable few days of training leaving us all with lots to think about and work on, plus lots of inspiration to continue our studies of Chito-Ryu Karate-Do.
Thank you to the GC Chito-Ryu Karate Club Inc. who financed Soke Sensei’s visit to the dojo. As always it is a great investment in to the future of Chito-Ryu Karate-Do on the Gold Coast.
It was great for Gold Coast karateka to get an opportunity to train with Soke Sensei, the head of Chito-Ryu Karate-do on the Sunshine Coast this weekend. Soke Sensei was visiting the Sunshine Coast as the first part of his 2017 Australian Tour. Accompanying Soke Sensei was Higuchi Kyoshi, and Minowa Renshi.
Sam Lenton and Kazumi Tominaga were fortunate enough to attend both Saturday and Sunday with Sensei Adam joining them on the Sunday. Training on the Sunday consisted of lots of basics with Soke Sensei, a little bit of kumite drills with Higuchi Sensei and then Soke Sensei took the lower ranks through lots of kicking whilst Higuchi Sensei took the senior group through Ryukyu Kobudo with Bo, Sai and Nunchaku. A great day of training shared with the Sunshine Coast crew.
It is the Gold Coasts turn on Wednesday and Thursday as we host the second leg of the Australian Tour. The class schedule is the same as normal with the exception of the Thursday Family class which has been replaced with a special Kobudo class for 1st kyu and above.
Wednesday 29 November
4:00-4:40 Little Champions
4:50-5:45 Juniors
6:00-8:00 Seniors & Intermediate Juniors
Thursday 30 November
4:00-4:50 Little Champions & Juniors
5:00-5:50 Kobudo (1st Kyu and above)
6:00-8:00 Seniors & Intermediate Juniors
Don’t forget to check in to the classes using your Zenplanner app!
Attendees of the Soke Sensei Seminar at the Sunshine Coast Chito-Ryu Dojo with Soke Sensei, Higuchi Kyoshi, Minowa Renshi, Martin Phillips Shihan, Sandra Phillips Shihan, Adam Higgins Sensei
