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Gold Coast Chito-Ryu Karate

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  • Winter Grading Success

    Winter Grading Success

    It was fantastic to see all the progress students had been making at our winter grading.  So many people stepped up showing significant growth since their last grading, it is a great sign for the future as they continue to work towards achieving their black belts.

    A special mention to all the White belts who stepped up for their first grading and performed very well showing they are on the path to consistent progress.

    We also had a number of our ex-Little Champions who all demonstrated they have adapted well to stepping up into the older age group.  With some having 2-3 years of training under their belt they were able to double and for one triple grade.  Well done!

    Grading Results:
    Carlo de Byl – 4 Kyu (Purple)
    Enoch Kavelin – 4 Kyu (Purple)
    Slade Revell – 6 Kyu (Blue)
    Eito Tashima – 6 Kyu (Blue)
    Charlie Chipperfield – 7 Kyu (Blue & White)
    Jemaine Mulcahy – 7 Kyu (Blue & White)
    Dylan Preston – 7 Kyu (Blue & White) **double grade
    Sarah Huston – 7 Kyu (Blue & White)
    Tom Allibone – 8 Kyu (Green)
    Ding (Martin) Ma – 8 Kyu (Green)
    Pailyne Price – 9 Kyu (Green & White)
    Leon Cersofios – 9 Kyu (Green & White)
    Sylas Dawson – 9 Kyu (Green & White)
    Hugo Harrington – 9 Kyu (Green & White)
    Lucas MacDonald – 9 Kyu (Green & White)
    Hou Leung (Cody) Ng – 9 Kyu (Green & White)
    Kar Yann (Chloe) Ng – 9 Kyu (Green & White)
    Johnson Yu – 9 Kyu (Green & White)
    Aidan Connolly – 10 Kyu (Orange)
    Henry Ho – 10 Kyu (Orange)
    Aggie Jones – 10 Kyu (Orange)
    Airi Tani – 10 Kyu (Orange) **triple grade
    Jayden Watanabe – 10 Kyu (Orange)
    Claire Mulcahy – 10 Kyu (Orange)
    Harrison Coughlin – 10 Kyu (Orange)
    Riley Dawson – 11 Kyu (Orange & White) **double grade
    Ari Everitt – 11 Kyu (Orange & White)
    Zen Kudo – 11 Kyu (Orange & White) **double grade
    Thomas Manley – 11 Kyu (Orange & White) **double grade
    Rowan Beste – 11 Kyu (Orange & White) **double grade
    Indigo Levin – 12 Kyu (Yellow)
    Xanthea van Wijk – 12 Kyu (Yellow)
    Hudson Humrich – 12 Kyu (Yellow)
    Yoko Tashima – 12 Kyu (Yellow)
    Avery Wu Leng – 12 Kyu (Yellow)
    Brett Humrich – 12 Kyu (Yellow)
    Peter Walsh – 12 Kyu (Yellow)

  • 2024 Japan Training Trip

    2024 Japan Training Trip

     

    Train, eat, train, eat, train, eat, sleep, repeat. That was the schedule for the most recent Japan training trip in May for Adam Higgins Shihan, Brendan Young Sensei, and Sam Lenton Sensei. They were joined at the Sohonbu (headquarters dojo) in Kumamoto, Japan by Mark Snow Renshi, Adam McDonald Sensei, and Peter Elphick Sensei for a week of intensive training with Nidaime Soke (second-generation Soke) and Sandaime Soke (third-generation Soke), along with Higuchi Kyoshi and Todd Tournat Renshi.

     

    As soon as we arrived on the Sunday, the Gold Coast crew dropped our bags and prepared to join in with a kobujyutsu seminar being run by Higuchi Kyoshi. This set the tone for the rest of the week, and was two hours of invaluable instruction and insights. We started with basics (numbers 1-16) before moving into the basic kata, getting detailed feedback from Higuchi Kyoshi along the way. With further kobujyutsu sessions on the Monday and Wednesday, with a Friday session run by Todd Tournat Renshi, we had plenty of feedback and information to bring back to the Gold Coast dojo. Sandaime Soke also ran a kobujyutsu class on the Monday evening, which reinforced what we’d been learning the previous two days and culminated in a sneak peek at the new nunchaku kata coming our way: Ryuu Kumo (Dragon Cloud).

    Morning training with Nidaime Soke was traditional, starting with a 30-minute seiza then fast kihons. No matter how fast we went, Nidaime Soke exhorted us to go faster. This provided a great opportunity to find the centre and relax; some of us were more successful at that than others but the important thing is to never give up. At Tuesday’s morning training we then went into Niseishi bunkai work, on Thursday we worked on our kata, and on Saturday morning we focused on kaishu (open hand) training before creating our own personal kata at the very end. After each session, Nidaime Soke shared advice and information that left us thinking more deeply about our karate and understanding our techniques more holistically. Then, we did souji (cleaning the floors) which included the front steps of the dojo. It was fun to do this as a group and to think about the generations of students who have come before us, all of whom had also washed those very same floors and front steps. We heard some stories about the tracks worn into the wooden floor by students practising suriashi (sliding feet) over the decades, and the way the 2016 earthquake had damaged the building.


    On Friday night, the Gold Coast crew was also lucky enough to be invited to Masuda Sensei’s dojo, which is just over the hill from the Sohonbu along narrow, twisty roads with plenty of hairpin turns and hair-raising intersections. Fortunately, we were being driven by an expert—one of Masuda Sensei’s senior students—so we made it there and back quite safely. We each had the opportunity to teach Masuda Sensei’s younger students who were just as respectful as they were fun-loving, and we all came away with big smiles. Then, we focused on our bojyutsu basics and went through the kata. It was wonderful to get additional perspectives from Masuda Sensei and his senior students to add to the input we’d gained during the week from Sandaime Soke, Higuchi Kyoshi, and Todd Tournat Renshi.


    After Saturday morning training and souji, it was time to pack up and head off. While Adam Sensei and Brendan Sensei had flights back to Australia the following day, Sam Sensei checked into a local hotel in preparation for a day trip on Sunday to Hiroshima, which is less than two hours away from Kumamoto by shinkansen (bullet train). Before we knew it, we were all back in the Gold Coast dojo, ready to put our learnings into practice and share what we had discovered.

    The next Japan training trip is likely to happen March-May 2025. If you are ranked 3 rd kyu and above, and you’d like to be part of it, register your interest with Adam Sensei. Make sure you read
    this article on training in Japan so you know what to expect:
    https://edojo.gckarate.com.au/front-page/membership-policies/training-in-japan/  (members only)

  • Kobujyutsu Grading Success

    Kobujyutsu Grading Success

    Well done to all those that successfully graded in Chito-Ryu Kobujyutsu yesterday.  It is great to see the progress everyone is making.

    4 Kyu – Xaviar Thompson
    4 Kyu – Millicent Mansbridge
    5 Kyu – Sarah Huston
    5 Kyu – Siani Symons
    5 Kyu – Bohdi Valencour
    5 Kyu – Jesse Valencour

  • New Brown Belts in the Dojo

    A huge congratulations to Harrison deByl and Millicent Mansbridge for achieving their 3rd kyu (Brown & white belt) on Friday.

    At Gold Coast Chito-Ryu Karate gradings must be earned, they are not just given. We believe it is important that students understand and demonstrate the commitment required to achieve success. This is not only a great habit to have for karate but one that will see our students achieve success in other areas of their lives. Both had been working very hard leading up to this grading demonstrating their willingness to learn and their understanding of the work required to achieve this level.

    3rd Kyu is a significant step in Chito-Ryu Karate and is an indicator that the serious training towards black belt is underway.  We look forward to seeing both Harrison and Millicent continue their hard work and achieve their black belts one day.

  • Young Leaders in Karate

    Karate is great for self-fitness, self-defence, self-confidence and many other personal benefits. One of the extended benefits of karate training is the opportunity to develop leadership and teaching skills. Like all activities, being good at something does not necessarily automatically make you a great teacher. Just being a black belt does not make you a great teacher. Teaching in itself is a skill set that also needs training and development but does share many common attributes of karate.

    To be a good teacher requires among other things:

    • Awareness of others (a karate skill)
    • Awareness of self (a karate skill)
    • Ability to remain clam (a karate skill)
    • Ability to strategise and think on your feet (a karate skill)
    • A kind giving heart (fostered in a karate dojo)
    • Resilience (a karate skill)
    • A solid knowledge of the material being delivered (acquired through constant regular karate training)

    At Gold Coast Chito-Ryu Karate we provide a leadership program to help develop our future leaders for the dojo and the wider community. Over the years of our dojo we have had a number of karate kids become school, house and team leaders. Members of our Leadership team work on assisting in classes for our younger dojo members as well as working on themselves to be leaders by example in their own classes.

    The following excerpt from a grading essay by one of our young dojo leaders,  Millicent Mansbridge (13 years) is a great example of the thought process and beliefs of our leaders already showing a high level understanding of leading and teaching.

    “Another one of my responsibilities is as leader, I was very happy and felt proud when I became a leader and I love to lead. I love to help teach new and young members of our dojo.

    I think little children respond well to older children so I like to make the most of this and build bonds with the juniors. I need to engage with them in a way that they will respond positively to, I need to use correct language, talk in ways they will understand, make things fun, not be too serious, take time and be patient. I also need to make sure that what I am teaching they are understanding, don’t just position them or manoeuvre them where they need to be but help them understand why they are doing what they are doing.

    It is important too to give feedback, I need to be able to do this in a positive way which encourages the junior members and helps them get better at their karate, I never want to make a little child feel like they are not doing well, lots of support and encouragement is very important to remember.”

    Karate Leadership

  • 2024 Autumn Grading

    It is fantastic to see that everyone’s karate and confidence is continuing to grow with a really solid grading overall.  It is especially pleasing to see those that were not successful in a previous grading attempt had been working hard to make the required improvements and were able to successfully pass this time.

    Grading Results
    Bohdi Valencour – 4 Kyu – Purple
    Erika Baritchi – 5 Kyu – Purple & White
    Carter Lovelock – 6 Kyu – Blue
    Tilly McMillan – 6 Kyu – Blue
    Naoki Tani – 6 Kyu – Blue
    Taiyo Tani – 6 Kyu – Blue
    Aissa Symons – 7 Kyu – Blue & White
    Xaviar Thompson – 7 Kyu – Blue & White
    Jesse Valencour – 7 Kyu – Blue & White
    Darcey de Byl – 8 Kyu – Green
    Matthew Boote – 9 Kyu – Green & White
    Zinzan Taylor – 10 Kyu – Orange
    Jayden Beste – 11 Kyu – Orange & White  *double grade
    Kewan Clegg – 11 Kyu – Orange & White  *double grade
    Henry Ho – 11 Kyu – Orange & White  *double grade
    Sine Levin – 11 Kyu – Orange & White  *double grade
    Koda Revell – 11 Kyu – Orange & White  *double grade
    Tana Sun – 11 Kyu – Orange & White
    Reyan Baral – 12 Kyu – Yellow
    Eleanor Bennette – 12 Kyu – Yellow
    Robert Graham – 12 Kyu – Yellow

     

  • 2023 Little Champion Karateka of the Year

    Congratulations to our 2023 Little Champion Karateka of the Year – Zara Deans

    Zara started training with us earlier this year and has shown tremendous ability and determination in her training.  Zara has really stood out with not only her great karate technique but also the way she applies herself.

    Throughout the year she has demonstrated great inner strength to rise to challenges and tackle them head on.  Participating in her first tournament as a beginner we got to see Zara’s steely reserves as although she was obviously very nervous she showed her determination to push herself forward to compete and did very well.

    Zara is a great example for all of us of what can be achieved if you take responsibility for your own success and push through any challenges.

  • 2023 Senior Karateka of the Year

    Our 2023 Senior Karateka of the Year is

    Milli Mansbridge.

    Milli is still young and part of the Karate Kids program but also trains regularly in the Seniors with a level of maturity past her age. Milli has taken her karate to another level this year with the focus on the Soke Cup, and her great attitude in class.  There is always a smile on Milli’s face, and you know she is always trying her hardest.

    Milli has the great ability to relate to students of all ages. She is a favourite of the Little Champions and is looked up to by many, especially the young girls as a great role model.  When new Little Champions arrive for their first class she can always be relied upon to bond with them and help them overcome their nerves to join in the class.

    Milli has tackled many challenges throughout the year and always pushed herself to overcome her fears and doubts and grow as a result.  Kumite has always been a challenge for Milli and not something she has always enjoyed but she has not shied away from it and as a result developed more confidence in her abilities. This is a great example for all of us to follow when facing challenges that may scare or intimidate us.

    As a valuable member of the dojo we all look forward to being part of Milli’s karate journey as she works towards even greater achievements.

  • 2023 Budoka of the Year

    Congratulations to our 2023 Budoka of the Year – Kazumi Tominaga

    Kazumi Senpai has been a valuable part of the Gold Coast dojo for a long time and provides a wealth of knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and language to benefit us all. As a liaison for our Japanese visitors she is invaluable.

    Kazumi is a great example of what the Budoka of the Year is all about. She trains hard when she is at the dojo, she trains hard at home. She is always polite and respectful. She is unassuming and understated. Most of all she is a great karateka.

    At the Soke Cup this year Kazumi excelled winning gold in her divisions for Sai and Bo, silver in kata, and bronze in team kata. In a year where she was balancing her work, study and karate this a fantastic reward for her efforts.

    It can not be overstated what a terrific example of karateka Kazumi Senpai is to everyone. If we all adopt her fantastic attitude, plus her understanding of peace, perseverance and hard work we will all be better people because of it.

  • 2023 Karate Kids Karateka of the Year

    Congratulations to our joint winners of the 2023 Karate Kids Karateka of the Year – Siani Symons and Carter Lovelock.

    This is the first time we have ever had joint winners but both of these karate kids stood out and are worthy of this special recognition due to their tremendous year.

     

    Siani has really stepped up her training this year attending as many classes as she can and also assisting in the Little Champions classes as a leader.  Siani has shown through out the year that she is a focused, thoughtful student who looks to help others in the class as well as focus on her own development.

    On numerous occasions throughout the year Siani has approached instructors for what she needs to work on. The strength of Siani is she then goes away and works hard on those areas and as a result makes great improvements in her karate technique. This may seem like a simple way to get better (andit is), what it does require though is self-discipline, focus and mindfulness to achieve. Great attributes that will see Siani achieve success not only in karate but anything she puts her mind to.

     

    Carter has always been a good student but this year he has taken his karate to another level through hard work and determination. Carter’s attitude has been fantastic. He is always working hard whether that be on his own before class or during class, and always with a big smile on his face. Carter is determined to follow the karate way and will always be the one to kiai, and respond to instructions with an enthusiastic hai.

    At our summer grading Carter unfortunately was not ready to pass with a few technical areas still to work on. With such a great student this was a very hard decision to make as we like to see those students that work hard rewarded, and I am sure it was disappointing for Carter as well. From this though Carter showed just how strong his character is. The very next class he was in, before the class had even started he was practising his kata trying to improve and asking for advice all with the same great attitude he has always shown. This was a fantastic example of student who trains to get better not just to collect belts and awards.

    The most pleasing bit about Carter’s performance this year is that others have started following the example he has set and started working just as hard and as focused. This is a great compliment to Carter to see him develop in to a natural leader through his actions.