Gold Coast Chito-Ryu Karate

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Category: Members Stories

New Gold Coast Black Belts

During the 2018 QLD Chito-Ryu Karate Camp Ben Dempsey and Daniel Goldberg challenged for their dan rankings. Both Ben (Shodan) and Daniel (Junior Shodan) presented very well showing the hard work they had put in to be ready for their grading and were successful in achieving their black belts.

Achieving a black belt in Chito-Ryu Karate is not an easy task and not many people make it to that level, these two are only the 3rd and 4th black belts produced by the Gold Coast dojo in 13 years highlighting the significance of the occasion. A black Belt is definitely earned not given in Chito-Ryu Karate.

Ben Dempsey

Ben Dempsey – December 2011

Ben started Chito-Ryu Karate in 2010 as an 8 year old and has continued to train consistently since his first class. In the early days Ben hid in the background a little behind some more dominant personalities but through his consistent hard work, perseverance and great attitude he rose above the other juniors around him. As is always the case in the dojo many of of his peers fell to the wayside and moved on to other pursuits as Ben continued to move through the ranks. Ben has now been in the senior class for a number of years and has the respect of his fellow karateka through his great training attitude and the person he has become.

Through his hard work and challenging himself Ben has become a great tournament competitor, in particular in kumite. It hasn’t always been easy for Ben in kumite as Sensei Adam would challenge Ben to help him learn just what he was capable of, there were many times in the early days were Ben would be pushed hard to the point of tears but Ben would always push through and keep going. In the last few years that work and the personal strength Ben has developed has seen him step up to the light weight men’s division at an early age to ensure he continually has competition. In 2017 he took his tournament skills to the Soke Cup performing well in the individual and as a valuable member of the Gold medal winning Boys team kumite team.

Teaching in classes is not a requirement to achieve Black Belt in Chito-Ryu Karate (being a Black belt does not make you a teacher), but it is another area that Ben has excelled in. He has fantastic relationships with the kids being able to be a fun leader they look up to whilst being able to be firm when required. His ability in teaching is able to be seen in the way he can lead a Little Champion, Junior or Senior class with confidence and is an area that he could be very successful in if he decided to follow a teaching path.

Ben has come along way in his karate and has proven he has the technique, attitude and strength of character required to be a black belt.

Daniel Goldberg

Daniel Goldberg – 2012 National Titles Junior Champion

Daniel started his Chito-Ryu karate journey as a 5 year old in 2010. In the early days Daniel was just like the other kids, a little bit cheeky, having some fun and learning a little bit of karate along the way, in fact he didn’t really stand out that much and as such there are not that many photos or videos of him from those early days. Were Daniel excelled was in always turning up and step by step progressing through the ranks until he along with another karate kid (Eugeny) started to emerge at the top of the pack. Eugeny and Daniel would quietly push each other with a determination to be the best and not give in. It was during exercises such as a shiko dachi challenges that you would get to see just how determined these two boys were. In one junior class when the boys were about 8 years old they were involved in a plank vs shiko dachi challenge. After all the other pairs had finished and got a drink the two of them were still going. After 7 and half minutes yamae was called (so we could get on with the class). They were both pretty sore (Eugeny’s legs gave way when he was getting a drink) but neither would have ever given in.

Whilst Eugeny moved on from karate Daniel continued and this kind of quiet determination saw Daniel continue to move up through the ranks. Never really standing out but always continuing to work hard and present well when it came to grading time to step up another level. Looking back at Daniel’s journey I think the reason he never stood out was that he always just got on with training with no fuss, it was never about “look at me” with Daniel even though he was very capable.

Daniel’s biggest challenge came when he was invited to challenge for his black belt in October 2017 and whilst presented well was not quiet ready with a couple of things to improve on in his technique so was unsuccessful in his grading. For a young boy this could have been very hard to handle but Daniel showed his true grit and determination by turning up to training the next day and once again just got on with it. By the time he challenged for his black belt again he was even better prepared and performed exceptionally well to this time be awarded with his Junior Shodan black belt.

Daniel has demonstrated what quiet determination and just getting on with it can do, and sets a great example of how to approach your training. With his great attitude and determination Daniel is on the right path to continue to progress through the dan ranks in Chito-Ryu Karate.

9 June 2018
Karate is teaching my son good manners.
An eye-opener and a moment of unexpected pride.

Karate is not just about punching and kicking. There are many valuable lessons to be learnt through the study of karate.

I’m always proud of my children. But something happened recently that gave me an unexpected
moment of pride in my son.

My son doesn’t share my passion for karate. He doesn’t mind doing it but he’s not interested in fine-
tuning his technique. He’d rather help out with the little kids or do kumite than work on his grading kata.
And that’s fine with me. Because I recently saw evidence of exactly what karate is teaching my son: good manners.

I recently saw evidence of exactly what karate is teaching my son: good
manners.

Let me explain.

My son has been doing karate since he was four. He’s 10 now. He’s smart and athletic but he hasn’t yet
progressed past orange belt because he just doesn’t put his heart and soul into his karate training.

Recently, he started dance lessons, which he’s been talking about for at least a year. And he loves it.
He’s absolutely found his passion and joy. And that makes me just about the happiest parent in the
world. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to see their child doing well at something they adore?

The first lesson was an eye-opener

When my son went to his first dance class, he’d been doing karate for five and a half years. We were
both shocked at what we saw at dance class:
- kids coming in and out of the class whenever they felt like it, grabbing a drink or talking to their
  friends
- kids talking when the instructor was speaking
- kids not answering when the instructor asked them questions
- kids ambling across in their own time when the instructor asked them to gather
- kids complaining about what the instructor was teaching them and asking to learn something else instead.
- My son was gobsmacked that this behaviour was tolerated. Here’s how he behaved:
- ran to be the first to line up, ready to start the class
- snagged a spot near the instructor so he could see himself and the instructor in the mirror
- kept silent and listened intently to what the instructor was telling the class
- answered with a big loud ‘yes!’ when the instructor asked if they were ready to begin and if they understood the instructions
- tried his absolute hardest at every single moment in the class (and never wandered off for a drink until the instructor said to take a drink break)
- walked over to the instructor at the end and thanked him for the class while all the other students ran out the door.
The exciting part for me was that I did not have to remind my son to show these good manners. It was
completely ingrained in him from his years of studying karate. And that’s when I had my moment of
pride.

Karate has given my son something far more important than the ability to punch and kick. It’s instilled in
him a sense of good manners and etiquette, and above all, respect for the person who’s trying to teach
him something.

Manners and etiquette are essential in authentic karate.

So, karate or dance?

I asked my son how much he loves dancing and he said he loves it more than anything. I asked which
activity he would pick to continue if he could only do one of his activities: dance; soccer; athletics; or
karate. He chose dance but said he wouldn’t want to give up karate.

In his words, “Dance is for joy. Karate is for spirit.”

He’s getting amazing benefits from both activities and I’ll never make him choose between them. And it
sure is nice to see him applying the life lessons he’s learned from karate into other aspects of his life.

If you would like your child to be part of the great programs at Gold Coast Chito-Ryu Karate a free trial lesson now.

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23 March 2018
Brain training: why you’re probably doing it wrong
John’s Story – The oldest man in the dojo

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.

It turns out, physical exercise is the most effective way to keep your brain active and healthy. Don’t take my word for it: these scientists at Harvard have figured it out: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110.

It can also be beneficial in helping you get a good nights sleep https://www.healthambition.com/exercise-better-sleep/

So why’s karate the best type of exercise?

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.
- Karate is just plain fun!
John grading for his brown belt
20 February 2018