NEWSLETTER 7th April 2002  

Hi All

I hope that you are all once again raring to go after the Easter break. If you are like me, you are all, no doubt, a little heavier from pigging out on all the Easter eggs that have been coming your way.

This last term was very short as Easter came particularly early this year. This next term should balance things up

The dates for next term are Wednesday 17^th April until Wednesday 26^th June.

The Queen’s birthday on 3^rd June is that only public holiday that I can see in the calendar.

Juniors

There were no grades last term in the junior section, but everybody made great progress and I don’t think that we are going to have to wait too long for the next round of gradings.

The results of the junior end of term Kata competition were as follows:

Yellow belt and below:

·         Bronze – Daniel Ashton

Orange belt an above:

·         Bronze – Keegan Downey

It is great to see the standards improve so steadily.

(I seem to have mislaid Tim Whitaker’s address – If anybody knows him, could you get him to contact me)

The end of term sparring competition was a lot of fun to watch. It is only the second time that we have ever had a draw between the two teams.

Adults

I really enjoyed this last term with such a large group of beginner adults.

Everybody in this new group shows great potential and with the enthusiasm and good nature that you have shown to date, I am sure that we are going to make a very steady progress together.

This new group will change the nature of how the training sessions a little. Warm ups and combined training sessions will once again be more low grade focused and you higher grades will have to fend more for yourselves. This is the norm with most clubs, especially where there is a high drop out rate and a continuous turnover of beginners (this has not been the case with us so far).

I am hoping that higher grades will take advantage of warm-up time at the junior group to get some one on one instruction from either Helena or I. It is now up to you to actively pursue us (and each other) for instruction. I would like to see more active practice both before and after training sessions.

We have negotiated drop in rights to the hall. So if you (adult) brown belts want to make use of this, organize yourself and do it. You can collect the key from Helena or I. Or if any other group wants to organize extra training, grab a brown belt or above and go for it. Helena and I will do our best to oblige within the time-limitations we currently have.

It is my hope that we (the higher grade adults) can make use of next term to blow away the cob webs of lethargy that seems to have been remnant from the long summer break and really put the extra effort necessary for some more black belt gradings.

As I so often say: you cannot come to karate twice a week and hope to gain any sort of mastery. You come to karate to learn how to train – the actual training is your problem!!

Back to the question of time-constraints: Helena and I had hoped to start a piwi group last term. We had also hoped to start a formal high grade session, but due to a much increased work-load for both Helena and I; plus the fact that I have just started doing a part-time Masters degree at University – this is going to have to be put on ice for some time to come.

On Sunday 28^th April, I am holding another regional karate seminal that will be open to all clubs in our region. Anybody in the adult group that wants to be exposed to some high grade tuition is welcome as are junior brown belts and above. The session will be between 11:00am – 1:00 pm.

The Central North Island Regional tournament is going to be held on 19^th May. I would like to encourage anybody (juniors or seniors) who wants to have a go at competing either Kata or Kumite to let me know. Last time we entered (about three-years ago) we did really well.

Anybody that wishes to purchase karate suits or other karate equipment, I recommend that you do so through Robbie Smith:

17 Edwin Street

·         Robert

·         Dale

·         Jack

·         John

·         Peter

Also, a quick reminder to check out our web site at www.bugeikan.com  we get about 450 visits a month from clubs all over the world and the ensuing exchange of ideas and opinions is nearly always very good natured.

Guss & Helena Wilkinson