It is very nice to be able to acknowledge that this last term functioned without a hitch concerning hall bookings. We shall endeavour to keep it that way, and the school has asked me to pass on their apologies to all members for the inconvenience caused by the hassles of the previous term.

JUNIORS

A very good effort was made by everybody last term, well done! Helena and I were very impressed by how a lot of people have matured in their training attitude and, as a result, these people have progressed accordingly.

Both Helena and I are well aware that Karate training is very often not a lot of fun. By it's very nature, it can be boring and repetitive at times (it has to be) and therefore we understand that it can be hard to find the motivation to push ahead.

But the rewards do come to those that push ahead as the techniques and strategies become more fascinating and interesting the higher up in the grades you get.

There is not one of you that won't become good at this if you carry on as well as you have been doing.

We would like to congratulate Mwilye, Jesse and Kent for getting their Junior Red belt grades.

Also, congratulations to Zac (Arcus), Keegan and Michael for their Junior Yellow belts.

And lastly to Leon, Cory, Jonathan, Romelli and Elye for getting their Junior Orange belts.

A fantastic achievement all of you. For those that missed out and didn't get a chance to grade this term, don't loose heart. It is very important to remember that grades are not a reward and do not represent a rank! It is merely a system that we use as a tool for learning.

Do remember that if you haven't graded it is NOT a punishment. Everybody will get a chance when they reach the required standard and it is always the case that some people will sometimes learn faster that others. This is quite OK. You must learn at your own pace. In the end, you will be just as good (if not better) than those who got there faster!!

The perfect attendance badge goes to Mwilye, this term, for not missing a single session.

And the outstanding student of the term badge goes to Mwilye and Michael (Scott) for their remarkable progress!! Very well done you two, keep it up!!

And what a good competition we had on the last day of term. Everybody showed great spirit and there was no shortage of good technique. From now on, we will be making this a regular event at the end of each term and all parents are welcome to watch the excitement.

Junior Orange belts will start sparring on occasions as part of their training. The sparring will be of the semi-contact verity and we will not be wearing any body armour for this.

Nobody will be permitted to spar without gum shields (these can be purchased at any sports shop. Remember to get ones that fit you (Junior sizes are available) and ask at the shop how to mould them to your teeth). Sparring mitts are also required and can be purchased at the Auckland Martial Arts Supplies 09-377 1891 .

Any parent that wants a further explanation on the sparring is welcome to ring me at any time.

This was a term of consolidation for most people. Everybody is progressing well and I look forward to the next round of gradings a few weeks in to next term.

Many congratulations to André McKelvey and Nicholas Downes for achieving their 9^th Kyu grades and also to Bisha Humadi and Nick Wilkinson for achieving their 6^th Kyu grades - great work.

There will be a Karate competition, open to all karate clubs, at the Waikato Diocesan School Gymnasium on Sunday 16^th May, hosted by the New Zealand Karate-Do Wado-Kai.

The tournament will run strictly to the WKF rules: moderate contact to the body and any contact to the head or below the belt will be heavily penalised. Mouth guards and approved sparring mitts are compulsory.

The weight groups are as follows:

MALE                                    FEMALE

Under 60kg                            Under 53kg

Under 70kg                            Under 60kg

Under 80kg                            Over 60kg

Over 80kg                              Open

Open

Seniors are aged 18 years and over and Colts are aged between 15 & 17 years.

There will also be a Kata competition in the categories 4^th Kyu and below, 3^rd Kyu and above; male and female.

I must stress once again, that we are not a competition-orientated style of Karate and we will not alter or compromise the way we do things in order to be more successful in these tournaments.

Having said this, tournaments are a very good way of gauging and getting used to the way you handle yourselves under extreme stress and juiced up to the eyeballs with adrenaline.

We cannot simulate these conditions as well at a club level.

Anybody that is interested at having a go, and having a bit of fun in the process, let me know as soon as possible so that I can send in the relevant entry forms.

The tournament will cost $15 dollars for one event and $5 for subsequent events.

I would like to apologise for the fact that the promised barbecue never materialised. As, most of you know, I am doing a full-time IT degree at the Waikato Polytechnic and the workload this last term has been quite tough. We will try to make up for it in some form next term; suggestions welcome.

We would like to say goodbye to Tina George who is moving to Australia with her family next term. We wish you well and we hope that you find a good karate club with which to continue your training. We will miss you!

Also congratulations to Lisa Martin who is expecting an addition to her family. We look forward to your return to training a week after you deliver. J

We would also like to welcome Shane, a 1^st Kyu Brown Belt from Goju-Kensha, who may be coming to try us out. We hope that you will find the atmosphere and our way of doing things at the Bugeikan to your liking.