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Newsletter - 18 December 2010 |
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Hi Guys
Well this year came and went – I don’t know about you but time certainly seems to be speeding up!
Last term was quite an eventful term. Our annual camp at Pukehina Beach went well where we trained for nearly 10-hours. When you consider that our normal karate sessions last for 1 ½ hours, i.e. a weeks training usually equates to 3-hours, then the summer camp represents over three weeks of training compressed into one weekend.
So much is learned in such a short space of time that people that attend the camp come away feeling that they really have improved quite a few notches. I recommend those that haven’t been to a camp, seriously consider coming to the next one. If nothing else, it is a really fun social event with good food, nice drinkies and a fair amount of lying!
Last term was about getting ourselves ready to grade and I know you all put in a great deal of effort to this end. As a result, we wish to congratulate the following people who successfully graded in Dec 2010:
Perry Hudson |
- 9th Kyu (Red Belt) |
Kelly Hudson |
- 9th Kyu (Red Belt) |
Patrick Brus |
- 9th Kyu (Red Belt) |
Catherine Macdonald |
- 8th Kyu (Yellow Belt) |
Aadrian Tocker |
- 7th Kyu (Orange Belt) |
Daniel Tebbutt |
- 7th Kyu (Orange Belt) |
Robert Macdonald |
- 5th Kyu (Blue Belt) |
Kane McNamara |
- 4th Kyu (Purple Belt) |
Paul Brandt |
- 4th Kyu (Purple Belt) |
Lee Liu |
- 2nd Kyu (Brown Belt) |
Chris Steele |
- 2nd Kyu (Brown Belt) |
Jelena Downey |
- 1st Dan (Black Belt) |
The standards demonstrated by all those who graded were very good and the grades were a pleasure to watch.
We were especially proud to see Jelena’s grade. Jelena joined us in the kids’ class (back when we ran kids classes) 10-years ago and went on to get her Junior Black Belt. She then started training with the adult group (which is a very hard transition to make) and trained very hard to reach the standards required for an adult black belt. In all the years that Helena and I have run clubs, very few people have made the transition from the kids’ class to the adults’ class and reached black belt…Jelena is one of four that has managed this at our clubs. Well done Jelena, you thoroughly deserve it.
Jelena may have made it a bit sooner if she hadn’t have had to take a term off training due to breaking her arm during one of our sparring sessions. We were afraid that this set back may have put her off trying, but no…she persevered on and did so in great style.
For those who didn’t quite make the grading, we look forward to working with you towards your next grades next term…please practise a bit during the holidays?...Please?
Last Term was a little marred by the sad news that Tony Pearce had passed away. Tony joined our club in the beginning of 1998 and went on to get his black belt in 2005. He was a great member of our club, training hard, contributing with his experiences in other martial arts, and was well liked/respected as an instructor.
Tony battled with illnesses during the last 5-years and he died in November 2010 aged 58. Our heart felt condolences go to Judy (his wife) and his two children. We will miss you Tony.
There will be an instructors’ session on Monday 31st January 2011 at 6:30 PM. All those who are brown belt and above, who wish to instruct, are welcome to join us. Lee and Chris, I hope that you are aware that you wish to instruct, so we look forward to seeing you then ;-)
The dates for next term are Wednesday 2nd February – Monday 11th April. Please pay the term fees as soon as you can after the start of next term.
Have a great Christmas and New Year. If you wish to train for yourselves during the summer break, let us know and we’ll unlock the hall for you.
Otherwise, see you next term!
Cheers
Guss & Helena