Karate grading at Waiouru

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 406, 1 October 1991, Page 7

Karate grading at Waiouru

BY

JOANNA

SAUNDERS

The Waiouru karate club held gradings for thirteen of its club members on Saturday 21 September. Students from the club who have a high attendance record and the potential to compete for the next belt are selected to take part in the gradings, which are held three or four times a year. This time nine children and four adults had that opportunity. The grading is a combination of several important parts including basics, movement combinations, kata and free sparring. The free sparring section is the only fighting part of the grading. The other three sections require great mental powers and con-

centration and accuracy. Each grading is physically harder as they progess up the belts. "The true karate fight is not like that seen on the 'karate kid' series of movies" said tutor Les Harding instead we aim at a combination of attack and defensive moves, members do not go into a fight to deliberately hurt one another". The Waiouru Goju Kai karate club encourages adults and children to train with one another, this has helped the club become established as one of the best in this area. Several children and adults will be selected for special training for a tournament to be held in Tauranga on 12 October. The following members have been graded: Tracy Ward, light blue;

Walton Waitoa, Patrick Vaetoru and Terry Vaetoru, yellow; Russell Bulman and Matthew Apaapa, purple: Trisha Tuthill, dark blue; Gary Harding, green; Leslie

Harding, junior black. Adults: Darryn Smith, blue (7 Qyu); Lindsay Thomas and Tony Stribling, blue (5 Ayu); Richard Nicholls, brown.

The Waiouru club welcomes people to club meetings which are held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at the new gym, between 6 and 7.30pm