Turangi Karate club gets the honours at all levels

‘‘The Shihan comes over twice a year to do gradings and tour around New Zealand.’’ Dave Wells

Turangi Karate Club finished a successful year on a high with members obtaining awards at local, national and international levels.

Matakatea and Tangiariki Wanikau junior black belts, who are brother and sister, went to South Africa earlier this year to compete at an international level.

Both proved to be strong contenders and received excellent results.

Also earlier this year, senior black belts Dave Wells and Mike Felton graded before Shihan Shunsuke Takahashi, who is a ninth degree black belt who resides in Japan and is the head of the organisation.

‘‘The Shihan comes over twice a year to do gradings and tour around New Zealand,’’ Wells said.

Wells said achieving his fourth dan was a great achievement for anyone studying Karate.

‘‘I was very pleased with the result,’’ Wells said.

Wells achieved the rank of fourth degree black belt and Felton third degree black belt.

2017 classes resume in the New Year and membership is open to young and old.

The only requirement is that the individual gives it their all.

Training sessions are run three nights a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 5.30pm at the Tongariro Area School gym.