Father, son earn black belts together
A Wellington father and son have achieved a rare feat – both earning their karate black belt on the same day.
Stephen Dacombe-Bird, 56, and son Luke, 24, took on on the black belt qualification together in an almost four hour-long test on Saturday before members of South Wellington Seido Karate club.
The grading process consisted of two hours of physical training, as the pair displayed techniques from the Seido style of karate.
The finale saw both men take on 40 fights in succession, mostly against other fresh black belts.
‘‘It sneaks up on you rather slowly. You don’t realise how much you’ve learned until you get there and are able to do it Luke said.
He began practising Seido Karate about seven years ago but a couple of stints overseas had meant he was at a similar level to his father, who had been training for just over five years.
Despite being at the same place in their karate practice, the pair had – for the most part – trained separately ahead of their qualification attempt.
‘‘Our training requirements were quite different, with mine more about improving my aerobic fitness,’’ Stephen said. ‘‘Being a bit older, it takes a little bit more time to do that.’’
Any qualification attempts must be overseen by someone with a high-level black belt; in this case Jun Shihan Tony Gaeta, of South all,’’ Wellington Seido Karate.
He said to have the pair not only attempt the qualification together but also achieve it made for ‘‘a good day at the office’’.
‘‘It is truly rare that a father and son would be able to make it all the way through and attempt their black belt together on the same day. It’s a first for our dojo.’’
While black-belt status is recognised worldwide as being important, Gaeta said there were several higher levels the two men could now work towards.
‘‘With each belt, you go up, there’s more syllabus to learn. You become more accustomed to the physical and mental aspects of the training.’’
Despite the club’s membership of 140 people, Gaeta said black belt qualifications were rare due to the amount of training required. ‘‘I should have another two young ones going for it in June, but that will be it for the year.’’