Free self defence classes in karate
Ka¯ piti Karate is continuing to play its part in helping keep the Ka¯ piti community safe after recently providing two free selfdefence classes.
The public courses were held by Ka¯ piti Karate Academy last month at Ka¯ piti College — a kids’ bully-safe workshop and a women’s self-defence class.
Ka¯ piti Karate Academy head instructor Allan Youl organised for Edmond Otis, an 8th degree black belt and licensed psychotherapist to come down to Ka¯ piti to present the courses.
Edmond is a lecturer at Eastern Institute of Technology on sports psychology and regularly travels the world speaking to sports teams and corporations as well as being chairman of AJKA International Karate.
The kids bully-safe workshop was held first thing in the morning followed by women’s self defence with around 20 people attending each workshop.
Many Ka¯ piti women and parents took advantage of the opportunity to learn ways to keep safe, avoid danger and protect themselves and their children.
Allan said awareness and attitude are key to staying out of harm’s way, as is knowing how to behave in a dangerous or threatening situation.
“A lot of it is really just plain common sense, but people are so busy with life they don’t think about it until it’s possibly too late.” Making the most of having Edmond present, the Academy also hosted a regional karate seminar with clubs from all around the lower North Island attending.
The course lasted a full day with around 50 people attending and catered to karate students of all ages and belt levels.
“It was great to host a big karate event in our home town,” Allan said.
“It’s always good to train or compete with fellow karate enthusiasts from other places.”
“It’s great to get all the Shotokan Dojos in the region together for some hard training,” Wellington Dojo head instructor Sensei Grant Stove said.
“The standard of karate clearly improved over the course of the day,” Sean Kim, the father of Ka¯ piti Karate Academy student Riley said.
“The highlight was watching 50 or so students and teachers performing an impressively synchronised kata.
“Even though the kicks, blocks and punches were flying, there were also plenty of smiles and laughs.
“I’ve never seen a bunch of kids kick and punch for hours on end and then smile at the end of it.”
Ka¯ piti Karate Academy offers two free classes for anyone wishing to give karate a go.
For more information visit the academy’s website www.kapitikarate.nz