Sensei selected for baton honour

Owner of Shukokai Karate Torquay Aurelia Kemp has been chosen as a batonbearer for this year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Queens Baton Relay.

Karate instructor and sensei Aurelia said she will run a section with the baton as it makes its way down Beach Road Torquay February 12.

“I feel extremely lucky to have been selected the selection process involved quite a few stages over a period of about a year,” Ms Kemp said.

She was nominated for the honour largely due to her involvement in coaching the Victorian state karate team.

“I’ve been a state team coach for about eight years now. It involves coaching the best sport karate athletes from all of Victoria (ages nine upwards) who come together to train once a week between February and August,” Ms Kemp said.

“Sport Karate will feature in the 2020 Olympic Games for the first time, so that hasreally increased State team participation. We had over 200 competitors this year.”

Ms Kemp said she has also been a competitor in sport karate at both national and state level for more than 15 years. “I still compete at state level, they can’t get rid of me I love the sport so much,” she said.

Ms Kemp opened and began teaching at Shukokai Karate Torquay four years ago because she wanted her children to learn karate and love it as much as she does.

“I love the discipline and respect involved in the training, each student when they begin has their own individual challenges – be it the ability to focus, co-ordination, resistance to the discipline, lack of confidence – but with consistent training and persistence, they become more competent and their confidence builds,” she said.

“Plus, the self defence skills learned are practical and empowering.”

Shukokai Karate Torquay holds classes at the Torquay Scout Hall on Mondays during the school term for students ages five an up.

A Free “come and try” day will be held January 29.

Sensei Aurelia also periodically runs self defence classes primarily for women.

For all enquiries and booking please phone her directly on 0402 332 727 or check out the Facebook page, facebook.com/torquaykarate.