Students to learn new skills with advanced training at annual karate seminar

July 11, 2025 BY
Byron Shire Shotokan Kase-Ha Karate Do and Self Defence team

Sensei's Jean Boussard and Mark Smith are running a special Kase-Ha Shotokan Karate workshop at Bangalow this weekend. Photo: SUPPLIED

A SPECIAL workshop with advanced instructors and high-level teaching will be run by the Byron Shire Shotokan Kase-Ha Karate Do and Self Defence team at an annual workshop this weekend.

The Kase-Ha Shotokan Karate & Self Defence Seminar will be held at Bangalow Showground on Saturday, July 12.

Students from across the region are invited to attend with the workshop teaching new and advanced techniques.

The workshop will be delivered by sensei Mark Smith who is the chief instructor of Kase-Ha Shotokan Karate Australia.

He is based in Melbourne and represented Australia at the JKA World Cup in 1978.

Smith will be assisted by Jean Boussard, who runs Byron Shire Kase-Ha Shotokan Karate & Self Defence dojo at Bangalow.

Sensei Boussard said it is “an amazing opportunity to benefit from the teaching of a very advanced instructor, while cross training with other Karatekas and Martial Artists in an open seminar.”

He established the academy in Byron Bay in 1998 and has been based at Moller Pavilion at Bangalow Showground for the last 15 years where he teaches several times a week.

He is a 2nd Dan in Taekwon Do and has been initiated into many other martial arts, including Vietvodao (black belt), judo, aikido, kendo, nunchaku, Tai Chi, capoeira and Thai kickboxing.

Each session incorporates meditation, techniques, drills and breath work.

The academy has specialist coaches with an array of skills which can be taught at all levels.

Students of all ages learning advanced skills in karate under Sensei Mark Smith. Photo: SUPPLIED

Its team are active in the community and run sessions with school students to people in aged care facilities.

For more information and to book in for the seminar email [email protected]