Karate students learn new skills at national competition

MEMBERS of the Byron Shire Shotokan Kase-Ha Karate Do and Self Defence academy have obtained black belts and other skills after competing at a national event in Victoria.

Damien O’Meara obtained his self-defence black belt and chief instructor Jean Boussard his fifth Dan in Kase-Ha Shotokan at the Kase-Ha Shotokan Karate National Seminar (Gasshuku).

Boussard has 50 years experience and trains about 60 people aged from six through to 70 and older.

He said the seminar was a unique opportunity for the group to benefit from the teaching of a master in practical self defence.

“There were very challenging sessions during these three days, physically, emotionally and mentally, but the team is passionate and they all did so well,” he said.

“The goal of Kase-Ha Shotokan is to reach a level beyond technique, which is based on the ancient Budo approach to martial arts and spirit.

“A variety of blocks, with open and closed hands, and of attacks, legs and arms, must satisfy equally defensive and offensive requirements.

“My teaching is towards self defence and not towards the limited efficiency of competition and tournaments.”

The Bangalow dojo opened in 2011 after it was originally established as an academy at Byron Bay in 1998.

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

They run a Kase-Ha Shotokan workshop at the Bangalow Showgrounds every third month.

The group recently delivered a demonstration to the residents of RSL Lifecare at Suffolk Park and ran a workshop for Emmanuel Anglican College, Ballina.

Juniors train Tuesday and Thursday with women’s self defence classes on Friday mornings