Karate devotee reaches higher rank

TWO years of preparation paid off when Vaughn King attained the senior Master rank of fifth degree black belt in Karate and fifth Dan in traditional kobudo in June.

Mr King, a long serving member of the Ballarat Karate Club, passed the third and final part of the examinations for these ranks before a grading panel lead by ninth Dan, Barry Packham, the highest ranked westerner in the world.

Fellow club member Dan West said this is an exceptionally rare achievement.

“Vaughn has now taken his place in the top ranks of karate and kobudo practitioners in Australia,” Mr West said. “His knowledge and skill in all aspects of the traditional Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito style, practiced by the Club, were reviewed during the three-part assessment.”

This traditional style of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito originated over 200 years ago in Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture.

Training in karate provides a pathway to improving one’s health and fitness, the development of good character, attitude, respect and to be able to defend oneself against an attack.

Mr King’s commitment to the club and the sport saw him direct the Juniors Program for 14 years, personally tutoring four juniors through to achieving junior black belt, the first such awards in the Club’s 54-year history.