Six year-old karate student to train in Tokyo

JAN JUC six-year-old karate student Alaya McDonald will train in Japan after receiving a rare invitation.

The Grade 1 student at Christian College Geelong’s Surf Coast campus has been invited to train in the children’s karate class at Goju Ryu Etsukou-Kai International headquarters dojo in Tokyo in May.

Alaya was invited by Hanshi (principal instructor) James Sumarac, a renowned international martial arts instructor based in Kyneton.

She will be accompanied by her parents, Sensei Ross McDonald and Sensei Sheryn Gung, who run Tanden Martial Arts in Jan Juc.

 

They will be training with their Japanese contemporaries in adult karate classes.

“Alaya will have to focus and practice hard in the lead up to this event,” Sheryn said.

“While Ross and I hoped that she could participate, it was never assumed; she is young and hasn’t been learning for long. So when Hanshi James personally invited her, we were delighted.”

Sheryn also noted it was not common for Australian karate students to have the chance to train in Japan and rarer still for a six-year-old to be given the opportunity.

“We’re proud of Alaya’s confidence. It’s a good chance for her to showcase the Surf Coast’s fighting spirit,” Ross added.

 

 

Ross, one of few Australian senior instructors in the Filipino stick-fighting art of Balintawak Arnis Cuentada, will represent Australia in Grand Master Bobby Taboada’s World Camp 2025 in Cebu, Phillipines, in November.

Tanden is a boutique martial arts school offering traditional Goju Ryu Karate and Balintawak Arnis Cuentada through small group classes and one-on-one sessions.