A few words from Sensei Dennis May about past and upcoming events.

I would like to welcome you all back to the New Year.

Last year, 2010, was a great year for our Association. Three of our members Sensei Karin Templehoff, McKenzie Tuala-Pine & Sam Crone attended the WGKF World Championships in Portugal. They all achieved excellent results and did our association very proud. I was also invited to teach at a seminar in Portugal after the event. We hosted the 2nd Oceania Goju Ryu Karate Championships that was attended by our Fiji members, led by Sensei Steven Brown. Congratulations to all our members that took part in this event.

Last December we invited Sensei Klaudio Farmadin from Slovakia to conduct Kumite training for our members. Klaudio is one of the World's leading WKF Karate champions, he is 3 times World Champion and very quickly our members, who attended his excellent seminars, could see why. He visited our Dojo's in Auckland, South Island and Fiji. It saddens me to inform you that on the day Klaudio and Sona departed to return to Slovakia, his father passed away. His Father a famous Sensei was also a former Czechoslovakia Kumite champion and National coach. Our deepest condolences go out to Sensei Klaudio and his family.

This year will be busy for us all; we will be having our annual Gasshuku/Training Camp in Auckland end of April. Also planned for later in the year are seminars by Shihan Fumio Demura one of the World's foremost Grandmasters in Karate & Kobudo and also seminars by Okinawan masters. Our first Black & Brown belt seminar will be held at Honbu Dojo on 27th March 2011.

Finally I would like to offer our most sincere condolences to the people of Christchurch. Our thoughts and prayers are to all those that have been effected by the recent Earthquake. I have received 100's of messages and emails from Karate people throughout the World hoping that our Christchurch members are safe and well.  I have heard from both Sensei Barry Knutson and Sensei Karin Tempelhoff and although their homes have been affected by the Quake, they are all well. Thank you also to all our New Zealand members that have asked after them.

- Sensei 

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts, that we announce the passing of Shinzo Chinen Sensei - 9th dan Hanchi - O.G.K.K. He passed away on October 17th, 2010 at the age of 64.

Chinen Shinzo (Dec 1946 - Oct 2010)

Earlier today, we received sad news from Okinawa informing us of the passing of Chinen Shinzo Sensei, Hanshi 9th dan.

Chinen Sensei was a master of Goju-Ryu Karate; he was life-long student of Eiichi Miyazato Sensei of the Jundokan dojo. He was also Vice Chairman of the Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do Kyokai.

Chinen Sensei was a great karate man, a great chef, and host. His little restaurant / bar, was a hang-out for numerous Okinawan Karate-ka. The world of Goju-ryu and Okinawan karate have lost a great teacher and leader.

My deepest condolences to his family, students and friends.

Domo Arigato Gozaimashita, Sensei. Rest in Peace.

In August this year, Shihan Dennis May and 16 members travelled to Okinawa to attend the World Traditional Karate Tournament and Masters' seminars, and also the Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karatedo Kyokai seminar and memorial demonstrations.

Shihan May and his son Dylan travelled a week earlier to Tokyo where they visited Aragaki Shihan at the famous Yoyogi Dojo in Tokyo. Several of our members competed in the World tournament and Shihan May was a referee and judged many of the final matches. The following day after the World Tournament were the seminars conducted by the "Living Cultural Treasures" of Okinawa. Our members trained in the course conducted by Hanshi Koshin Iha 10th Dan Grandmaster and other senior masters of the Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karatedo Kyokai (OGKK). During the evenings our team trained at the dojo of Kikugawa Hanshi 9th Dan. This was enjoyed by all as after each training a party was held in the dojo with Kikugawa Sensei's wife and family members demonstrating traditional Okinawan dance and the New Zealand members demonstrating the Haka. The final weekend was the 2-day seminar conducted by the Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karatedo Kyokai and demonstrations by all the countries attending, and Masters of the Kyokai. Our team did lots of sightseeing and enjoyed a fantastic day visiting Tokashiki island and a day at the Expo park and the Okinawa aquarium.

Group photo with Iha Sensei (Grandmaster and Honorary Chairman)

BACK LINE (from left) : Andrew Tauber, Lisa Tauber, Sensei Aaron Barrett, Sensei Jason Sandford, Joseph Davey, Sensei Mal Riley,

FRONT LINE (from left) : Sensei Della Proffit, Amanda Tauber, Dylan May, Grandmaster Koshin Iha Sensei, Sensei Karen Davey, Sensei Karin Tempelhoff, Shihan Dennis May

Ka Mate! Ka Mate! Haka performed by Kikugawa Sensei and male students.

The NZ contingent going out for a meal