From from October 10-11, Shotokan Karate International Australia held its first ever virtual national seminar, which was also attended by several members from the South Coast Shotokan Karate Club.

The national seminar scheduled in Wollongong during the September/October school holidays this year was cancelled due to COVID-19 leading to the virtual national seminar streaming live some of the world's top karate instructors from the Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF) in Tokyo to Australia.

The training sessions were led by Nobuaki Kanazawa Kancho (eighth dan black belt and head of Shotokan Karate International Federation), Manabu Murakami Shihan (eighth dan and international chief instructor of Shotokan Karate International Federation), Hiyori Kanazawa Sensei (fourth dan, international instructor and 2019 women's world karate champion) and Paul Huglo Sensei (fourth dan and international instructor).

Senior instructor at South Coast Shotokan Karate Club, sensei David Rush, spoke highly of the training from the Shotokan Karate International Federation instructors and said that the training was provided to Shotokan Karate International Federation members across Australia free of charge.

"It was great to train (albeit virtually) with all our friends and fellow Shotokan Karate International Federation members from around Australia again, despite COVID-19 preventing our members and the Japanese instructors from travelling to train together face to face," Rush said

"The sessions were of a very high standard, full of interesting and challenging drills and high energy delivery from all of the Instructors.

"The pandemic has thrown challenges at our organisation and our local club but in true karate-do fashion, we have learned to adapt, innovate and seek opportunities in the crisis that has become our new normal.

"Because our club is run on a not-for-profit community basis and also being regionally based, meant that we were able to ride the COVID-19 lockdown period and emerge relatively unscathed.

"During lockdown, a lot of training was delivered online by many great Instructors from the Shotokan Karate International Federation organisation worldwide and our club members took advantage of training, with many excellent instructors from all different parts of the world."

South Coast Shotokan Karate conduct classes for kids (eight years and up), teenagers and adults at North Nowra, Bomaderry and Berry, where new members are always welcome.

Visit the club website: www.southcoastkarate.com.au for more details or phone David on 0418 977 402.