The Ballarat Karate Club will be held in 2015. The club was established in 1965 by founder Barry Govan and operates as a non-profit organisation. It teaches the traditional style of Okinawan karate called Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito, which originated over 200 years ago. The club is dedicated to preserving the original system as taught by Grand Masters Hohan Soken and Fusei Kise.
Hanshi Barry Packham, a 9th degree black belt and the Australian President, leads the club. Hanshi Wayne Reddrop, an 8th degree black belt, serves as the Australian Director and Chief Instructor. The philosophy and training principles of the club are centred around learning and practising traditional karate and kobudo as a way of life, and as a method of conditioning the mind and body through disciplined practise. The club emphasises the development of good character, attitude, respect, and self-defence skills.
The Ballarat Karate Club has a number of qualified master ranks and black belt instructors who generously volunteer their time to teach both adults and juniors. The club offers training five days a week, with an additional branch dojo located in Daylesford.
1. Kihon: Basic training and practise of karate fundamentals.
2. Kata: Traditional form of practise utilising a wide range of attacking and defensive techniques.
3. Kobudo: The teaching and preservation of ancient Okinawan weapon forms.
4. Tuite: A comprehensive system of street self-defence techniques that utilise pressure point strikes and joint locks.
5. Kumite: Free sparring contests to apply learned techniques and strategies.
In addition to its regular training programmes, the club also offers a juniors programme, women's self-defence classes, and the UAC (Universal Application of Combat) programme. The Ballarat Karate Club prides itself on maintaining authenticity in its teachings and honours its lineage chart, which showcases its connexion to Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito.
The club also recognises and celebrates the achievements of its members through various titles and honours, such as life membership and shogo titles. The Ballarat Karate Club embraces the principles, five pillars, and fundamental teachings of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito. It also places great importance on the practise and understanding of kata, which plays a vital role in karate training.
Overall, the Ballarat Karate Club provides a welcoming and dedicated community for individuals interested in the art of karate. With its emphasis on tradition, self-discipline, and self-defence, the club offers a unique opportunity for personal growth, physical fitness, and the development of martial arts skills.