Many of the Japanese styles were developed as part of school curriculums and sport which involve a lot of formalities and tradition. Our link with Japanese karate is relevant, but the Australian style developed for all situations by the workers on the Snowy River Scheme includes Judo and Jujitsu influences giving us a greater and more realistic approach to combat and self-defence.
Our inherited sporting base is “contact karate” and within the style we encourage training with this in mind.
“Contact karate” means you are being conditioned to fight, to work in close, to have strength in techniques and can apply these principles in training and life. We don’t just bash away, and there is no head contact. We make openings by taking advantage of our opponent’s actions and reactions. Furthermore, we train self-defence against “habitual acts of physical violence” (a phrase quoted by Patrick McCarthy) with a greater focus on today’s culture rather than the formalities of the past.
Our members consist of males and females ageing 7 to 60years, and some with over 40 years experience in martial arts. Many have physical challenges as well as daily work and life challenges. Some find training has great benefits for people with co-ordination deficiencies or lack of focus. Others have trained in various styles before and not only enjoy the diverse range of techniques taught in our jujitsu/karate system but also enjoy the interaction with many other clubs at IBF training days and seminars we host within a network built over nearly 40 years.