The Tribune

EVERY year the Japan Karate Ryobu-Kai Kansas Dojo hosts its Elite Youth Training Seminar in Overland Park, Kansas.

The New Providence Martial Arts Centre, represented by seven students and two instructors, travelled to Kansas to participate in this training seminar earlier this month.

The students enjoyed interactive sessions with our Japan Karate-do Ryobu-Kai Kaicho, Kiyoshi Yamazaki (9th Dan), along with other international instructors - Sensei Minako Yamazaki and Sensei Howard High.

As expected the programme was intense but very informative, says NPMAC chief instructutor Sensei Chinyere Ijeoma-Chukwuka.

The students were eager to learn new katas and techniques but were reminded that the best karate-ka always goes back to the basics of perfecting techniques and not just memorising techniques.

Participating students were: Chianna Diggiss, Charles Diggiss, Nkume Ijeoma, DeCarlo Delancy, Myles Worrell, Nathaniel Woodside, Chigozie Ijeoma. And instructors were: Chief Instructor Chinyere Ijeoma-Chukwuka and Sensei Carlos Jorrin Hechevarria. “While I am sure the students did enjoy the seminars I would say they looked forward to activities after training,” says sensei Chin.

Their peak moment was experiencing I-FLY indoor skydiving and laser tag games. As expected, the students conducted themselves accordingly and represented school and country well.

“My thanks to sensei Gerry Allen for inviting us, and to the parents who continue to support the children and our programme,” sensei Chin said in a press release.