Month: November 2020

The continued success of Zanshin Martial Arts depends on the dedication of Zanshin Martial Arts’ Instructors. Instructor Service Awards were presented by Soshi at the Dan Grading to three dedicated and committed Instructors:

10-year service award to Sensei James Corbett (Queanbeyan Central Dojo). Sensei James is one of Zanshin’s most popular and energetic instructors. Sensei James started instructing as a 16-year old and has continued throughout motivating a huge number of students, including several who are now instructors themselves.

5-year service award to Sensei Bruce Kinsman (Coombs Dojo). Sensei Bruce, our oldest instructor, started instructing junior classes at Conder Dojo. He then ventured into new territory starting-up Coombs Dojo for junior and senior classes where class numbers and the population continue to swell.

5-year service award to Sensei Steve Hledik (Googong Dojo). Sensei Steve began Zanshin to support his daughters’ who were training. He found he loved it. He too ventured into new territory starting-up Googong Dojo for junior and senior classes. The strength of Googong Dojo continues grow as more families move into the area.

Good instructors, like these three, continue to help all Zanshin students’ progress. Opportunities exist for any senior students to become an assistant instructor at over 20 Zanshin Dojos throughout the region. The mentoring and guidance you will receive as an assistant will give you the confidence to become an instructor. The effort is worth the reward in seeing your own students develop to their full potential.

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The Zanshin Dan Grading on Sunday 1st November 2020 was the grading many thought we may not get to have due to COVID-19, but we made it. What a fantastic grading!

Once a year eligible Zanshin Black Belts and higher grades participate in the Zanshin Dan Grading. We were fortunate to secure the Erindale PCYC for the 2020 Dan Grading. The venue afforded a big enough floor space, with mats for rolling and throwing, to enjoy seeing eight Grading applicants’ successfully grade, many Zanshin Club members participate and partner for the Dan Grading applicants, and space for spectators and family members to watch. With eight Dan Grading applicants in action it was the largest ever Zanshin Dan Grading. It says a lot about the strength of Zanshin Martial Arts at the higher grades and how much students are enjoying the training delivered.

·         Congratulations to Renshi Drew Wilkinson, now promoted to 4th Dan.

·         Congratulations to Sensei Mick Porter and Sensei Steve Hledik, now both promoted to 2nd Dan.

·         Five Black Belts are now promoted to 1st Dan and will soon get to wear their Hakamas. Congratulations to: Sensei Renee Bill, Sensei Rachel Santos, Sensei Mark Edmonds, Bhavna Varma and Nicholas Dale.

Dedication and an enormous amount of training (many years) went in to preparing for the Dan Grading. During the COVID-19 lockdown, they continued to train on their own to maintain their fitness. Training, and many years of it, starts now for the next challenge.

The newly promoted Dan Grades are very thankful for their instructors’ efforts teaching the many techniques, along with the club’s other students who week after week trained in the Ai Ki class to Uke (partner) for them.