MOUNT Gambier’s Murasaki Kyokushin Karate Dojo has returned from the latest grading in Geelong as the pride of the Limestone Coast.
Two students from the dojo headed over for grading in senior belts and returned successful, while another faced a CKI One Match challenge and came home victorious.
Kaitlyn Nunn was graded for her brown belt with tips, the last big step before going for a shodan black belt.
Yenna Joyce went for her first senior belt, green with tips – at just 11 years of age – while her younger brother Johee faced a more experienced fighter for the One Match challenge and was successful after two extra minutes to separate the pair.
At 24 years of age Nunn has been training for eight years to reach her current standard.
She faced around six hours of grading before 20 full contact fights.
“It is probably one of the hardest things I have done in my life,” Nunn said.
With no time to rest during the ordeal, it was the perfect test for her next step up to a black belt.
“This was the last test before you do the test for the black belt to see if you can go for it,” Nunn said.
“I am always training and always progressing, but it is a lot of hard work to get there.
“They give you a year to train as hard as you can then you go back again.”
Yenna faced 12 full contact fights after around five to six hours of grading.
She was the youngest student to face grading on the day.
Regardless, she managed to successfully grade for the belt and received high praise for her efforts.
Sunday the nine-year-old Johee had a real test to come through the One Match challenge.
The two-minute fight ended in a draw, which was then extended by one minute.
Once again it was a drawn result, with a further minute needed before Johee finally claimed the honours.
Johee’s opponent went on to win the technician’s award for the day, an honour usually bestowed upon an adult.
Mount Gambier dojo instructor Sensai Kathy Nunn said she was proud of the efforts of her students, who stood tall against opponents from bigger venues.
“Being a small dojo we have not got the numbers because we are still trying to find our way,” she said.
“Johee fought a boy who is from a family that is Shihan Judd Reid’s main fighters.
“He just stuck it to him.
“We are this tiny little dojo in Mount Gambier and he is from a huge one in Melbourne.
“Yenna got a special mention from Shihan Ritchie because she kept up with all the adults all day.
“Kaitlyn is now going for her shodan, which is when you have to make up your mind if you are going to take that step.
“The students here put in such a huge effort and I am proud of these three.”
The hard work continues for the dojo, with more big gradings for next year, including Sensai Kathy who also plans to go up another belt.
