The 37-year-old fulfilled a lifelong dream this week with the launch of his novel The Spirit of the Moon. The launch was held at Sunshine Coast Karate in Maroochydore.  “For whatever reason I just never got around to doing any writing in my life,” he said.  “I started karate last November to get some discipline and willpower, and the sensei there asked me what I wanted to do.

“I told him I wanted to be a writer, but that I wasn’t good enough but he encouraged me to give it a go.”  It lit a fire under Mr Boman that was sorely needed.  “I was given a challenge in February to start the book by them, they held me accountable.”

 Read More at www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au >>

Keep up to date with your local author John Boman on Facebook.

For those students who graded on the weekend, be sure to take some time to celebrate your achievements with your family and friends.  And most importantly please set yourself some new goals and target dates (completion/celebration dates) to make sure you keep up your momentum as you progress to the higher levels. Even have some check-in points prior to your completion/celebration date of your next main goal so you can adjust and keep yourself going straight to your goal and not somewhere else.

For those students not grading in June, I would like to challenge all of you to take the time to gain some perspective on your progress to your achieving your next goal – maybe some of you are focusing on challenging for new grades in August.  Are you on track, do you need to make some minor changes to get yourself back on track or are you almost there and you just need to accelerate as the August grading closes in on us.  Wherever you may be at in your journey make sure that you continually align yourself with your goals.  This will keep you on your toes and keep you progressing each and every day.

On your journey to achieving your next belt you are going to be confronted with some ‘challenges’.  Here are some thoughts on challenges which I hope helps you continue to stay focused on your goals.

CHALLENGES

1.  Perspective - Challenges are what you make them.  They are as big as you want or as little as you want.  They can be painful, they can be fun.  You have the power to choose your perspective.

1.  Your Next Challenge Has Arrived - celebrate!  This is a good thing.  This means that you are on the path.  It is completely normal and it is a part of the cycle to achieving your goals.  Just keep on going!  …..Remember, it is normal.  It is OK.  Please don’t think everyone hates you, or things don’t work out for you.  A challenge is a ‘gift’.  A friendly reminder to let you know that you are on track.  So next time you receive a challenge (a gift)…. be grateful and say thank you and just keep on moving forward.

2.  Accountability Is Magic – Have your support team in place and be held accountable to keeping your eyes on your goals and be accountable for putting the runs on the board to achieve your goals.  There will be things that come up to distract you from putting effort into achieving your goals.  Your support team will keep your honest.

3.  Enough is Enough - When it is all getting too hard – and you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Kind of like you have hit the worlds biggest and meanest challenge of all on this path to achieving your goal.  Take a breathe and get real excited – you are almost there.  You think I am crazy don’t you. :>)   Well it is all a matter of perspective and I know that whenever I have come to this point although I couldn’t see the finish line…. I could certainly feel it and I knew it and I believed I was already there but no one else could see it yet.  Just keep on running towards that finish line.  Focus on your goal, and you will soon see that finish line getting closer and closer.

‘Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. ‘ ~Newt Gingrich

And remember that we are always here for you.  All you need to do is ask for help.

And here is what you have been waiting for – The complete listing of all 38 Sunshine Coast Karate students who all stood up to their challenges on their path to gain their new belts over the weekend.  Many of these students approached us personally over the last few months to help them refocus, others were able to keep themselves focused.  Either way everyone on this list is an inspiration and an example of overcoming challenges and achieving their goals.  Well done everyone!

12th Kyu (Yellow Belt)
Brock Bowyer, Edward Allan, Savannah Kemp, Jack Graham, Bart Carmody, Matt Doecke, Kodey Tonner Jones, Samuel Doecke, Cameron Hannah, Jennifer Hannah.

11th Kyu (Orange Belt White Stripe)
Emily Shera, Heath Nicholson, Zoe Stielow, John Boman

10th Kyu (Orange Belt)
Lesley Richards, Wayne Marriott, PJ Doughty, Mika Fenwick

9th Kyu (Green Belt White Stripe)
Raphael Borleis, Adam Amos, Jade Glare, Jodie Marriott, Zac Neasmith, Wendy Boman, Lachlan Whale

8th Kyu (Green Belt)
Adam Gray

7th Kyu (Blue Belt White Stripe)
Renae Saunders, Adam Popescu, Euan Gray, Selina Strazzari, Jake Davis

5th Kyu (Purple Belt White Stripe)
Matthew Thomson, Jessica Strazzari

4th Kyu (Purple Belt)
George Britchford, Donell Cook

3rd Kyu (Brown Belt White Stripe)
James O’Grady

2nd Kyu (Brown Belt)
Aidan Leask, Tom Hurley

ENTER FREE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN CASH AND PRIZES

2011 Sunshine Coast Karate Colouring Competition is in full swing and has only 2 weeks to go for members of the Sunshine Coast community to get their completed entry forms returned to their local school or sent to Sunshine Coast Karate.

Each picture carries with it a different life skill message important for laying the foundation for success in your life.

At Sunshine Coast Karate you will learn how to defend yourself, you will learn how to deal with bullies and you will get fit and strong.  And…. you will also develop these very important life skills along the way.

• Perseverance
• Teamwork
• Confidence
• Focus
• Achievement
• Community
• Leadership
• Commitment
• Respect
• Self-Discipline
• Humility
• Harmony
• Kindness

Join us on this great colouring adventure – reinforce some great life skills with your children and win some great prizes for you, your family and your school.

Download Colouring Competition Entry Forms Today.

Get the latest Colouring Competition Updates via facebook.

My Inspirations

Sweat dripping pain as I am struggling to succeed;  a challenge like 50 push up’s in a row, with perfect position from head to toe.

Hearts beating rapidly, fatigue in my arms, pressure on my mind, a tonne of weight on my back, feels like I’m about to collapse flat on the floor and fail every time.

As I do this my Sensei Martin and Sensei Sandra tells me that, no matter what it is or how hard it is; just believe that you can do it and you can accomplish anything in life.  So every time I face a new challenge I think of waht they say and it gets me through the day, and it’s not just in the dojo it’s everywhere I go.

On tournament day the pressure is on.  Nerves going through my veins ad I walk on stage watching the judges watch every move; as I perform the kata that I choose.

Before my turn is up my sensei’s say to me;  you will do well Klaudia, just keep your head up and stay focused.  Remember your strength, and that you can do anything you put your mind too.  After I perform, I walk away with a trophy in my hand and a proud smile on my face, and it’s all thanks to them.

It is a big step up from white belt to purple belt, where I am now.  There is so much you have to concentrate on all at the same time.  To grade you have to concentrate on things like; your target, posture, eye focus, stance, positioning, balance, speed, strength and sequence.  Thanks to my sensei’s I am where I am now and they have helped me achieve all my goals.

My sensei’s are very great;  they inspire me from week to week.  They pick me up when I am down.  They talk me through a clouded mind.  They give me strength whan I am weak.  My sensei’s are the best!

By Klaudia

Klaudia continues her training at Sunshine Coast Karate every week.  Not only does she stretch herself to greater heights she always seems to find a way to challenge her training partners to be the best they can be and she knows how to have FUN.    Klaudia has never complained of being bored or things being too hard or too easy, she understands the power of continual refinement of her basics and continues to accelerate her growth.  Big thank you to Klaudia and her family for their positive contributions to our entire Sunshine Coast Karate family.

NOTE – Sharing your goals can be one of the best ways to ensure you stay on track and achieve your goal in quick time.  No more dragging the chain, losing sight of your goal… Just get in there and do it!

Step 1: Set Your Goals + Completion date
Early May, one of Sunshine Coast Karate’s assistant instructors, Sempai Helen O’Grady (1st Dan) set a challenge for herself to do 100 push ups every day for the entire school term.

Step 2: Share Your Goals/Be Accountable (this will help to keep your focus)
Sempai Helen chose to share her goal with her instructors and friends at Sunshine Coast Karate so that she could be held accountable to achieve her goal.

Step 3:  Recruit Your Support Team
With Sempai Helen now committed to her goal of achieving 100 push ups every day for an entire school term, what better way to show her support than to jump on board and share the journey/adventure every step of the way.  Sempai Helen’s instructors put the word out to other members and now their is a good size team of members coming together to not only support Sempai Helen but to also grow and advance themselves in this area of their training.

Step 3B: [Bonus Step] – Inspire others to grow themselves outside of your local community
Not only has Sempai Helen’s 100 push up challenge inspired other Sunshine Coast Karate members to take action every day, we now have members from both Newcastle and Gold Coast regions also taking part.

Step 4:  Take action everyday
Some days will be harder than others.  But in the back of your mind you know that there is a community of people all stepping up to the challenge with you, so just get into it and put the runs on the board.  It will be done before you know it.

Step 5: Check in with your team
Commit to checking in with your team each day to keep everyone on the journey accountable.  Share your stories, the fun, the highs and lows.  Be inspired by each other and keep on running to your destination.  Soon enough you’ll be sharing a countdown with your team as you face the final days of this adventure.  You team will keep you fuelled throughout your journey.

Step 6:  Party Time – Celebrate
Always time for a good party at the conclusion of every adventure.

All the best to you, your family and friends in achieving your goals.  Go for it!  You’ll be surprised how much fun it can really be.

Depending on when you are reading this post you may be able to capture some of the highlights via our Sunshine Coast Karate Facebook Page.

Getting your child to absorb 100% of what you’re telling them is a challenge that many parents and teachers face. Did you ever wonder…”Boy I hope he listens in school better than he does at home!” If your son or daughter could improve their listening comprehension just 10% it would have a profound impact on them don’t you agree?

So here’s what you can do… First understand that your child is forced to deal with dozens of external distractions during the course of the day; TV, radio, classmates, computers, and the list goes on. These external distractions combined with your child’s internal distractions, (the inability to control one’s thought process) cause most listening problems.

Make your child aware of these two distractions, (internal and external) teach him the difference between each, then get him to give you examples of when each one affected his ability to listen. Just this knowledge will make him a better listener. Teach your child the importance of focusing his eyes, ears, mind, and body. Focusing all four will engage him totally in the listening process.

Make sure your child knows that when it comes time to listen the first thing he has to do is look at the person talking in the eyes. When his eyes are focused he could then tune in his ears to the message and process it in his mind. Now you’re getting somewhere! Finally, teach him about standing or sitting up straight when listening, if the body is out of focus or slouched the message will not be clearly understood.

Maybe you could hold off on delivering your message until his body is focused and up-right. Becoming aware of these simple but effective concepts will go a long way toward helping your child be a more focused listener. Try them out and see how they work!

A person with poor posture is usually the result of several variables gone awry… not just one.  Poor eyesight, stress, depression, muscle imbalances, repetitive movements and soft tissue injuries could all contribute to the situation.  This article will address how breathing impacts your posture.

If you’ve ever watched a baby breath they will always breathe diaphragmatically.  It doesn’t matter if they are sitting, lying down or being held up in a standing position.  When they breathe in their belly expands outward.  When they breathe out their belly draws inward.

Babies instinctively breathe through their nose.  If their nasal cavities become blocked an “emergency” alarm goes off.  The baby will cry which allows breathing through the mouth.  When their nasals are cleared they will return to breathing through their nose.

A baby’s breathing pattern is unlearned and optimal for health and posture.  The trials of life in adolescence and adulthood shifts us from being optimal “baby breathers” to stress induced mouth and chest breathers.  Breathing through the mouth and chest is referred to as an inverted breathing pattern and is a contraindication for optimal health and fitness.

Many of the mind-body-spirit disciplines such as martial arts, yoga, and Pilates recognize the importance of proper breathing.  Voice instructors are also excellent sources for learning optimal breathing patterns.

Nasal Breathing vs. Mouth Breathing. The anatomy of the nasal passage has several unique features that conditions incoming air before it reaches the lungs.  The nasal passage has a series of ridges in it that causes incoming air to be swirled around as it passes through.  This swirling air then hits hairs and obstructions in the nasal passage.  Foreign particles such as dust and air pollution larger than the gas molecules of the air are captured and prevented from reaching the lungs.  This natural filter is very efficient at removing even the smallest foreign objects.

The swirling process of the air as it bounces around the mucus membranes also allows the air to be warmed to an optimal temperature before entering the lungs.  The mucus membranes also serve to moisten the incoming air and ward off infection.

When breathing through the mouth the features and benefits of nasal breathing are bypassed.  Dry, contaminated air is allowed to reach the lungs directly resulting in reduced respiration capacity and increased risk of infection.

Mouth breathing may interpreted by the brain as a fight or flight reaction.  In a sense, the body is in a constant state of stress when can alter chemical and hormonal states.  Increased heart rate, compromised digestive processes, blood pressure changes and increased brain activity have all been linked to sympathetic responses to mouth breathing.

Diaphramatic vs. Chest Breathing. External respiration occurs when gases are exchanged between the atmosphere and the lungs.  Internal respiration occurs when gases are exchanged between the blood and the cells.  Both are necessary to maintain life.

Respiration occurs when the volume of the chest cavity changes.  When the volume of the chest cavity increases the pressure of the air in the lungs is less than the atmospheric pressure.  This difference in pressure between the chest cavity and the atmosphere forces atmospheric air to enter the lungs.  In a sense, when we breathe in our chest is drawing air in.  Our nose and mouth has nothing to do with the process.

When the volume of the chest cavity decreases the air in the lungs is compressed created a pressure in the lungs that is greater than the atmospheric pressure.  This pressure difference forces the compressed air in the lungs to be expelled to the atmosphere just like letting air escape from a blown up balloon.

There are only two ways to change the volume of the chest cavity:  By using the PRIMARY respiratory muscle or SECONDARY respiratory muscles.  The primary respiratory muscle should provide for sufficient respiration when in a relaxed or rested state, such as sitting at your desk.  The secondary respiratory muscles should only kick in when additional respiration is required, such as walking at a brisk pace.

The primary respiratory muscle is the diaphragm.  The diaphragm allows the volume in the chest cavity to change.  When the diaphragm moves downward it increases the volume of the chest cavity allowing air to enter the lungs.  It also forces the viscera (internal organs) downward which creates the illusion that the stomach is expanding.  Of course, no air is actually going into the stomach.

When the diaphragm moves upward it decreases the volume of the chest cavity forcing air to be expelled from the lungs.   The viscera that was forced down when breathing in is now allowed to return to its resting position creating the illusion that the stomach is smaller.

Secondary respiratory muscles include muscles between the ribs (intercostals) and muscles of the neck, specifically the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and scalenes.

The intercostals change the volume in the chest cavity by increasing or decreasing the space between the ribs.

The SCM, which is that large muscle that attaches behind the ear and attaches to the sternum (top of center of the chest) and clavicle (collar bone) changes the volume of the chest by lifting the chest cavity up.  Likewise, the scalene muscles, which connect from the cervical (neck) spine and the first rib (top of the rib cage just below the clavicle) also raise and lower the rib cage.  The hyoid bone, in the neck, also has ligamentous attachments to the top of the lungs which help to raise the lungs up.

The secondary respiratory muscles are designed to be activated for short durations when increased respiratory capacity is needed.  Chest breathers are essentially using their secondary respiratory muscles all the time and often lose the ability to use their diaphragm at all.  The constant use of the secondary respiratory muscles and lack of the use of the diaphragm is called a faulty motor program.

The constant contraction of the secondary respiratory muscles, to the tune of 26,000 breaths a day alters the length and tension of these neck muscles.  These muscles will tend to become tighter (hypertonic) and shortened as a result of overuse.  Tight, short neck muscles will tend to pull the head forward into a forward head posture.  Have you ever seen a person with their head sticking out in front of them?

Forward head posture not only alters the aesthetics of the individual, but also leads to headaches, migraines, muscle tension, reduced respiratory capacity, limited range of motion of the neck, increased likelihood of bursitis in the shoulder joint and shoulder impingement syndrome.

In order to maintain good posture and optimal health you must make it a habit to diaphragmatically breathe through your nose.  It is also a more calming breathing pattern.  Try it the next time you’re late for an appointment and the traffic congested.

Breathe like a baby!

Source:   http://www.sharpblades.net/the-two-most-powerful-weapons-of-martial-arts
Author:  Lopez

Nunchakus, the katana sword, double sticks, and others are among some of the weapons to be mastered through different styles of traditional martial arts.  All of them have their own merits, but I believe the two most powerful weapons which can multiply the power of your techniques are the subconscious mind and Chi energy.  Below I will explain in detail why.

All skills we have learned in any style, after hard and serious training, become natural reflexes.  The reason for this is that there is a section of our mind that is in charge of memorizing all of our experiences from the moment we are born until the last breath we take.  This part of our mind is in charge of vital functions of the body, such as breathing, defecating, regulation of bodily fluids and circulation as well as, other complicated processes.  This part of our mind is working 24/7 without rest.  Behold the subconscious mind!

What is the subconscious mind and how can it help you become a powerful martial artist?  Sub means under and conscious means your everyday mind or the mind of everyday life.  So subconscious means the part of your mind that is below your conscious awareness.  In order words, you are not aware of it.  The most important part for a martial artist to know and master about the subconscious mind is its inability to recognize physical limitations.  Whatever skills regardless of the situation, you will be able to accomplish it if you impress or command the subconscious mind with an exact image of what you are trying to accomplish.

Let me use myself as an example.  I do lots of visualization with my techniques and when I do them physically I’ve noticed something very interesting.  I feel like I’ve been performing them for a long time physically.  They feel crisp, with more strength, faster and alive.  All the things I’ve visualized give me a sense of connectedness to the techniques. In other words, my body, mind and emotions work together as one with the technique.  This was an “aha” moment because I had heard the stories of visualization, but had never experienced them myself.

Another function under the control of the subconscious is the reflexes.  When you react or attack your opponent, before all this happens, there is a signal sent from the brain to the body via the nervous system.  The nervous system activates the muscle and then the muscles move the body.  This happens in an instant, but you can lessen the time it takes for your muscles to receive the signal by training your subconscious and the body at the same time.  This is accomplished using visualization as the above example proves.

Aside from the subconscious mind, there is another aspect to the training of martial arts call Chi training.  Chi is not easy to explain, but let me give it my best shot.  Chi is life itself and all things are made of it.   It is internal and external energy.  Planets and constellations are made of Chi.  In the human body, Chi is regulated by the conscious mind and the amount is limited.  Breathing exercises are one of the tools used to increase the amount of Chi in your body.  I know, if all things are made of Chi how come it is limited in the body, that’s your question.  I don’t know the answer to that question yet, but I have a theory and I will explain it later on.

Among the benefits of increasing your level of Chi is a stronger immune system, an increase of overall strength, faster reflexes, faster blood circulation, a strong sense of being grounded and a feeling of being in the present moment or in the Zone.  If you practice martial arts, extra strength and total awareness and being in harmony with your opponent is a great skill to have, don’t you think? Ask your teacher if he knows anything about Chi and ask him to teach you about it.  If you are a practitioner keep reaping the rewards of your Chi.

Finally it may be possible that Chi is another expression of the subconscious mind.  It is not a subjective experience, all you’ve got to do is practice and you will soon reap the benefits of Chi training, whether you practice the martial arts or not.

Source:   http://www.sharpblades.net/the-two-most-powerful-weapons-of-martial-arts
Author:  Lopez

Read the entire article at fightingmaster.com By Richard Hackworth, Ph.D., Lac.

Positive Body Changes

After about three weeks of true martial arts training, a wide range of physiological changes take place. Practitioners will exhibit improvements in blood sugar, blood pressures, blood lipids, brain neurotransmitter balance, blood supply to muscles, and capacity of somatic muscles and the liver to store carbohydrate in the form of glycogen, calcium metabolism and other basic parameters. The changes are not mutually exclusive; interactions among systems and their functions are the rule.

These changes translate into better functioning of the body and brain, and overall risk reduction for such diseases as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, osteoporosis, obesity, anxiety states, mild to moderate mental depression, chronic fatigue, and breast and colon cancers. An increase in breathing exercises and forms training helped me recover from type 2 diabetes and I am no longer insulin dependent because of it.

The Brain and Nervous System

Martial arts training brings about remarkable changes in brain chemistry. The concentrations of various neurotransmitters that are responsible for facilitation or inhibition of nerve impulse transmission in the central nervous system — acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid, endorphins and others — are changed so that a new balance is attained. The clinical signs and symptoms that ensue are easier to record than the actual neurotransmitter levels, and many studies are in agreement on the emotional, behavioral and physiological changes that accompany martial arts training. A few recent investigations, however, have pinned down the neurochemical changes, as well. Eighty-nine year old Grand Master Yong Woo Lee, founder of JungDoKwan Taekwondo credits his years of martial arts training for his good health and mental sharpness at his age.

Among the early changes seen when individuals engage in a martial arts training program are mood elevation, heightened energy levels, enhanced self-confidence and self-esteem, lower anxiety levels, resistance to depression and improved coping ability. Changes in blood pressure and heart rate, which are, to a large extent, mediated by the central nervous system, occur soon afterward. Heart rate is slowed, and hypertensive blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) is reduced toward normal. Hapkido Grand Master Gary Pointer says: “Martial arts training keeps me going strong with a smile on my face! It is the ultimate mental and physical health program.”

These physiological changes are a function of the rebalancing of the sympathetic (fight and flight) and parasympathetic (rest and repair) halves of the autonomic nervous system. Studies by the Inchon Sports College of Korea have found increased parasympathetic tone in martial arts trained subjects, and ascribe the slowing of heart rate and reduction in blood pressure to this increased tone. Others have recorded lower plasma catecholamine levels associated with lower blood pressure following martial arts training. Resting heart rate is largely controlled by the parasympathetic fibers of the tenth cranial nerve (vagus) to the heart’s pacemaker (SA node). But blood pressure is much more complex, and more body chemistry, especially hormonal chemistry, is involved. The bottom line is that martial arts training reduces hypertensive blood pressure, and that the response is distance/intensity-graded.

Returning to the neurotransmitter connections with training, higher levels of serotonin and dopamine have been recorded following intense martial arts training. These would account for the mood elevation and antidepressant effects equal to those of regular aerobic exercise. Keep in mind that changes in GABA, endorphins and other neurotransmitters may well contribute to these psychological effects. There have been improvements in the physical capabilities of Parkinson’s disease patients following six to eight weeks of martial arts training. (Dopamine levels are commonly low in people with Parkinson’s disease.) In one patient, a 69-year-old Korean female, Soo Yong Kim of Shi-Hung City, anti-Parkinson medication was discontinued after martial arts training greatly improved her aerobic capacity while training at the JaeIl JaeYook Kwan school owned by ChungDoKwan Grand Master Jong Song Kim.

Also related to dopamine changes, some cigarette smokers can quit with few, if any, signs and symptoms of withdrawal. Ordinarily, nicotine addiction is difficult to break because high dopamine levels drop precipitously upon smoking cessation. Rigorous martial arts training can greatly elevate dopamine levels, and cases of smokers who quit easily may be taken as initial evidence that optimal levels of martial arts training can prevent a drop in dopamine with smoking cessation.

Continuing in the realm of psychological effects, a number of cognitive improvements have been documented in older adults who train rigorously. These include quicker mental reaction time and improved fluid intelligence quotients. Incredibly, Jae Son Myung (101 years old) of Inchon, Korea credits his sharp mental focus and quick reaction ability to his 90 years of classical Yudo training. It has been proposed that such changes may be the result of improved acetylcholine levels. Acetylcholine is a universal nerve transmission chemical in both the brain and somatic nerves. If acetylcholine is responsible, martial arts exercise should also benefit Alzheimer’s disease, which exhibits chronic acetylcholine depletion.

At the base of the brain is the small pineal gland, which releases melatonin, a hormone that influences such widely diverse functions as sleep/wake cycles and immune system integrity. The production of melatonin, related chemically to serotonin, is upset when people travel across several time zones. A marked reduction in jet lag can be achieved when a martial artist’s training schedule is optimal for frequency, distance and intensity.

Read the entire article at fightingmaster.com By Richard Hackworth, Ph.D., Lac.

“I started martial arts training at the Maroochydore dojo about 4 weeks ago and have really enjoyed every moment of it. I have always been an active person but have found myself doing mostly solitary fitness until now. I found that some days running alone or cycling became a chore and I began to feel the need for a more social sport with more challenges. My partner had been a member at this dojo for a few months and suggested I come for a few trial sessions to see if it was for me. I was immediately impressed by the friendly warm welcome I received and was further enthused by the level of discipline, respect and professionalism displayed not only by the teachers but by each of the students.

I feel very comfortable when training at the Maroochydore dojo. It is very interactive and all participants are treated equally with respect. The training sessions cater for all levels at once so you can see at hand the standard that is required for each grade. It seems that everyone is willing to help guide and encourage each others progress.

My fitness has already improved by a mile. In my previous exercise regime of running, swimming, hiking and cycling I found that my body was well conditioned for those sports in particular but there were certain areas that I just wasn’t working on such as flexibility and anaerobic fitness. Karate seems to challenge every aspect of fitness completely. I have always been reasonably inflexible which I believe has been a contributing factor to a chronic pain problem in my lower back. Since starting karate I have become more relaxed and flexible in certain areas which have helped with my back problems.

Above all else, my mind is clearer and I generally feel more peaceful and mentally intact since being introduced to karate at this dojo. Whilst I am training I am focusing on just that, which allows me to take my mind off my sometimes stressful job. I have been taught that the important mental components of karate such as focus, determination, relaxation, reflection and confidence can all be applied to everyday life and make a big difference to how I approach life’s challenges. Since my partner Rob started karate I have noticed a huge positive change in his demeanour. In the past his job left him stressed and sometimes unhappy but now he has another focus and is much happier and has a more positive outlook. Karate also gives us a chance to spend more time together (which is usually hard because we are both shift workers) and we both have a lot of fun whilst training together.

Overall, I am very happy that I made the choice to be a part of this dojo. In the 4 weeks that I have been involved I have already noticed a big improvement in my fitness, my mind and my personal relationships.

Thanks to everyone at the dojo!”

Thank you to Kimberley for taking the time to share her experiences at Sunshine Coast Karate.

For more information about Sunshine Coast Karate please contact Martin & Sandra on (07) 5448 5274.