Fernside Karate Club - Okinawa GoJu Ryu

🥋 Fernside Karate Club is back!

Due to a number of personal commitments, we haven’t been able to hold regular training since the beginning of the year. After around eight months away, we’re really excited to get back into the dojo—just as the weather begins to warm up!

We’re also excited to be relocating to the Cust Community Hall. Although Fernside Hall has been our home for many years and will always be a special place for those who have trained there, Cust Hall has a lot of personal meaning for me too. It’s where I graded to Shodan—my first black belt—back in 1998, so returning to teach there feels very special.

For now, we’ll be training once a week, with plans to also join other like-minded local clubs for an additional night of training where possible.

Whether you’re a former member keen to return, someone with previous karate experience, or completely new and wanting to give it a go, everyone is welcome. We’d love to see you there!

📍 Cust Community Hall
🗓 Tuesdays
⏰ 6:30pm

Please feel free to message us with any questions—or simply come along and join us!

We're back on for term 4.

Monday 630pm Fernside Community Hall.

Lots to work on so see you all there.

Just a reminder we are back on tonight for the last of our school holiday training sessions. See you all at 6:30.

From next week we will move to our regular Monday slot of 630pm.

See you tonight
Richie

Those that know me know that I have been training on Goju Ryu for the better part of 35 years, almost with no breaks during that time. Last year, something I never saw coming happened, I fell out of love with karate, yes I was busy with the family and business but I'd always been able to prioritize at least some training in the past.

It actually brought me back to the book I read over 25 years ago by the great Karateka John Jarvis. At the time I read the book with great interest as he was a pioneer of karate in New Zealand. One thing always stuck with me amongst all the amazing and eye opening tales he had, in that one day he just had enough. I can't actually recall the reason but he just stopped. At the time I couldn't believe it, someone with 40+ years of experience just stopping.

Then last year it happened to me, karate no longer filled my cup, I was finding reasons not to train and becoming less tolerant as a person. So with much internal conflict I decided I needed a break. And what a break it was, getting my body right, hitting the gym, catching up with friends and playing sports I hadn't been able to commit to in some time.

That's where mine and Johns story differs, over the past few months I found myself thinking more about karate, my son went to a scout night with a guest karate instructor that wasn't me!! And I overheard Amy mentioning to someone that we USED to do karate! Those things were very uncomfortable things to see and hear and that made me realize that some people DO Karate and some people ARE Karate. I have no doubt after this past year off, that I am the latter.

Tonight I taught my first class in about a year, it came as natural as breathing. I have no doubt of my rustiness, there will be lots to work on as there always was, but I realized now that unintentionally I have probably hidden behind Johns book this last year and used it as reasoning for my situation and justification for no longer training. If he could stop then maybe it was ok for me?

I'm happy to say I enjoyed karate tonight as much as I ever had and can't wait to get fully in the swing of it again.

Note: my reference to Johns book in no way is meant to compare me to him on any level or judge any of his decisions. I only reference his book as having an impact on a young and impressionable karate mind at that time.

Anyway, thanks to the team that trained tonight, I know school holidays are a funny time to start but it was a way to ease into it.

Thanks
Sensei Richie

After almost a year off, we are back at it tonight! Work and family commitments made it impossible to run a club in recent months but with that becoming more under control we are now back doing what we love in the most perfect Dojo on a weekly basis.

Both new and old (existing, not old old) are welcome as we get back into the swing of things..

It starts tonight at 630pm at Fernside Hall.

Hope to see you there.

Sensei Richie.

Hi team

Just a reminder for the next two weeks we are just training Wednesday nights as I am away in China for work.

Dave will be running Wednesdays and I'll see you in a couple of weeks.

Cheers
Richie

Happy Tuesday! Hope you all have a safe and fantastic break over Easter. Time to pay the piper tonight, 6pm, don't be late!

Sorry team but I forgot to remind you all that karate is only on Tuesdays between now and the end of March. Hopefully you remember that last year I mentioned we had a month coming up where we are unable to book a second night due to an initial mistake by me when making the hall booking.

So from Tuesday 2nd April we will begin training twice a week again, this time Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Both at 6pm.

So for the month of March it will be up to you to train for your second night. While the weather is nice, training at the beach, at the park or your back yard are all great areas to keep up the progress we have seen so far this year.

All the best and see you tomorrow night!

Cheers
Richie