Kenworthy Kyokushin Dojo

🥋 Whanganui Dojo Noticeboard – A Few Quick Reminders! 🥋

Osu everyone!

We've got a few important things happening around the dojo, so please take a minute to check these off your list:

💰 Monthly & Term Fees – A friendly reminder that fees are now due. We still have a few outstanding, so if you haven't paid yet, we'd really appreciate you getting these sorted as soon as possible. Your fees help keep our dojo running strong!

👊 Junior Class Helpers – The new helper roster is now up on the office door. Please have a look and make sure you know when you're on to help with the junior class. Our younger students love having our senior members supporting them and is good practice for you as well!

🏆 Tournament Helpers Needed – Saturday 22nd August – Our big tournament is almost here, and we need plenty of helping hands to make it an amazing day! If you'll be around on the 22nd and can spare some time, please have a chat with Shihan Russell. Whether it's setting up, helping during the day, or packing down, every bit of help makes a huge difference.

Osu! 🥋🔥

🥋 FINAL WEEK TO GET YOUR ENTRIES IN! 🥋

The countdown is on! This is your final week to enter the MOKNZ Full Contact Open Championships. If you've been putting in the hours training, now is the time—don't miss out!

We're incredibly proud to be hosting this event right here in our home town of Whanganui, and it's shaping up to be an action-packed day of Kyokushin spirit, determination, and incredible martial arts.

Whether you're competing or cheering from the sidelines, come along and experience:
🥊 Hard-hitting full contact kumite
🥋 Precision and power in kata
💪 The heart, discipline, and spirit that make Kyokushin so special

If you've ever wondered what Kyokushin Karate is all about, this is the perfect opportunity to see it in action!

Let's make this a fantastic event for our competitors, supporters, and the wider community.

Proudly hosted by our dojo. Osu! 👊🔥

2026 MOKNZ Kyokushin Full Contact Open Karate Championships — Mas Oyama Karate New Zealand 2026 MOKNZ Kyokushin Full Contact Open Karate Championships Including both Kata and Kumite. Hosted by the Kenworthy Dojo in Whanganui, Saturday 22 August 2026.

Kyokushin Open Karate Championships in Whanganui

The 2026 Kyokushin Full Contact Open Karate Championships will be held in Whanganui on Saturday 22 August. Russell Dilloway from the local group or Dojo, who is also the North Island representative for Kyokushin NZ, says, “We are expecting close to 100 competitors,” adding that there is interest from other non- Kyokushin karate groups who have similar styles and rules, who appreciate the opportunity of a full-contact competition.

There are 17 Kyokushin dojos in New Zealand, with 12 in the North Island.
The public will be welcome to watch the championships, which will be held at the Eulogy Lounge of the Whanganui Function Centre. The cost is $10 for those of school age and $20 for adults. For tickets contact Russell on 0210-626-658.
Kyokushin Karate was introduced to Whanganui in 1988, but has been in New Zealand since the 1960s, thanks to Doug Holloway, who went to Japan for a year’s training before setting up a Kyokushin ‘Dojo’ in Christchurch.

Mike Kenworthy was instrumental in bringing Kyokushin to Whanganui. He had left for Australia, becoming a middle-weight champion there, before returning to Whanganui in 1988 and becoming the New Zealand branch chief.

Russell’s brothers joined up at the beginning, and Russell is one of four of seven brothers who have done Kyokushin Karate. The local Dojo is an active one, meeting at 151 St Hill Street for formal training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

School students from age six meet from 5.15pm to 6.15pm, and soon after the adult sessions start running through to 8pm. The adults also do fitness training on Fridays from 5pm and have karate matches on a Saturday night. The local Dojo can boast of having 17 active black belts.

They have also been successful at national level. Russell says, “Our heavyweight, Pete Pearson, and middleweight, Chris Sheahon, as well as colts, William Collins-Lowe, will be defending their national titles this year.” He adds, “One of our female students, Rebekah Dack, will be defending her kata title.

Kata refers to how well you perform the traditional drills, an exercise that Russell describes as “nerve-wracking.” Russell has represented New Zealand in Japan as well as in Australia and Indonesia. Kyokushin is worldwide.

The cost to join the Dojo is $120 per school term and $60 per month for adults.

Photo: Russell Dilloway.

🥋 A message for our juniors - we are back into it next week for the start of term! 🥋

The mats are ready... are you? 👊 Hope you have been keeping your training up during the holidays, as we have heaps coming up. Our dojo fight night very shortly, followed by nationals held here in Whanganui!

💥 Hay mums and dads .... want something new to do?
Our seniors/adults classes are the perfect way to get fit, relieve stress, and challenge yourself in a supportive, friendly environment. No experience is needed—we'll help you every step of the way. Grab a friend to join you and come have a look!

Whether you've always wanted to give karate a go or you're looking for a new way to stay active, we'd love to welcome some new faces onto the dojo floor.

Come along, give it a try, and see what Kyokushin Karate is all about!

Osu! 👊

📢 Friday Fight Training Update

There will be no fight training tomorrow night (Friday 10th July).

Enjoy the long weekend! 💪 Keep up your own training, make sure you get something in at home or head out and run the stairs to keep your fitness up.

Saturday's session will continue as normal. Please keep an eye on the Fight Training page for any updates or changes.

Have a great weekend everyone!