Seishin-Ryu Karate Whanganui Dojo

Seishin Ryu Whanganui is now closed until further notice as Sensei Ben is travelling overseas indefinitely.

For students wanting to practice quality martial arts we recommend the New Zealand Jiu Jitsu Academy which operates out of the same location at 244B Victoria Avenue.

🌳Come join us! Starting this week our legendary Workout-Wednesdays are back for a limited time and a GREAT cause.

We'll be having awesome fun learning, laughing, and getting fit as! 100% of proceeds donated to support youth mentoring in Whanganui.

🚪 I am closing the dojo.
Kia ora whanau, this year I am changing it up. I want to move away from the evenings and from such a casual model, as it doesn't reflect the culture of commitment necessary for true development in the martial arts.

Therefore I am closing the Bell St Dojo, after almost two years, while we figure out a better way to go deep into Okinawan Karate-do.

In the meantime I encourage my students to branch out, there are many great martial arts clubs in Whanganui - learn something new and be a martial artist, not a partial artist.

This also means that my spaces in St Andrew's Hall (7pm Tueday, 6pm Wednesday) are now available. If you are looking for a space please let me know and I can point you to the hall administration.

I would like to thank the students and supporters who made this iteration of our art possible, and to acknowledge Te Awa Tupua on whose banks we have been practicing together.

Thank you Sanne and Vince for this final training in the hall - you were there for the first and the last. Osu!

Ngā mihi 🌳
Ben Blain

This is a collage of aroha and thanks! Thank you Kyoshi Angelina Carden,Kyoshi Aaron, and the Senseis at Seishin Ryu Martial Arts NZ for your support in continuing the legacy of Seishin Ryu.

Thank you Shihan Shanon Casson for being my sensei in the "gentle art" (also special thanks to Sensei Mat and Sam the Uke) of New Zealand Jiu Jitsu Academy and thank you and Liza Casson for creating amazing opportunities through New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame - Nzmahof est 1997 for our students.

Thank you Whanganui Highland Pipe Band for sharing your space to provide us a great place to practice.

Thank you Hanshi Dave Butler at Samurai Arts for supporting our club and keeping us stocked with gear and free merch!

Thank you Hanshi R Dessa for not just founding Seishin Ryu Karate, but being a passionate pillar and advocate of martial arts, especially in NZ, for over 50 years. Osu!

A massive thank you to our students for being there in the dojo learning this beautiful martial art - drag more friends along in 2023!

Last but not least, I wanted to acknowledge Te Awa Tupua - the Whanganui River and all it's tributaries - for sustaining and upholding the Wairua, Mauri, Mana, and Hinengaro of our little river dojo.

Yours in Budo, Sensei Ben Ngapo-Blain.
Osu!🌳

Some highlights from our Karate-do practice in 2022! It has been an honour to induct new students into the realm of Budo this year, and I loved seeing you grow and develop in the art of being amazing people. Remember, all you have to do is show up. Osu!
~Sensei Ben. 🌳

We had a great last training and our Karate Dojo is closed for the holidays. We'll be back in mid-January 2023 - watch this space! 🌳

...They say that on a distant and dragon-guarded mountain there is a great, and tasty, treasure... Indeed! It is the secret of 10th-Dan Nachos!

But, only those who conquer the mountain of Karate-do will know the savoury delights! FINAL TRAINING this Wednesday 21 Dec, 5:50pm, followed by epic nachos and good times at Sensei's house.

See you in the dojo! 🌳

An amazing opportunity for rangatahi in our rohe! Check it out!

This Summer we’re excited to be hosting Tū Manawa Ora, a Summer Camp for Rangatahi!



We have 20 all-expenses-paid scholarships available, valued at nearly $2000 per ticket. You need to be aged 16-24 to apply and live in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region. 



Apply here: 
tinyurl.com/manawaora 



Summary:
 A week-long immersive adventure camp at Pīwakawaka farm and Te Ao Hou Marae. Explore wild places, learn life skills, and live in community. Themes include Matauranga Māori, Regenerative Kai Systems, Holistic Wellbeing, Native Forests, Climate Leadership, and Te Awa Tupua [The Whanganui River Catchment].

Thanks so much to Whanganui District Council, Horizons, and Whanganui River Enhancement Trust for generously funding this camp! 


If you would like more information then please contact us at: [email protected]

🌳In celebration of World Karate Day 2022 here is a simplified whakapapa for our style. With indigenous Okinawan and Shaolin origins, karate-do has been adapted through the years. How many of these famous masters and styles can you recognise?

Polar blast incoming whanau... We'll keep toasty in the dojo tonight!

🌳A superb grading. Congratulations Cam, Vince, & Sanne for leveling up!

Towards the end I put you under some pressure, some new self-defence situations we haven't covered yet, but all three of you were able to adapt instantly and you showed us some really beautiful karate in the process. Be proud of yourselves.

Looking forward to continuing our practice in Karate-do, together. 🌳

🌳Three levels of mawashi-geri (roundhouse kick) from last night's training. To the floating rib, to the jaw, and a downwards cutting kick to the head from above.

Note the elevated arm position of our training partner is to consciously stop us from triggering dangerous automatic blocks, with elbows into the upper foot or instep, when we train softly like this. Instead we rely on trust and control to protect each other while practising. 🙇🙇‍♀️