Lower Hutt Seido Karate

Celebrating the lifelong achievements and significant contributions to Seido Karate of Eiko Hanshi Renzie Hanham and the late Eiko Hanshi Andy Barber, with special attendance by Sei Shihan Aaron Barber, Son of the late Eiko Hanshi Andy Barber.

Tournament Date & Location:

Date & Time: Saturday, 30th August 2025, starting at 9am

Location: St. Orans Girls College, 550 High Street, Boulcott, Lower Hutt

Events:

• Individual kata – by age and belt grade.
• 3-person Team kata, – by age and belt grade.
• Individual weapons Kata – Black belt only.
• 3-person team weapons kata – Black belt only.
• Family Event – Parent Child Kata – all ages and by child / collegiate student belt grade (one parent – one child per team)

Categories & Age Groups:

Junior Students

• 5-6 years
• 7-8 years
• 9-10 years
• 11-12 years

Collegiate Students

• 13-15 years
• 16-17 years

A list of the permitted Kata and Tournament Rules is available below and has been emailed to each dojo head.

2025-EIKO-HANSHI-TOURNAMENT-KATA-TOURNAMENT-Rules-JULY-2025-Final

Registrations:

To register, follow the steps in the Registration Form linked below.

Registration Form

Online registrations only, late and on the day registrations will not be accepted.

Registrations: registrations open on the 3rd of July and close 16th of August.

• $40 – per Seido student / Participant (junior or collegiate)
• $20 – per parent entry (parent child kata).

Important Notes:

• Each Student / Participant must be individually registered.
• Once registered, payment instructions will be emailed.
• Registration is confirmed upon payment of entry fees.
• Please reference each student registration with: Full name of student and Student Dojo.

Hosted By: Seido Lower Hutt

As a fund-raising event to support the growth and development of Junior and Collegiate student leadership, tournament & overseas travel programmes. Delicious food and hot and cold drinks will be available at the tournament for purchase.

For general enquiries please email: seidotournament@gmail.com

Looking forward to hosting and seeing everyone….
OSU
Jun Shihan Ken Szeto
SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo

The quiet and still of the early morning start for the Nidan grading was broken with the greeting sounds of OSU and warm embraces…

The 2 students nervously eyeing the growing number of black belts arriving at the Dojo…

It was an outstanding effort indeed from the 2 grading students as they were put through their paces under the watchful eyes of so many senior black belts in attendance from Wellington, Kapiti, Palmerston North, and Hamilton Dojos…

Their presence reinforcing the importance of getting together to celebrate these occasions together within an environment of shared encouragement, support, and continual connection…

Congratulations on such and outstanding and high-quality demonstration of personal dedication and commitment…

It was a truly inspiring demonstration for so many reasons…

Thank you to all the senior black belts, Sei Shihan, Jun Shihan, Kyoshi, Sensei and Senpai for making it such a spirit lifting grading for our Dojo and students..

Thank you also to your training partners and families for allowing you the privilege of their time and support…

Shodan Grading

The morning’s grading activities continued after the early Nidan grading…and the intensity of the challenges to be faced did not let up for this very dedicated and committed group of 4….

The levels of physicality and mental challenge pushing every student to their limits throughout…

Of note, their levels of personal resilience and dedication to keep going and never give up….

Warmly supported by families, friends, fellow karateka and the many Dojo Heads, Senior Black Belts and Senpai from the Wellington region Dojo…and beyond (Palmerston North and Hamilton)

Thank you to all for making this another special milestone for our wonderful little Dojo…

Warmest and best regards always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt

It was nothing but true SEIDO spirit, dedication, determination, and commitment from start to finish…

Strongly supported and encouraged throughout by fellow students and family, their efforts were pushed to new levels of physical and emotional demand….with each student being asked to find their source of inner strength and to then push beyond…

An outstanding effort equal to the quality of people that each of you are….

Thank you to your partners and families for always being by your side….

A fantastic effort indeed, keep with your unique journeys…

Warmest and best regards always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt

As always it was a perfect day to spend training in paradise at Raumati Beach, Kapiti….

Sun, surf, sand and a great bunch of SEIDO people to enjoy a day out on the beach and so kindly hosted by Kyoshi Karen and her welcoming student community of SEIDO Karate Kapiti….

Thank you for putting such a spectacular day and tummy satisfying barbecue at your place afterwards….

See you next year Kyoshi Karen and a big OSU for all your hospitality…

Warmest and best regards always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt

WOW, WOW and more WOW….

It was all commitment from this impressive Juniors group as they gave their all in their first grading experience…

Right from the start the attitude to succeed was sky high from everyone…even from mums and dads and families cheering from the sidelines…

An inspiring evening from ones so young and talented….you are all becoming wonderful junior karateka so keep exploring and learning with your unique karate journeys…

Thank you to your amazing families for their limitless support of you and the Dojo…we are very blessed to have such a fun bunch of parents and families who give so generously towards our Dojo pursuits and activities…

Thank you also to your dedicated class instructors who have given so much of their time and energies to help you to be the talented young karateka that you are today…

Keep up the efforts everyone and keep looking forward to all the new experiences that you will get to enjoy in the future…

Warmest and best regards always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo

OSHISHINOBU – Keep patience and persevere…..

This was the key grading message and lesson for this very dedicated group of wonderful youngsters throughout last night’s grading experience….

Physical limits were exceeded time and time again and any feelings of doubt were forgotten about as the challenges of the evening progressed…

Loud OSU and KIAI building their levels of resolve to succeed no matter how hard the way ahead…

Well Done to this fantastic bunch of young karate-ka….and thank you to your amazing parents…

As always, our families and their ever-encouraging presence at gradings adding such depth of feeling and meaning to our grading experiences and to the culture and soul of our wonderful little Dojo…

Thank you everyone (our Dojo black belts, our class instructors, and our families)  for being on this special SEIDO journey known as the SINCERE WAY……

With sincere respect and gratitude always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo

It was an evening of awe-inspiring demonstration of determination and resilience from a very talented group of junior students…

Their high levels of preparedness matched equally with attitudes of pure desire to overcome all challenges on the night…

You all have much to be thankful for…

• Your amazing and loving parents….
• Your dedicated and nurturing Dojo black belts..
• Your dedicated and encouraging class instructors…
• Our wonderful Dojo and Dojo Community…

Thank you to all your wonderful families for their ever-present generosity with after grading celebratory food and drinks…

Well done to you all and keep up the hard work with your practice of the wonderful art that is SEIDO Karate…..  

Warmest and best wishes always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo

It was certainly a hard day at the office for all grading students both young and old…

The physical elements always challenging and the mix up of syllabus content just making things even more so…

The presence of their families and friends however, certainly enriching the experience for all grading students…

It is amazing how the diversity of personalities and life upbringings for each student are shared so openly as a final part of the grading experience…

The sincerity and honesty in all that is expressed a huge lesson to us all to be more accepting and encouraging of others as we all continue our journeys in KARATE-DO and LIFE…

A true testament to the “Human Spirit” within us all and drawn upon constantly to overcome the many adversities and challenges that present in our lives…

Thank you to all grading students for your Dedication and Commitment….and a “HUGE Thank You to your Families for Always Backing you 200%”…

Warmest and best wishes always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo

It is often expressed to every student that karate-do is a journey….

A journey that will be unique to you….and along that journey there will be lessons within the lessons and learnings to be discovered and understood over the fullness of time….

The meaning of gradings will change, they will become blessings and celebrations of the unique individuals that we each are and become special occasions where each Dojo’s culture of togetherness is reinforced…

Thursday night the convergence of 10 different individuals and their journeys, a true a reflection of the above….

“SEIDO Spirit Never Stronger”

Karate technique aspiring towards perfection, Physicality reaching exhaustion, Emotion released through KIAI and OSU, and Love expressed towards your life partners and family without reservation….

A memorable night indeed…OSU….Congratulations heartfelt and embraced by all present….

My sincere Respect, Gratitude and Love to all Grading students, your families, and friends and all SEIDO Lower Hutt Dojo Black Belts and Kyu Grade students

OSU
Ken Szeto

It was another fantastic Sydney Tournament trip with the most FUN group of students and families…

The beautiful city of Sydney always a privilege and pleasure to be in and always packed full of new experiences and activities to enjoy…

Our base in Darling Harbour proving to be the best of locations for all to explore the many great shopping precincts, enjoy the great food and just people watch the hordes of human beings living their busy lives in the bustling CBD areas…

But best of all, enjoying the daily company and warm friendships of all the wonderful people and families in this group…and ending our trip with a perfect evening with an amazing group dinner in beautiful Darling Harbour….the evening setting topped off with a perfectly clear sky and warm weather..

Thank you to all for the many precious memories and the invaluable privilege of your friendships…

Tournament Day…a very challenging experience

The courage and enthusiasm of all our competing Dojo students was truly inspiring with all students demonstrating their kata and competing in sparring with true passion and total commitment…

The many Happy faces however reflecting the levels of elation of those students fortunate to achieve podium placings on the day….

Congratulations and Well Done to you all….

Tournament Results:

Traditional Forms – Individual KATA placings

• Braxton Luamanu – 2^nd place 7 years and under M&F
• Willow Mckenzie – 2^nd place 8-10 years Beginner to Intermediate M&F
• Karolina Chimielewska-Barlow – 3^rd place 8-10 years Beginner to Intermediate M&F
• Zoe Liu – 1st place 8-10 years Advanced to Black M&F
• Ava Dong – 2^nd place 8-10 years Advanced to Black M&F
• Mackenzie Page – 3^rd place 8-10 years Advanced to Black M&F
• Ella Page – 1^st place 11-12 years Advanced to Black M&F
• Victor Chimielewska-Barlow – 2^nd place Advanced to Black M&F
• Billy Kaa – 3^rd place Advanced to Black M&F
• Alistair Dong – 1^st place 13-15 years Intermediate to Black M&F
• Sam Phillips – 2^nd place 13-15 Advanced to Black M&F
• Farrand Turner – 1^st place Adult Intermediate M&F
• Zuzanna Chimielewska-Barlow – 3^rd place Adult Intermediate M&F

Demonstration – Traditional – Team KATA placings

• Gracien Stapp / Alistair Dong – 1^st place 14 years and above M&F

Freestyle Sparring – Sparring Placings

• Farrand Turner – 1^st place – Beginners to Intermediate M

Thank you to Kancho Peter Mylonas, instructors, and tournament team for another challenging tournament….

It was another massive learning experience again with the many learnings to be taken away and worked on…

Wishing you and all students the very best for the year ahead with their training and tournaments journeys…

Warmest and best regards always
OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo