Lower Hutt Seido Karate

I cannot believe that it has been a whole year since DREAMM our Dojo Baby Angel “Tian She” departed to begin her life high in the heavens above us….

The 16^th of October has now become a special and embedded day in the Dojo’s annual diary for all to reflect upon as a day of remembrance, appreciation and gratitude for the Preciousness and Privileges of Life….

Thank you to Darren and Aimee, DREAMM’s beautiful parents, for giving us the opportunity to share in their immense feelings of love for you and for the opportunity to support them with their even deeper feelings of loss…

Thank you to everyone in the Dojo who constantly surround them with Love and Care…

With Gratitude, Appreciation and Love Always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo  

The Heavens welcomed another Angel on the 4^th of September…..

With great sadness and sorrow, we farewelled Senpai Kathy from this world, we surrounded her coffin, and stood with her for one last time, sharing our fondest memories with her and standing quite still as our hearts filled with tears and final goodbyes….

We will always remember and cherish you as a staunch Senpai, an ever-present mentor to all, and the most loyal of friends…

Your heartbeat within the Dojo will always endure through the many students you have touched with your unique way of looking after everyone…

You will inspire so many more as you travel in your next journey, a journey in a higher place, a place where there is only peace, tranquillity, love and gratitude….

Missing you incredibly….thank you for being in our lives….

With all our Love, Respect and Gratitude

OSU
Ken Szeto and everyone at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo

It was another Great SEIDO Karate Tournament Day at the 2^nd SEIDO KARATE EIKO HANSHI KATA Tournament 2023…..

It was truly a day of Blessings, Talented SEIDO students and Incredible SEIDO Instructors and Parents…..

Blessings:

• The special attendances of Eiko Hanshi Renzie Hanham and Sei Shihan Aaron and their partners Cath and Paola sharing the whole day with us all
• The special attendances of students and Instructors from all 6 of the Wellington Region SEIDO Karate Dojo
• Having such amazingly talented SEIDO students demonstrate their KATA with such enthusiasm and spirit
• Having such amazing parents, families and friends supporting everyone with such warm encouragement
• Having such an amazing tournament management team always so giving of their time, energy and expertise before, on the day and after this very unique tournament
• Having the opportunity to host, continue to develop and share this wonderful tournament with everyone

Talented SEIDO Students

• The talent on display from all SEIDO students across all age groups and belt divisions totally at another level
• The level of Spirit and Enthusiasm from all SEIDO students strong and ever present throughout the day, truly inspirational
• The level of Connectedness amidst all Dojo warm, friendly, and respectfully competitive

Incredible SEIDO Instructors and Parents

• The true guardians of all our SEIDO Dojo – our amazing Dojo Instructors always so steadfast, resolute and supportive with their Dojo involvements
• The true behind the scenes heroes of all our SEIDO Dojo Communities – our incredible Dojo parents always so dedicated, committed, and supportive of all Dojo students and Dojo endeavours

Thank you to all SEIDO Karate Dojo Heads, Instructors, Students and Parents for making this years Tournament another Great SEIDO Karate Day…..

Thank you to Eiko Hanshi Renzie and Eiko Hanshi Andy for your lifetimes of dedication and commitment to SEIDO Karate and for the privileges we enjoy now as we continue to acknowledge and celebrate you both and the SEIDO Karate Way of today….

Keep up with all the hard training everyone and we will look forward to see you all again next year…

Warmest and best regards always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo

Right from the outset we knew it was going to be a special evening from this very talented group of Junior karate-ka…..

So firmly supported by their families and fellow karate-ka, the group demonstrated the highest levels of individual courage and determination as they worked through their first grading experience…..

Combinations, kata and endless push ups challenged them each as they gave their all every step of the way…

As always, their hard work and dedication resulting in smiles as they proudly wore their new belts around their waists and thanked their parents for their love and support in their young lives….

The never quit SEIDO Spirit firmly entrenched in these young and talented juniors…..keep up with your BUDO journeys….

Thank you to all fellow karate-ka and families for attending and supporting with such warm encouragement…

Warmest and best regards always

OSU

Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo

It was certainly a mix of young personalities and ages as they each lined up to face the challenges of the evenings grading together….

Each one reacting differently to the physical challenges of the evening and each one expressing themselves uniquely when asked about themselves, their families, and their thoughts on the importance of their parents in their young lives at the end of the grading….

Stellar physical efforts balanced with heartfelt expressions of appreciation for their parents and instructors as they progress with their journeys in karate-do….

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to your training and thank you to your parents and instructors for their never-ending encouragement and guidance….

As always, hard earned grading success was followed with generous food and drink offerings brought by all and thoroughly enjoyed with the shared company of all our wonderful families and fellow karate-ka….

Thank you for your ever-present generosity and support, we are a very blessed and privileged Dojo…

Warmest and best regards always

OSU

Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo

It was simply a great demonstration of true ‘Budo Spirit’ from all who graded on the night….

You were all “Simply the Best” and you each gave your very best throughout and right to the very end and beyond….

Your regular and dedicated commitment to your practise of SEIDO life values bringing everyone together in friendship, love and respect for each other…

Thank you to your wonderful families, friends, and fellow karateka for their amazing support throughout the grading and for their always generous gifts of food and drink in celebration of your grading success, dedication and hard work….

A privilege to be a part of your very uniquely individual Karate Journeys….

With much gratitude and sincere thanks….

Warmest and best regards always

OSU
Ken Szeto

Our Dojo DREAMM Tour was just that, a dream come true….

The privileges of travel and competition after a wait period of 4 years due to COVID being realised and enjoyed by everyone in the wonderful city of Sydney…

Our first experiences of an “International level” tournament proving to be a next level challenge for all competing students in both kata and sparring…

We had a great tournament day with much new learnings, new understandings and new friendships being accumulated across the group as the excitement of watching the introductory activities and individual events of the tournament unfolded….

The spirit of “BUDO” and “FRIENDSHIP” strong and evident all day long with all competitors showing much respect and spirit as they proudly represented their Dojo’s, their styles, and their countries….(Australia, Japan and New Zealand)

Many impressive students demonstrated their amazing kata and sparring abilities across many age groups and martial arts styles…

Kempo Genbu Ryu Karate, Shidokan Karate, Heiseikan Karate, Goju Ryu Karate, Kyokushinkai Karate and more….

A real tribute to all Dojo’s, Dojo Heads and Instructors….Well done and Congratulations to everyone….

We were all so very proud of all our SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo students for giving their utmost in such a very challenging new tournament format and environment…

Our little group of 25 competing students competed hard indeed…

Our Dojo tournament results:

Juniors Age Group Events:

• Zoe Liu – 1^st Individual Kata (7 years and under event)
• Ava Dong – 1^st Individual Kata (8-10 years event)
• Alistair Dong – 1^st Individual Kata (11-12 years event)
• Mackenzie Page – 3^rd Individual Kata (8-10 years event)
• Maddison Roo – 2^nd Individual Kata (11-12 years event)

Collegiate Age Group Events:

• Senpai Jason Chao – 1^st Full Contact Kumite, 2^nd Points Kumite, 3^rd Freestyle Kumite (17-18 years Advanced to Black event)
• Senpai Issac Chia – 1^st Individual Kata, 2^nd Full Contact Kumite, 1^st Points Kumite (17-18 years Advanced to Black event)
• Senpai Isabelle Bosworth – 2^nd Weapons Kata (17-18 years Advanced to Black event)
• Finlay Bosworth – 2^nd Full Contact Kumite (13-15 years Advanced event)
• Joe Hyndman – 2^nd Full Contact Kumite (17-18 years Advanced to Black event)
• Ethan Broadley – 2^nd Individual Kata, 3^rd Full Contact Kumite, 1^st Freestyle Kumite (17-18 years Intermediate event)

Adults Age Group Events:

• Senpai Leighton Szeto – 1^st Individual Kata (Adults Open event)
• Cary Stackhouse – 3^rd Full Contact Kumite (Adults Open event)
• Jason Stapp – 2^nd Individual Kata (Adults Open event)
• Tony Dong – 1^st Individual Kata (Adults Open event)

Our sincere gratitude to Kancho Peter Mylonas and his tournament team for hosting and running such an exciting, enjoyable, and well-tuned event…

Your warm welcome and hospitality throughout the day was greatly and gratefully appreciated….

It was a privilege indeed to meet so many of the “Head of Styles” at the VIP seating tables, a real tournament high point for me…

Shihan Margaret Le (Kempo Genbu Ryu – Sydney) , Shihan James Phillips (Power Karate Kyokushinkai – Sydney) and Shihan Christian Ch’ng (Shidokan Karate – Sydney) thank you for your warm company and conversation, I hope that our paths cross again soon…

Congratulations to all competing students and your Dojo instructors for your limitless dedication and commitment to the continued development of high-level tournament competition and “BUDO Spirit” across our International Martial Arts communities….

Thank you to our Dojo instructors, our amazing parents (our unseen heroes) and your very talented children young and older….

Thank you so much to our most special of sponsors Aimee, Darren and Family and of course our Dojo Guardian Angel DREAMM for looking over us from above and making sure that we continue with our daily commitment to enjoying every aspect of our very privileged lives….

With much Gratitude, Appreciation, and Love

OSU
Ken Szeto

Kempo Genbu Ryu International Tournament – Sydney Sunday 19^th March 2023

Yes! We are all ready and set to go to Sydney and for many special reasons….

Originally planned as a Dojo Tournament Trip to attend the Kempo Genbu Ryu International Tournament in Sydney on Sunday 19^th March, the trip has evolved to become a very special trip for our Dojo with a heart breaking and heart-warming sentiment….

Our Dojo trip is dedicated to the memory of a beautiful little baby called “DREAMM” and her loving parents Darren and Aimee and their beautiful family…….(DREAMM passed away at 37 weeks into Aimee’s pregnancy)

DREAMM’s name is made up of the first letters of Darren, Aimee and their children Riley, Ella, Maddy and Mackenzie……

As a Dojo we have given DREAMM the Japanese name “TENSHI” which means “ANGEL” or “Messenger from the Heavens” and we have also designed a special logo which will sit in our Dojo in remembrance of our Dojo Angel……

Our Dojo “DREAMM TOUR”……..dedicated to DREAM and acknowledging the fragilities of life but celebrating the many riches within our own lives…..

Thank you to our sponsors (DREAMM Windows and Doors) and thank you to our amazing parents who have done so much behind the scenes to make this trip a reality….

Thank you to all our talented students for your dedication to your training….and to your dedicated instructors for their ever present time and guidance….

Warmest and best regards
OSU
Ken Szeto

It was an Absolute Blast – it was an evening full of FUN, LAUGHTER, and MERRIMENT with our amazing adults, collegiates and parents in our last class of the Year..….

It was simply the best way to kick a challenging 2022 year into touch…

Time now to relax, rest and recharge with families and friends over the holiday season in preparation for a new and positive 2023…

Thank you to everyone…our amazing black belts, our dedicated adult and collegiate kyu grades, our talented juniors, and our fantastic parents for your superhuman support of our wonderful little Dojo and Dojo community….

There is not one journey but many journeys, all made up of unique individuals and families each contributing in their own way and making our Dojo the very special place that it is for all to enjoy and share….

Wishing everyone a Fantastic Christmas and the Happiest New Year for 2023…

Thank you…

Sincere and Warmest Wishes always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo

It was an absolute “Privilege and a Pleasure” in so many ways….

A Privilege to have 3 such amazing and kind-hearted people as a part of the Dojo and a Pleasure to be a part of their Karate Journeys….

Nothing but “Honesty of Effort” and “Sincerity of Expression” was demonstrated by these 3 as they gave everything throughout each stage of their grading…

Each had significant life challenges going on in their lives prior to grading day….the build-up of these pressures culminating in emotional and sincere releases of appreciation and happiness at gradings end…

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us all…we are all so much richer and appreciative for being a part of it…

Warmest and best wishes always

OSU
Ken Szeto and all at SEIDO Karate Lower Hutt Dojo