Counties Shotokan Karate New Zealand

Counties Shotokan Karate New Zealand Counties Shotokan Karate teaches the traditional art of Shotokan Karate, self defence and weapons. For ages and all ranks.

17/08/2025

CONGRATULATIONS to all those that passed the Gradings on Wednesday 13th and Saturday 16th August 2025.
You did the hard work and were successful, now there is more work to be done learning new syllabus and kata.
Soon Tournament will be upon us and you now need to start training on your Kata and/or Kumite for this event.
Keep up the good work!!!
Take care๐Ÿ™‚

14/07/2025

Greetings everyone, hope are all staying well and training hard for the up coming Gradings in August.
How many of you know what Soji or Sojido is?
Here is an excerpt from an article regarding this subject taken from the website Sojido.com

"Sojido" (ๆŽƒ้™ค้“), in Japanese, translates to "the way of cleaning" or "the way of the cleaning". It refers to a practice, often found in martial arts dojos, where students clean the training space together after class, regardless of rank, as a way to show respect for the space and each other. It's more than just physical cleaning; it embodies responsibility, humility, and respect.

Here's a more detailed explanation.
Sojido is not solely about sweeping or mopping. It's a practice that emphasizes responsibility, humility, and respect for the space the equipment and fellow practitioners.

In many martial arts dojos, students participate in Soji, or Sojido, as a way to maintain the cleanliness and order of the training environment.

While rooted in martial arts, the principles of Sojido can be applied to various aspects of life, including homes, schools, and public spaces, promoting a sense of order and focus.

The principles of Sojido include simplification (reduction/clearing out), deliberate design, empowerment, focus, accountability, daily action, discipline, and respect for spaces and self.

In most martial Arts schools, particularly those with wooden floors, soji was performed with students crouched side by side, in a line, with cleaning cloths stretched tight end to end and on the command "hajime" (begin) they would kiai and scurry across the floor, staying together. The process was repeated on the way back and to the satisfaction of the Sensei. If not, it was done again. NO ONE went home until this was finished.

They took PRIDE in the Dojo and showed RESPECT for it, something which is sadly lacking these days.
So next time you are in YOUR Dojo, take an extra few minutes after class, grab a cloth and clean. Don't just "dab" at it, give a good wipe or mop or whatever needs doing.

Just remember your Sensei is not a janitor!! He/she is there to teach, NOT to clean up after you. They have done their share, now the responsibility falls to the rest of us. If you don't want to clean it....then DON'T USE IT!!

Take care.

06/07/2025

Hello everyone, hope you are all well. This time of year can bring in all manner of colds, flu, viral infections etc; and this has resulted in a number of people becoming quite ill. Remember PLEASE....if you are unwell STAY AT HOME, REST, GET BETTER. Bringing your illness to training is not fair on others or yourself.
Make sure you bring a warm jacket or jumper to put on after training so that you don't chill down to quickly....this is when you can become ill. Also, WATER!! Just because it is winter does not mean you don't need as much water. You will still sweat during training.

GRADING: Start preparing yourselves for the August Grading....that is NEXT MONTH, so get in as much training as you can.
GRADING DATES:
White and Red Belt Grading - Wednesday 13 Aug.
Pukekohe Dojo.
Yellow through to Brown Belt - Saturday 16th Aug.
Pukekohe Dojo
Please make sure that ALL fees are up to date.

CLUB CLOTHING: These should all be paid for before being delivered to you...NO PAYMENT, NO CLOTHING!

TOURNAMENT: Our next Tournament will commence on Saturday 20th September 2025 at the Pukekohe Indian Hall.

If you need to discuss ANYTHING with Sensei Ray, please do so. His door is always open and all discussions are confidential...so please don't hesitate.

Take care everyone, stay safe, stay well.

25/06/2025

Greetings everyone. Hope you are all well and keeping the winter sniffles and coughs at bay.

There are times in ones life when things go wrong and the only thing that seems to go "right" is karate (or whatever martial art you study).
When you get to your Dojo, your head may feel full of fog or just loaded with the happenings of the day (or week). Then, you cross the threshold where karate STARTS and outside is OUTSIDE.
When all you have left is karate, due to circumstances or events that try you, hurt you or totally throw you for a loop.....there is KARATE.

Your Dojo is the ONE safe haven from all the trials and tribulations that cause you to feel trapped, confused and wanting to give up. The ONE place where you can BE YOU and allow yourself to be free, if only for an hour or two, perhaps a couple of times a week. The ONE place that helps you to cope and push through.

This PLACE says a lot about the Club that runs it and the people that train within it. It should say to you...."Yes, I NEED to be here, especially now!

Karate is a "friend" if you let it. It can also be your enemy....if you let it. It can be a counselor, a teacher, a disciplinarian. It is wise, it is demanding and in times of need, it will help you....if you let it.

It is hoped that what is written here will give you the opportunity to look at your training from a different perspective and an open mind.

When all you have left is KARATE.......

Take care

17/06/2025

Just a reminder there is NO TRAINING on Friday due to Matariki.
Take care.

06/06/2025

Greetings everyone, hope you are staying warm and well.
Please remember half yearly fees need to be paid by June 30 2025. This will take you up to the 31st December 2025.
We may have to raise prices to cover increasing costs. These fees HAVE NOT risen for many, many years. If we can maintain our current membership and fees are paid ON TIME, then we will not have to increase.
Those paying the half yearly fee will not be affected if there is an increase.
DOJO DISCIPLINE: The discipline has to be tightened up in the Dojo. Black and Brown Belts, please enforce this as there are some things happening which is not acceptable and disrespectful.
NO ONE will learn EVERYTHING in this art as much as Sensei Ray has in 40 years of Karate study. It is a personal journey and one that Sensei IS STILL doing when he visits his Sensei (Ray Dalke) in Oregon, U.S.A. to train, to learn and then teach us.
WE DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING and some us never will!!! Nor should we expect to.

Some things to remember: August - Kyu Grading in Pukekohe - DATE TO BE CONFIRMED.
August - White and Red Belts Grading in Pukekohe - DATE TO BE CONFIRMED.
TOURNAMENT - 20th September 2025 Indain Hall Pukekone.

There will be orders taken for Hoodies, Tee shirts, jackets and sports bags. Prices and order forms should be available from YOUR Dojo.
These items MUST BE PAID FOR, before you take possession!

A reminder please, pick up you child FROM THE DOJO. Do not sit in your vehicle and wait for them to come to you...we WILL NOT let any child go out of the Dojo unless parent/guardian is at the Dojo to pick them up. For the safety of your children we ask for you co-operation in this matter.
Take care and stay well.

30/05/2025

Counties Shotokan Karate Association would like convey best wishes to Sensei Ray Dalke on his 86th Birthday. We wish you all the best and hope you have a wonderful day.

Sensei Ray Dalke is our Sensei Ray's Teacher, Mentor and friend.
Ray Dalke was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1939 and moved to the U.S.A in 1960.
In 1961 he started training with Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama, after having seen demonstration of Shotokan Karate. Sensei Dalke went on to be very successful in Kumite, proving to be a very difficult man to beat. Both he and teamate, Frank Smith, were forced to retire from competion due to complaints they were winning to much!!!!
Sensei Dalke became a full-time lecturer at University of California, Riverside in 1972, where he was given the role of Director of Martial Arts. The next year he formed the Riverside National Karate Champs and in 1974 established the West Coast Karate Asociation.
From 1979 to 1984 Ray Dalke shifted from AAKF (American Karate Federation) to ISKF (International Shotokan Karate Federation). From there Sensei Dalke and several senior American Instructors formed the American JKA (AJKA)
Sensei Dalke has had a profound impact on the developement of Shotokan in the U.S.A. As an Instructor and Coach he had a great influence on many of his students, our own Sensei Ray Irving being among them.
Sensei Ray Irving often tells little stories about his training with Ray Dalke, some very amusing and some very serious. You should ask him sometime about his sessions with HIS Sensei.

A quote from Sensei Ray Dalke:
If you want to win in both Karate and in Life, you must be VERY determined and VERY deliberate.

The above article is an abridged
version of the original from the website
"Finding Karate".

24/05/2025

CONGRATULATIONS to all those that sat and passed the Dan Gradings on Saturday 24th May. Well done to you all.

19/05/2025

Greetings everyone and CONGRATULATIONS to all those that passed the Grading on the 14th and 17th of May.
Now you can look forward to progressing in Karate with a new syllabus and a new Kata or two. Jump into it with confidence, focus and the willingness to learn as much as you can.
For those of you sitting Dan ranks on the 24th of May, GOOD LUCK, GO HARD. Your reward will be what you put in!!

It is now getting cold and wet so make sure you have a jacket or something to wear before and especially after training......the last thing you need is to become ill with colds and flu. If you do become sick PLEASE DO NOT COME TO TRAINING. Stay home until you are well again. Karate will still be here when you return.
Also, WEAR SHOES to the Dojo. DO NOT come to training in bare feet that are dirty or wet please, as it will NOT BE YOU that has to clean it up.

Take care out there everyone.

11/05/2025

Hello everyone. Well....not long now until Grading, so hopefully you are very familiar with your syllabus and Kata.
Keeping up with your training right up until the last day before your Grading is important. Don't slacken off just because there are a few days to go....that is the WORST thing you could do!!
Remember your basics. Say to yourself, "Am I punching in the right place (Jodan/Chudan)? Are they in the middle or off to the left or right?
Are my blocks correct? Are they strong? Is my hand on my hip or hanging down? Are my fingers closed for Shuto Uke? Do my kicks go in the right direction or off to the side and at the wrong height? What do my stances look like?"
These may appear to be "little things" but they are important from White Belt to Black Belt.
Without good basic techniques your Karate will fail you when it comes to your Grading.
Take the time during these last few days to just tidy up what may be lacking.
On the day of your Grading, do your very best and focus on YOU not the person next to you.
Good luck to all of you.

Take care

05/05/2025

Greetings everyone. Gradings are coming up soon, so ALL MONTHLY and GRADING fees need to be paid as soon as possible.
Those sitting Shodan Ho, Shodan and any other Dan ranks need to have the Grading fee paid this week please. If you have a problem with this, please contact Sensei Ray directly.
Times and dates for Grading are as follows:
White to Red and Red to Yellow belt Wednesday 14th May at 5:15pm Pukekohe.
White to Yellow belt same date at 6pm Pukekohe.
Yellow to Orange, Orange to Green, Green to Blue, Blue to Purple, Purple to Brown 3, Brown 3 to 2 and Brown 2 to 1, Saturday 17th May beginning at 8-15am, Pukekohe.
Each Grading MAY be an hour or so depending on numbers for each colour. Give yourself PLENTY of time to be at the Dojo....DO NOT BE LATE.
Please be clean and tidy for you Grading.

Discipline in the Dojo is going to be toughened up, as currently it is not good.
Dojo Discipline STARTS when you BOW and enter the Dojo. IT IS NOT A PLAYGROUND. Warm up or sit quietly until your session begins.

Cleanliness in the Dojo is important. ANYONE can pick up rubbish, even "Black Belts", so let's all endeavour to keep things clean and tidy please.

Keep training hard for you Grading as only YOU can do it, no one can do it for you. Your belt (no matter the grade) is not just handed to you....you need to earn it. This applies ESPECIALLY to those sitting ANY DAN RANK. Black Belt of any level is NOT A GIVEN. Keep that in mind when your Grading comes up.

Take care

ANZAC DAY is a time to reflect on those men and women who gave their lives in Military conflicts. A time to remember lo...
24/04/2025

ANZAC DAY is a time to reflect on those men and women who gave their lives in Military conflicts. A time to remember loved ones that never returned home to friends and family.
It is also a time to think of those who were involved in the Martial Arts, from White Belt to Sensei, no matter the style or what country they were from.
They were never able to reach their potential in the respective Art they chose, thus, the knowledge they would have gained is lost forever.
We need also to acknowledge those Martial Artists that DID return home and have been able to impart their knowledge worldwide and in their own country.
One such person is our own Sensei Ray Irving.
If not for his safe return and the beginning of his teachings this club would not exist!
DO NOT FORGET THIS.

THANK YOU SENSEI RAY FOR YOUR SERVICE during your time in the Military and for the PRIVILEGE of studying Shotokan Karate under your guidance.

LEST WE FORGET.

Address

5 Glasgow Road
Pukekohe

Opening Hours

Monday 5pm - 8pm
Tuesday 4pm - 8pm
Wednesday 5pm - 8pm
Thursday 4pm - 8pm
Friday 10am - 11am
4:30pm - 7pm

Telephone

09 2390272

Website

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