Author: TSMA Page 159 of 202

Grand Master Annarino and eight of his Black Belts were inducted into the 26th Eastern USA International Martial Arts Association. The Eastern USA International Martial Arts Association has been supporting martial artists for 26 years. They have members in more than 70 countries around the world. The Global Award Leadership Conference was a three-day event that was held at The Embassy Suites in Pittsburgh on November 15-17. The prestigious award and event was by nomination and invitation only. The event hosted numerous martial artists of all styles from all over the world, including Ireland, Germany, Russia and US States.

All inductees and attendees enjoyed the weekend of training, instruction seminars and forums. The training itinerary was presented by experienced instructors from around the world. The open forum gave all martial artists the opportunity to share and participate in the training seminars.

He throws jumping back kicks as if he is an action movie star, uses moves you see only in mixed martial arts fights and holds a fourth dan black belt in taekwondo – and he was born in 1935.

Meet Ron Shears, the 78-year-old martial arts practitioner from Joondalup who’s showing no signs of slowing.

Mr Shears began taekwondo at 57, decades after he trained in judo in Britain. Now, the senior sensei has axe kicks that would make most young men’s hamstrings quiver in fear.

“The only reason I started was because my asthma had got to the point where I couldn’t even walk upstairs,” Mr Shears said. “The asthma’s virtually gone.”

His hobby became a passion that he shares each week as a teacher at Premier Martial Arts and Fitness Academy in Clarkson.

Academy owner and former Australian taekwondo representative Zak Jovanov said Mr Shears had no fear.

“What he can do, I hope to God I can do at 55,” he said.

Mr Shears could be forgiven for dropping martial arts and focusing on his other passion – writing.

“Not until I fall off the perch,” he said. “I’m too busy, I haven’t got the time.”

Yoshitoshi Sato says he will never give up karate.

The grand master celebrated his 80th birthday at the Seishin Karate Ryu Honbu in Sandringham on the weekend.

He is one of the most highly ranked karate masters in the world and he has been in New Zealand since November 18 to teach youngsters one of the oldest martial arts, seishin-ryu karate.

He says the benefits are for the mind as well as the body.

“You learn discipline, health of body, friendships and social communication. It’s completely mind and body. I will never give up, only when I die in the dojo.”

In Okinawa he taught prison officers karate as a form of combative self-defence, including kata movements, small staff demonstrations, ways to use ropes to restrain prisoners and gun firing.

Prison officers who first learned karate from Mr Sato still return to train with him in Okinawa.

He says the movements used with each weapon also help the development of the body.

Teaching is a learning process itself, he says. “I enjoy teaching and watching the students to become better people.”

Mr Sato is the president of Okinawa Shorinji Ryu Seishin Kan Renmei and only takes one day off from training each month.

He holds the title of tenth dan, or degree, which was gifted to him in the will of his late master Joen Nakazato and sanctioned by the Okinawa Government in 2008.

It is a huge honour to have the grand master in New Zealand, president of New Zealand Martial Arts Institute Chris Dessa says.

Mr Dessa organised Mr Sato’s visit to New Zealand this year.

The trip was funded by Mr Dessa’s family and his students.

But the benefits are greater than the cost.

It will probably be the last chance for New Zealand students to learn from the grand master, he says.

“You have to remember he’s 80. It’s hard to believe sometimes.”

Two people with learning disabilities are celebrating after scooping black belts in taekwondo following years of hard work.

Aimee Farrant, 34, and Barnaby Dawson, 33 took part in classes at Carterton Community Centre.

They were encouraged by Chris Dunn, 33, who takes in people with learning disabilities to live with his family.

Mr Dawson, who used to live with the family, got his black belt after two years of hard work in 2011, inspiring Miss Farrant.

He said: “I feel fantastic. I am really happy.

“It was very, very hard. I couldn’t stop to have a drink. I had to carry on, even if I had a stitch in my side.

Miss Farrant, who lives with the family in Burford Road, Witney, and started training in 2009, said: “I am very proud of myself.”

Dad-of-two Mr Dunn said: “It has shown a dedication and proves they can learn new skills. It is a sense of achievement.”

He said he was moved to take others in by his brother Thomas, 30, who has complex learning disabilities.

“It’s given them both a sense of achievement and helped them feel as if they were part of the community.

“They have already inspired others with learning difficulties to take up taekwondo.”