Grading successes signal club growth

CERTIFICATES: Members of Tu Mana Toa Combat Systems earned their Topana Taurite (Maori martial arts) black belt. Under the guidance of club founder Lexx Karauria (centre right) they completed the tasks required. They are (from left) Layce Walker, Kamaya Lockley, Lexx Karauria and Serita Karauria. Walker and Lockley are holding their kukkiwon accreditation, an international taekwondo black belt certificate distributed from South Korea. Serita Karauria is holding her Topana Taurite certificate of rank. Picture by Paul Rickard

Growth of a new martial arts club in Gisborne was signalled by a grading day in which 25 students completed grading tasks.

They are members of Tu Mana Toa Combat Systems, an organisation that was established in June last year.

Lexx Karauria, who has over 30 years of martial arts experience, formed the club with the help of like-minded people to make martial arts affordable and accessible to people of all ages.

Martial arts practised in the club include Topana Taurite (Maori martial arts), Olympic taekwondo, Haidong Gumdo (Korean sword martial art) and freestyle Kobudo (Japanese weaponry).

Topana Taurite means balanced force and is a mixture of classical martial arts. It was formulated by Lexx Karauria, who teaches it using Maori language and tikanga.

Last year three of the club’s female members — Layce Walker, Kamaya Lockley and Serita Karauria — were graded to black belt in Topana Taurite and taekwondo.

The Topana Taurite black belt grading consisted of a 50-man kumite (freestyle fighting) where the girls fought 50 people one after the other, broke boards and performed weapons kata (patterns of martial arts movement).

After a couple of hours and a few bumps and bruises, the girls were awarded their black belt. They were graded by Ariki Lexx Karauria, who was delighted with what the girls achieved.

Walker and Lockley also received, from Master Jung Joo Kim, kukkiwon accreditation. This is an international taekwondo black belt certificate that makes the girls eligible to compete at world championships and the Olympics.

This stands the girls in good stead for competing in the club’s first multi-style tournament, to be held at the Gisborne Girls’ High School gym on August 11. A donation of $5 from every entry will be made to a local help organisation.

Club members range in age from five years up. They train at Te Wharau School hall, with beginners’ classes on Monday and Wednesday at 5.30pm.