Tihei: Martial arts opens doors for sisters

Harmony-Rae, 8, Destiny-Maia, 5, and Santarna-Rose, 12. Photo / Supplied

A hard-working mother of five girls makes for a very busy mum, but for Ngā Whenua Rāhui senior negotiation support adviser Barbaletta Aranui, every day is precious and this fulltime working mum is training her girls to become independent and look after themselves.

Barbaletta is mum to Mahinaarangi, 21, Roxey-Ngahuia, 14, who boards at Hukarere Māori Girls' College, Santarna-Rose, 12, Harmony-Rae, 8, and Destiny-Maia, 5. The younger three girls attend Te Kura o Pakipaki.

"It takes a village to raise a child and I have an amazing village of people who all offer me support and contribute to my girls' wellbeing whether that be emotionally, pick-ups and drop-offs to school or training, a friendly ear and sometimes financially help too (thanks mum and dad). This is how I am able to work full time and keep my girls active," Barbaletta Aranui said.

After Covid-19 lockdown in May 2020, mum Barbaletta enrolled all five daughters into the Koryo Taekwondo programme to learn self-defence. A year later circumstances have allowed for the three younger girls to continue and advance to blue and orange belt status.

Koryo Taekwondo is about integrity, self-defence, perseverance, courtesy and unconquerable spirit.

The girls train at the Dojang Training Centre on Market St in Hastings. Recently training centres opened in Havelock North and in Greenmeadows, Napier. The owner and instructor is master Camille Pruckmuller.

Camille established Koryo Taekwondo in 2020. Her vision was to set up as many taekwondo training halls as possible with the help of her black belt students. Camille's motivation is to share her passion for taekwondo as a sport and a way of life.

Barbaletta saw this opportunity as giving her daughters the support, knowledge and skills to be more amazing in their everyday lives and to open up their future pathways.

In regard to pathways, if they choose, they can represent NZ at the Olympics, help train future students, become stunt women in the movie industry, apply for careers in the New Zealand armed forces such as join the police, fire, army or navy forces.

"This sport teaches quality disciplines that will also help the girls develop great valuable lessons for life and become better kinder human beings," Barbaletta said.

"As a mother this gives me a huge sense of relief that the girls can protect and defend themselves.  The reality is that I cannot be with the girls all of the time, however by equipping them with this knowledge and the skill they are able to handle situations where self-defence may be required.

"Taekwondo is another outlet that has given my girls the space and tools to empower themselves, like any sport including Taekwondo there are components of discipline, focus, co-ordination, social skills and much much more.

"It also contributes to building their self-esteem and confidence through deep feelings of pride and satisfaction as they achieve their goals. These skills can be transferred into their everyday life and future pathways too.

"This sport also teaches the girls about humility, celebrates their successes and also allows them to go at their own pace, whether they are competing or not."

If you are interested in Taekwondo for you or for your children, get in touch with the Dojang Training Centre on Market St East and phone 0800 027 429 or email info@koryo.co.nz.

Pepeha

Ko Kahuranaki te maunga

Ko Ngaruroro te awa

Ko Takitimu te waka

Ko Houngarea te marae

Ko te Pakipakitanga o Hinetemoa te hapū

Ko Ngāti Kahungunu te Iwi

Ko Barbaletta Aranui toku ingoa