PASSED:The graded: Kung Fu School Wanganui members after successful grading in Palmerston North. From left, Matthew Deihl, Steph Thomas, Dr Gary O'Sullivan, Annette Croot, Wallace Stirling.PHOTO/SUPPLIED
PASSED:The graded: Kung Fu School Wanganui members after successful grading in Palmerston North. From left, Matthew Deihl, Steph Thomas, Dr Gary O'Sullivan, Annette Croot, Wallace Stirling.PHOTO/SUPPLIED
The members of the Kung Fu School Wanganui have taken a big leap forward in their progression in the martial arts discipline after the massive grading weekend in Palmerston North.
Locally, the school has been taught for the last three years by Gow lian (instructor) Matthew Deihl at the KeithSt Primary School, along with assistant Gow lian Annette Croot, who teaches the Thursday classes and accompanies Deihl to New Plymouth once a week to train classes.
Deihl said the grading in Palmerston North at the Asia Pacific head quarters under Si Gung (master) Dr Gary O'Sullivan was the largest in 20 years.
"Head instructor [O'Sullivan] of the Asia Pacific Shaolin System - Gao Can Man Nam Pia Chuan - teaches our style of Kung Fu."
On the Saturday there were 120 people grading, nine from Wanganui and six from New Plymouth who trained under Deihl.
"With Wanganui and New Plymouth both having a 100 per cent pass rate, so I am very proud of each and every one, they put in a lot of hard work."
The Sunday was the Black belt grading for 33 practitioners, with Deihl himself moving up from first degree black belt to second degree.
"I also had my second student successfully grade to her first Degree Black Belt - Steph Thomas - as well as my Gow lian Wallace Stirling grade to his third degree, now making him my Sifu [honoured tutor]."
Deihl said with Thomas his student and himself guided by Stirling, that made three direct generations grading under the same roof, "which is very rare in our style of martial arts".
He credited Croot for playing a big role in helping him and Thomas get ready for their grading.
"Annette has been an unbelievable help in teaching and supporting both me and the Wanganui Kung Fu Club.
"Both Annette and I are very passionate about teaching our martial arts."
As well as taking classes , Deihl, Croot and Thomas travel to Palmerston North to train every week.
