Nelson karate team to take on world at New York tournament
A team of 10 martial artists from the Seido Karate Nelson dojo are travelling to New York in August to compete for world titles and mark a major milestone.
The group will take part in the World Seido Karate Organisation’s 50th Anniversary event Zen Shin, which will include international training seminars, banquets, and official gatherings honouring founder Grand Master Tadashi Nakamura’s half-century of teaching.
For the Nelson dojo, which is celebrating its own 50-year history, the trip highlights the sport’s deep local roots and enduring multi-generational appeal.
Of the 10 travelling, seven will be competing while the remaining team members will act as coaches, support and teach at seminars.
Among the top contenders is 21-year-old Riley Warner, a third dan black belt who has been practising karate since the age of seven.
Warner, who achieved his first black belt at the age of 14, recently won the lightweight black belt men’s contact sparring division at the North Island Seido Wellington Karate Tournament.
The data technician said he was “excited” about the upcoming trip to New York.
He will face a gruelling schedule in the United States, competing across five different events in his weight and belt divisions, including three kata and two sparring competitions.
“Going to huge events is always good to meet up with people who are interested in the same sort of stuff on the other side of the world and it’s a great opportunity to go over there for the first time,” Warner said.
Other members travelling to New York include Sensei Keni-Duke Hetet and his 14-year-old son Tanirau who will be competing in the sparring and kata categories at the event.
Hetet, who will be teaching a seminar in the Big Apple, said he had been practising martial arts since he was young and the discipline had given him confidence and helped him lead a “sincere and honest life”.
He said he had noticed this change in other youngsters too.
“A lot of the kids I’ve seen come through the system start off with their heads down, not much confidence, kind of quiet, and by the time they reach 16, their heads are up, their shoulders are back, their confidence is just oozing out of them,” he said.
Senpai Naomi Alderson, will also be travelling to New York where she will be competing in sparring and kata competitions as well as holding a seminar alongside Hetet.
She began practising Seido Karate since the age of 14 and found it aligned with her Christian faith.
“What I loved about Seido were the three foundational principles – love, respect, and obedience – and they were all things that, as a Christian, I could get behind,” she said.
Sei Shihan Aaron Barber said his Nelson dojo was busy and highly popular, catering to over 100 children and around 90 adults.
“Our club has 50 years of being here in Nelson which was started by my father (Andy Barber) and I’ve taken over for the last three or four years now,” he said.
“It’s not just for the young tough guys … it’s for a whole demographic of people from young fellas of 5-years-old up to adults who are training at 78.”
The five-day celebration will be held at the World Seido Karate Honbu (headquarters) in downtown Manhattan from August 7 to 11.
By Andy Brew, Nelson Mail
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