Karate news
Karate graduates back from World Class training and successful examination
24/10/2006Saturday, 21 October, 2006
The Traditional Karate Federation of Malta (TKFM), has just announced that its Technical Director Franco Azzopardi also founder and head coach of the Muteki brand of clubs, and one of his athletes Omar Azzopardi, also a coach at Muteki, have returned from a demanding training camp in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they also undertook a tough examination.
The course was conducted by master coaches Mr Tsuyama, Mr Kawasoe and Mr Naito, all from Japan and whose lineage and authority in the world of karate cannot be disputed. Mr Franco Azzopardi, who is currently the highest ranking ITKF certified coach and judge in Malta, graduated 5th Dan black belt, whilst Omar Azzopardi graded 3rd Dan. The examination was held after three days of gruelling training in the latest studies of the master class coaches, and comprised of complex techniques, advanced kata and rounds of sparring with various high ranking and experienced athletes.
The focus of the exam was on the proper understanding and use of body dynamics and application of sparring strategies. This was very much in line with the content of the course wherein Mr Tsuyama, who is currently the Technical Director of the karate authority in Japan, the Japan Karate Federation, emphasised on swift footwork and jabbing combinations unique to his style and combative strategy.
Mr Masao Kawasoe, a name synonymous to karate development in Malta since 1995, is an 8th Dan master coach and his way of doing karate is followed in thirteen countries within Europe, Asia and Australasia. His focus was on the application of fundamental basic training to achieve mastery of difficult kicking and punching combinations when applied to sparring.
Mr Takeshi Naito, head of Japan Karate Association Italia, is also an 8th Dan master of the discipline and is renowned for his indomitable warrior spirit. His emphasis was the next level of karate technique and combinations, which higher level students should be striving to reach with mastery of correct posture and expansion and contraction of the inner muscles.
Franco Azzopardi is considered to be the pioneer in Malta of the development of karate as promoted by the International Traditional Karate Federation led by Mr Hidetaka Nishiyama. He is the local promoter of the World Shotokan Institute of Mr Kawasoe, Mr Shirai and Mr Naito, the examining body of several local karate black belts since 1989.
Through his organisation, the Educational and Technical Institute of Karate (www.instituteofkarate.com), Mr Azzopardi strives to intersect theory, experience and practice towards developing studies in karate, whilst preserving its traditional values, virtues, and quality for generations yet to come.
Provided by: www.di-ve.com
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