“NEVER again” will such high-prestige figures of the karate scene be in Albury.
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Grand master of the International Karatedo Gojukai Association, Goshi Yamaguchi, and son Gohei were in Australia for the first time, along with 15 of the nation’s leading teachers.
Victorian division director Wayne Farrah said more than 100 students from around the country came to tap into their experience at the Goju Kai Karate-Do Albury-Wodonga Dojo.
“I don’t think we’ll have this every again here in Albury, not this level of seniority, it’s quite amazing,” he said.
“We had a whole class out there, 15 senior Shihans, 30 senior black belts and 25 kids, aged five to 10.
“They could not go to Japan and get this many seniors that were here together.
“We’re so lucky the organisation has decided to come down here and grateful for a donation from Charles Sturt University supporting us.”
IKGA Vice President Paul Starling said Shihan Yamaguchi had labelled the Chenery Street dojo “the best in the world” upon his first visit in 2013.
“There’s dojos in 60 other countries in the world that he goes between, and he was so impressed with the dojo in Albury and that it was purpose-built,” he said.
“In many other countries there’s a full-time dojo, but not in that Japanese style.”
