About 20 people attended that inaugural class.
Yesterday, 40 years later to the day, more than 90 people took Sei Shihan Ben’s class at the club’s dojo in King Edward Court.
Seido head instructor Kelvin Lewis, known to club members as Sei Shihan Kelvin, is a sixth dan black belt and one of two remaining founding members of the club.
Celebrating that fortieth anniversary over the weekend, former and present club members took part in calligraphy classes, a tour of the Dunedin Chinese Garden, a formal meal at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum on Saturday and yesterday’s class.
"The fact that we are still doing it is a success in itself," Lewis said.
The club promoted physical wellbeing, friendship and discipline, he said.
"It’s just a chance for people to get together with a common goal — enjoying something together.
"You get physically fit. Mentally, it helps you, your stability and things.
"I think it speaks for itself — 40 years. On this anniversary people have flown in from Invercargill to Auckland to be part of this weekend.
"We all back each other."
