Karate camp popular

All the black belts gather for a photograph at the Kyokushin Karate South Island training camp held in Timaru earlier this month. Photos: supplied

Timaru Kyokushin Karate hosted the 2026 South Island Training camp in its dojo last weekend.

Participants spar against each other at the Kyokushin Karate's South Island training camp in Timaru.

New Zealand branch chief Shihan Stephen Takiwa, and his wife, Shihan Diane, ran the camp, along with sensei Kapiera Peita from Auckland and senpai Tristrm Fryer from Napier.

Kyokushin Karate's New Zealand branch chief Shihan Stephen Takiwa and senpai Tristrm Fryer demonstrate a move.

About 50 people took part in the training camp, from Bannockburn, Fairlie, Waimate, the two Timaru Kyokushin Karate dojos, and two Christchurch dojos — Senpai Bob Drummond.

Timaru Courier