The couple, who run Aoraki Timaru Kyokushni Karate — Neil as dojo operator and head instructor, and Vardi as co-operator and second instructor — were invited to Sydney for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take part in a week-long seminar and grading with world director Kancho Matsui — royalty in karate circles.
"We wanted to go, but we didn’t think we were ready, or could afford it. We were going to wait for him to come to New Zealand, but our Shihan said he might not come here."
The seminar involved 150 participants, mostly from Australia, and of those, only 16 graded — two for their fifth dan, six for their fourth, and eight for their third dan. Just five of those were from New Zealand, and Neil and Vardi were the only two from the South Island.
The couple spent Monday to Friday training — "we had eyes on us from day dot" — and then completed their grading over the weekend.
They had to wait three weeks before finding out they had passed, Neil gaining his fourth dan, and Vardi her third.
The achievement was even more impressive considering the time the pair had to prepare — with just three months’ notice, and having to work around dojo and work commitments, instead of the one to two years’ preparation usually required.
"We didn’t tell anyone. We didn’t want the pressure. People knew we were going to go to the seminar, but only a select few knew we were going for grading."
Neil has been involved in martial arts since 1997, and Kyokushin Karate since 2003, and Vardi since 2005.
