Ballarat Karate Club

Ballarat Karate Club **Authentic Okinawan Karate & Kobudo (traditional Okinawan weaponry) taught by Ballarat's first martial arts organisation. Beginners are always welcome.**

Building confidence, discipline, respect, and lifelong skills for juniors, adults, and families.

03/09/2026

This clip, taken from the Ballarat Karate Club archives, is very timely following last night’s Brown Belt Ippon Kumite class.
The emphasis in the class was on “body change” (Tai Sabaki) avoiding force against force by shifting the body off the line of attack and allowing the technique to pass rather than meeting it head-on.
This explanation and demonstration by Grand Master Kise was filmed in 1992, during his second of six visits to Australia, hosted by the Ballarat Karate Club.
Assisting the Master during the demonstration are Sensei John Crebbin and Sensei Wayne Reddrop.
Another great piece of history from the club archives, showing that the principles we continue to practise today have been passed down through generations of our karate.

🥋 Traditional Okinawan KarateTeaching traditional Okinawan karate with dedicated classes for adults and children.Whether...
01/09/2026

🥋 Traditional Okinawan Karate

Teaching traditional Okinawan karate with dedicated classes for adults and children.

Whether you’re looking to develop fitness, discipline, confidence, self-defence skills or simply learn traditional karate, everyone is welcome.

Training times and costs:
For further information, please contact:

Jack Lyons – 0407 185 656
Troy Wakefield – 0409 279 575

Or visit our webpage for further information and training details.

31/08/2026

The collection of short clips of Robbo on the heavy bag was filmed around the time he turned 80. In a moment of enthusiasm, he joked that he’d relish the day some tough bloke tried to rough up “the old duffer” in the street only for him to later plead, “…but I’m just an 80‑year‑old pensioner…” Needless to say, we all agreed we’d love to be spectators.

These clips highlight the value of the heavy bag for practising unarmed combat techniques that our usual training methods can’t safely accommodate. The bag gives that rare sensation of full‑power contact with a solid, semi‑stationary target. Robbo always appreciated its resistance, weight, and full length, allowing him to train everything from kicks to the knees, knee drives to the torso, elbows to the upper body and head, and palm‑heel strikes to the head and neck all of which you’ll see in the footage.

The longer clip came about when one of the Old Warriors asked Robbo to demonstrate part of his “work‑out program for the over‑80s”… he was 81 at the time of filming.

His rank and status at the time of these clips was(and is) 5th Dan, Renshi

A big thank you to Hanshi Barry Packham for recording and sharing this great clip.

And if you’re interested whether you’re over 60, or in Robbo’s case a young 80‑plus we welcome you to come learn from one of the best.

In a recent share from boxing showing some Okinawan coins, it brought back a great memory. During one of our visits to...
02/08/2026

In a recent share from boxing showing some Okinawan coins, it brought back a great memory. During one of our visits to the Okinawan Honbu Dojo in 2008, I purchased several of these coins. When I returned home, I incorporated some of them into a set of tonfa that we made. (Daily use)

It’s always special when a simple item carries such a strong connection to Okinawa, its traditions, and the friendships we’ve built over the years.

Blast from the Past:Wendouree Charity Fair, 1981As we continue sharing moments from Ballarat Karate Club’s rich history,...
24/07/2026

Blast from the Past:

Wendouree Charity Fair, 1981

As we continue sharing moments from Ballarat Karate Club’s rich history, here’s another fantastic snapshot from the archives.

This photograph was taken at the Wendouree Charity Fair in 1981, where Rod Hilton and John Crebbin performed a kumite demonstration for the public (featured on pages 115–116 of the Ballarat Karate Club History).

It’s one of those one-in-a-thousand photographs capturing the perfect instant as a powerful kick lands. The timing, balance and realism of the moment showcase the skill, precision and spirit of traditional karate.

Community demonstrations like these helped introduce many people to Okinawan karate and played an important role in Ballarat Karate Club’s long and proud history.

A special thank you to Renshi Troy Wakefield, who mentioned this would be a great one to share.

A sincere thank you also to Hanshi Barry Packham for providing the photo, the historical resources, and the backstory that help keep Ballarat Karate Club’s rich history alive for future generations.

Do you remember this demonstration or attending the Wendouree Charity Fair? We’d love to hear your memories in the comments!

BLAST FROM THE PAST – MELBOURNE TOWN HALL, 1971In a recent post, we highlighted Chris Livitsanos outstanding double nunc...
23/07/2026

BLAST FROM THE PAST – MELBOURNE TOWN HALL, 1971

In a recent post, we highlighted Chris Livitsanos outstanding double nunchaku kata. That demonstration sparked a wonderful memory from Hanshi Barry Packham, who shared this fascinating story from over 55 years ago.
These images are from the 1971 Martial Arts Exhibition and Tournament held at the Melbourne Town Hall, organised by the Karate Association of Australia – Kei Shin Kan. The souvenir programme featured Sensei Masayuki Takasaka (5th Dan), one of the first official instructors appointed by the All-Japan Karatedo Association to teach in Australia.
Hanshi Barry Packham recalls:
“Chris Sano’s recent double nunchaku demonstration put me in mind of Masayuki Takasaka, or ‘Tak’ as everyone knew him. I first met Tak at the Melbourne Town Hall tournament in 1971 and saw him several times afterwards. Also in attendance were Tino Ceberano, Sal Ibanez and Tamio Tsuji (Wayne Williamson’s old nemesis).
Tak was an interesting character who ran classes from the old YMCA near Flinders Street Bridge in Melbourne. He taught a strong, hard Shotokan-style karate. His trademark demonstration was a spectacular double nunchaku kata performed with chrome-plated nunchaku under dimmed lights and spotlights. It was an unforgettable performance for its time, although I would say Chris Sano’s recent demonstration was every bit as impressive.
Interestingly, Shin Shi No Kai member Paul Coleman also trained under Tak during this period, although our paths never crossed.”
It’s remarkable how a modern demonstration can bring back such vivid memories from the early days of karate in Australia. Stories like these help preserve not only the history of our art but also the people whose passion and dedication helped lay its foundations.
A sincere thank you to Hanshi Barry Packham for sharing another valuable piece of Australian karate history from his personal collection.

16/07/2026

Ballarat Karate Club recently celebrated the Kobudo component of the 3rd Dan grading undertaken by two members of the Shin Shi No Kai our senior group for members aged 60 years and over, dedicated to the ongoing practice and preservation of traditional Okinawan martial arts.
Kobudo is the practice of ancient Okinawan weapon forms and techniques and is a vital component of traditional Okinawan Karate. Training with traditional weapons develops balance, coordination, timing and discipline while preserving centuries of martial arts heritage.
The two videos featured are katas of each practitioner’s own choice, selected from outside the grading syllabus to showcase the depth of their knowledge, technical ability and personal expression in their chosen Kobudo weapon.
Chris Livitsanos performs an impressive double nunchaku kata, demonstrating exceptional coordination, speed and control.
Terry Sands, at 80 years of age, performs a k**a kata, displaying remarkable precision, balance and spirit that reflects decades of dedicated training.
Congratulations to Chris and Terry on successfully achieving their 3rd Dan in Kobudo. Their dedication, perseverance and commitment to preserving the traditions of Okinawan Karate and Kobudo continue to inspire our club and the wider martial arts community.

16/07/2026

Ballarat Karate Club recently celebrated the Kobudo component of the 3rd Dan grading undertaken by two members of the Shin Shi No Kai our senior group for members aged 60 years and over, dedicated to the ongoing practice and preservation of traditional Okinawan martial arts.
Kobudo is the practice of ancient Okinawan weapon forms and techniques and is a vital component of traditional Okinawan Karate. Training with traditional weapons develops balance, coordination, timing and discipline while preserving centuries of martial arts heritage.
The two videos featured are katas of each practitioner’s own choice, selected from outside the grading syllabus to showcase the depth of their knowledge, technical ability and personal expression in their chosen Kobudo weapon.
Chris Livitsanos performs an impressive double nunchaku kata, demonstrating exceptional coordination, speed and control.
Terry Sands, at 80 years of age, performs a k**a kata, displaying remarkable precision, balance and spirit that reflects decades of dedicated training.
Congratulations to Chris and Terry on successfully achieving their 3rd Dan in Kobudo. Their dedication, perseverance and commitment to preserving the traditions of Okinawan Karate and Kobudo continue to inspire our club and the wider martial arts community.




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Leviathan Place
Ballarat, VIC
3350

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04009 84778

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