Kicking Our Karate Goals!
Christine Tylee’s Journey into Karate
đ Brown Belt, member of NSW State Team with the Australian Karate Federation (AKF)
I had trained for Karate for a couple of years in my late teens. My brother was already a black belt, and I always thought it looked like fun, but I was a very dedicated ballet dancer then. I decided to âretireâ from classical ballet in my final year at school to focus on my studies. Going from 20+ hours per week dancing to zero exercise was too big a shock, so I took up Karate, a much smaller time commitment as a white belt. I absolutely loved it! My strength and flexibility from so many years of dancing helped me to advance quickly. I double-graded at every grading. Unfortunately, my studies took me away from the dojo I loved. I was working towards my black belt, but when I moved away, I was only a brown belt. At age 19, I promised myself I wouldnât stop there, but I didnât find a dojo that felt right in my new city and stopped training.
I DECIDED TO PROVE THEM WRONG!
I discovered that I was not fond of limitations, so I decided on the spot that I would get a black belt in Karate. Being told that you might not live gives you the gift of knowing what your regrets are. I was grateful for all the incredible experiences in my life â other than not being there for my family. My ONLY regret was not getting a black belt.
It was six months before I was well enough to set foot in a dojo â but day by day, tiny improvement by tiny improvement, I finally put on a gi again! It was 23 years after Iâd last trained. I was back to a white belt and I needed to completely re-train my brain after the series of strokes. It was slow progress initially, but I trained 5-6 days per week. Karate formed part of my recovery and turned out to be brilliant for my brain re-training!
How Andy Berude Found His Passion for Karate
đ Brown Belt, Member of NSW State Team (AKF), second in Australia in Kata (AKF), undefeated in Australia in traditional weapons (all time)
Andy started Karate in September 2018 (a few months after my strokes). His best friend had been inviting him to go with him for over a year, and he finally said yes because soccer season had finished for the year. We started at our local community hall, which is only 500m from our house! Close to home AND with a friend! A perfect way for him to try karate.
He LOVED it! I thought heâd liked soccer, but Iâd never seen him so perfectly in his element than when he was at Karate! It was all he would discuss. He even wanted to sleep in his gi the first night he got it! Unfortunately, Karate was only offered once per week at our local hall, but when it was time for him to grade for the first time, it was held at the main dojo in the area (about a 20-minute drive away). He thought he was in karate heaven! There were posters and weapons on display, and he was completely hooked!
It reminded me of the dojo I trained in when I was younger. The people were so welcoming, and I felt at home, too. Shortly after Andyâs first grading, I was ready to start training, so we started traveling there to train a few days per week in addition to the weekly session at our local hall. Andy loved it so much he would have just moved in if we let him.
Sophie Berude: Karate Kid After Cancer Battle
đ Brown Belt, 2022 ranked #1 in both traditional forms and traditional weapons in Australia by the International Sports Karate Association (ISKA)
đ Emily Berude, Green Belt and Muay Thai blue Prajeit
đ PAUL BERUDE, GREEN BELT AND MUAY THAI BLUE PRAJEIT
My husband, Paul, and eldest child, Emily, started training after the first lockdown in Australia in 2020. The first group exercise allowed to re-commence after weeks and weeks in lockdown was an outdoor group exercise, so the dojo started offering outdoor Karate. After lockdown, Paul and Emily also needed to get out and do something with people, so they decided to come with us a few times per week.
They were initially more drawn to Muay Thai training and did a few gradings of that together. Then, Emily gradually added some karate classes so she could join us at the ISKA (International Sport Karate Association) National Championships in 2020. She did well at the championships, placing in every event she entered. But she was still very focused on her gymnastics, which was finally able to start back up again. So Emily focused on that and kept her Karate and Muay Thai slowly ticking along.
Paul didn’t embrace Karate until 2022. Then, he woke up one day and surprised us all by saying he had decided he would also start Karate. He wanted to work towards a black belt too! Paul is currently a green belt and loving the journey. There is even a potential that he and Andy might be able to go for their black belts together. Andy will be too young to go for it any earlier, so if Paul works hard and as fast as possible through the grades, it might work out that way. If not, it doesn’t matter. The ultimate aim is for us all to reach the target when we’re ready!
