6 July 2012

Australia helps grow Karate in PNG

Twenty-five senior Karate instructors from around Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Friday (6 July 2012) completed a two week Coaching and Training Camp which was held in Port Moresby.

The camp was organised by the PNG Karate Federation (PNGKF) with funding assistance of A$10,000 from the Australian Sports Outreach Program, under the Pacific Sports Development Grants.

The PNGKF – the umbrella body for Karate styles, clubs and associations in the country – used the grant and the camp to equip Karate instructors with intermediate and advanced techniques in the art and sport of Karate.

Sensei Trevor Roberts, President of the Queensland Karate Federation and a current Oceania and World Karate Federation referee, facilitated the course.

Australian High Commission First Secretary, Tim Bryson, said he was pleased to see that the camp had achieved its objective to enhance local expertise in Karate, and thanked PNGKF President Carl Mari and his team for putting together such a well organised program.

Mr Bryson encouraged the instructors, who had come from many provinces, including Manus and Bougainville, to share what they had learnt to help grow Karate in PNG.

Mr Bryson and Second Secretary Lisa Clutterham visited the camp on Friday and were treated to a series of Karate demonstrations.

The Pacific Sports Development Grants provide annual funding assistance to targeted small to medium size community-focussed sport-based projects in mostly Commonwealth countries.