DOJO ASSISTANTS  

Sempai Steve Portors 1st Dan Black Belt

Steve started his Karate career training one night a week in a portable class room at Cranbourne Secondary College at the age of 12. The Dojo then moved to the Cranbourne Guides Hall, Steve was an orange Belt by that stage and Sensei Matt Charles had just taken over the club. Steve was now training three times a week and showing a great amount of promise.

Shortly after, the Dojo then moved to its permenant home in Sladen St, Steve then began competing and in his first year he qualified for the national titles and won many local NAS and AKF competitions, mostly against higher grades and more experienced opponents. At this stage he was also graded to brown belt.

Steve has grown to become one of the best competitors his age, well known for his strength, agility and speed. 2010 saw Steve acheive his greatest acheivement by passing his Black Belt grading and in 2011 Steve won the Seishin Championships Mens Open and Mens Black Belt divisions, easily overpowering his competition.

Steve still competes today and has joined the ranks of our competition coaching staff. He also enjoys teaching his regular weekly class and assisting many other classes.

Sempai Nicole Matthews 1st Dan Black Belt  

My passion for karate began in 1987, when l started training in Zen Do Kai Freestyle Karate. I quickly became a very dedicated Karateka, training many hours a week and moving through the ranks quite quickly. I graded to brown belt in 1989 and earned my black GI shortly after. Due to work commitments and other events in my life l was only able to train periodically for the next few years until 1995, when l ceased training completely. 

In 2007, my son and l went along to the Seishin Karate open day in Cranbourne, as he wanted to learn karate. We both joined the Cranbourne Dojo, and l was suprised to learn that my brown belt would be acknowledged and carried over to Seishin. Over the next 16 months l set out to learn the Kata and other requirements needed to "catch up" sufficiently to grade to 1st Kyu brown belt. I achieved my 1st Dan black belt in October 2009 which was one of the most amazing achievement of my life.

Over the last 2 years l have also competed successfully in several tournaments. I compete in both Kata and Kumite events in the Advanced Open Female Masters divisions. I have placed 2nd and 3rd at the National All Styles events, 1st and 2nd at the last two Peninsula Karate Championships and 1st and 2nd at the Shukokai Karate Open 2009.

Karate is a sport where you can train at your own pace with people of high standards and values. You develop physical, emotional and spiritual strength that flows into your everyday life, assisting you in whatever it is you are doing or striving to achieve.