Three new “1st dan” at Vierzon Shotokan

A jury of three high-ranking officers (4 ^e or 5 ^e dan) has just awarded, at the same time, their black belt 1 ^is dan to three karatekas from Vierzon Shotokan.

Raphaëlla Kenfack is a high school student. She is 15 years old and has been practicing this discipline at the club for eight years. She finds that we learn “more than in other sports and that the learning never stops”. It is also for her “a way of learning to defend oneself”.

Timothé Ferreira, 18, is a STAPS student (climbing specialty). He has “always loved combat sports”. He has been practicing karate at the club for his greatest pleasure for six years.

Alexandre Flin, 50 years old, has been practicing since 1990 and alternates between judo, jujitsu and karate. For him, karate “is much more than a sport, it’s an art!” » He considers his 1 ^is dan as “an achievement” that he owes to the club and mainly to the coach and facilitator of Vierzon Shotokan, Michel Girard.

The latter leaves for a fortnight each year in Japan to work on karate similar to their sensei (grandmaster), Guy Sauvin.

From Tokyo to Okinawa, change of school

It first took place near Tokyo with Master Fuse but, since his dojo closed, Michel Girard went to Okinawa to practice kobudo seiryukan.

The Vierzon club is now even officially the representative of this school in France. Michel Girard also received his 2 ^e dan in kobudo in Japan last October.

Vierzon Shotokan karate currently has fifty-three members, including a dozen black belts. Classes start from the age of 6:

– Monday: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., beginner children; then, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., adults all levels;

– Wednesday, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., beginner children; from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., graded children; from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., adults all levels;

– Thursday, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., graded children.

Courses and competitions also take place on weekends. Two league competitions will, moreover, soon take place within the Vierzon dojo: November 24 and December 8.