This time the head coach and founder of the club, Master Alex Tebbutt, scooped an accolade.<\/p>\n
Tebbutt (66) recently received his Hinshi Eighth Dan International Diploma from Japan.<\/p>
\u201cI am very happy, I have been waiting for it for years and to finally have accomplished it, I am inspired,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe in leading by example and this achievement has motivated the members to strive even more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tebbutt also said he wants to share the news with his sensei, Des White.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to go to sensei White and break the news to him,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n
\u201cSensei White has been my sensei for 35 years now and, although he has retired, I still have respect for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe taught me a lot and did it with respect; people will respect you if you show respect.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I am with him and when I talk about him I have the best respect for him, I never want to let him down.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a really big thing for me, after all the years of hard work and proving myself I am extremely proud of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tebbutt also told the GCN that one has to prove themselves in order to progress to a higher Dan.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the coach, you have to be active and keep upgrading yourself and not laze around,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmong other things, the graders look at your certificates, gradings, performances of the members at competitions, the way you run your dojo and your constant participation in kickboxing throughout the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis type of assessment takes years and it is an amazing feeling to finally accomplish it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The local coach will now be referred to as hanshi.<\/p>\n
\u201cSempai, sensei and shihan are among the titles found in different Dans,\u201d explained Tebbutt.<\/p>\n
\u201cEight Dan instructors are referred to as hanshis.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new hanshi has taken part in different sports.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started with karate in 1971, and through the years I did judo, boxing and kung fu,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also ran the Comrades Marathon twice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first time was in 1986 and I managed to complete it in eight hours and 12 minutes with my second attempt being the following year in a time of eight hours and 15 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also used to be a cyclist; I have always been active all my life.<\/p>\n
\u201cExercise and fitness is how I keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sensei White is not the only senior that Tebbutt has respect for.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing that I can\u2019t over emphasise and that we all have to remember, especially in mixed martial arts, is respect,\u201d shared Tebbutt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have had, and still have, respect for all my seniors; shihan Claude Johnson in Port Elizabeth, kancho Chris Botha in Johannesburg, shihan George Harrison in Durban and Tiger Thompson in Germiston.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the spirit of always being active and moving forward I am now already working towards the ninth Dan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still want to go for another 50 years and more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hanshi Tebbutt also told the GCN that members at his Lambton-based club have values they uphold.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe club upholds the values of karate, also known as the five maximas; character, etiquette, sincerity, effort and self-control,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
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