SYTL Karate Club to host international seminar

A prestigious international karate seminar will come to Ottery St Mary next month, hosted by East Devon’s SYTL (Say Yes To Life) Karate Club.

The Seiwakai International Karate Seminar is being held at LED’s Ottery Leisure Centre on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September, with up to 150 local karate students and those from across the country taking part. The seminar is in memory of the late Shihan Leo Lipinski, who taught karate to SYTL founder Paul Batters and was the highest graded Non-Japanese 8th Dan Blackbelt in the style of JKF Gojukai.

It is also a warm up seminar for the Seiwakai International Tournament being held later this year, and SYTL is the first club from the region to be invited to enter a squad in the Tournament.

Black belt Karate teacher (Sensei) Paul Batters said: “We’re honoured to host the seminar and to welcome students from across the region. Although Shihan Leo Lipinski passed away before he could visit SYTL, it’s fitting that this seminar will be dedicated to his memory.

“The event is an opportunity for our club members to meet others and to improve their techniques, learning from some of the best Karate Sensei’s around. We’ve already seen how our students can be inspired by others, and a former student of mine who is now a world champion in kata* visited us recently which provided real encouragement to everyone at our club.

“SYTL is really going from strength to strength and we’re excited to have been invited to be part of the international tournament later this year. We’re currently raising funds to cover the cost of transport and accommodation for the tournament – hopefully we can reach our target of £2,000 and then our aim will be to bring some medals back to East Devon.”

SYTL Karate Club will mark its second birthday this September, but it’s already the fastest growing karate club in the South West and is this week holding its first “summer camp” (30 August – 1 September) for students and parents during the holidays.

Having started with two classes and 11 students at LED’s Honiton Leisure Centre, in the past two years the club has grown to 12 classes a week – with more than 200 students attending every week. From Tuesday 9 October, SYTL will also be launching sessions in Ottery, at Kings’ School.

SYTL is a family run, non-profit Martial arts and fitness club teaches Goju-Ryu Karate, which is the same style of karate seen in the Karate Kid movies with Mr. Miyagi and Daniel “son” LaRusso.

Club members range from 4 to 74 years of age, with all levels from white belt beginners and upwards. Gradings are held to enable students to progress as they gain experience and improve in ability.

Paul added: “We never ask our students to do anything they can’t do, at SYTL we focus on what they CAN do, and help them to discover and develop the things that they think they can’t!”

The club runs eight classes a week at Honiton Leisure Centre on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with a variety of sessions covering different ages and abilities. There will also be four brand new beginners classes at Kings’ School in Ottery St. Mary on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

All sessions are non-contact for beginners and beginners classes are free to all LED members (half price thereafter).

To book a free taster session at the new classes in Ottery, and find the best class for you, contact sytlenquiries@hotmail.com or 07948 472 202, or visit our facebook page: SYTL Karate – Say Yes To Life.