Time and time again, students at Shepparton’s Koryo Taekwondo have impressed at state and even national gatherings of the finest practitioners from all corners.
Kaizen Dojo has taken centre stage among the martial space, though, with the Shepparton and Benalla organisation sending four of its finest students to the Victorian Amateur Martial Arts Association Interclub Fighter Development Day.
Joe Moon, Declan Chapman, Jayson Byrne and Matty Atkinson took their Kaizen experience to the Melbourne Pavilion, where more than 30 other clubs from across the nation converged for the fighting demonstration on Sunday, March 16.
It was not only a competitive exhibition, but a stage on which a great deal of eyes cast as nearly 100 fights were completed across the day’s schedule.
Moon and Chapman have been no strangers to getting their hands raised and the pair impressed again with wins.
Head trainer Mick Clark was also highly complimentary of his other two disciples, following the relatively new Byrne’s draw and Atkinson’s valiant defeat against quality opposition.
It’s a common saying that you either win or you learn and, the way Clark saw it, there were nothing but positive takeaways.
“The boys have been training hard for this event with the support of the many other students training in Muay Thai here at Kaizen each week,” Clark said.
“A true sense of community and team spirit has evolved within the club over the past 30 years and this event was a great reflection of that.
“The success of Joe, Declan, Jayson and Matty at the event has not only been a source of pride for the club, but has also inspired many of our junior Muay Thai students.
“Several are now eager to step into the ring in the future, marking an exciting new chapter for both the sport and Kaizen Dojo’s.”
Following on from those successes, Kaizen takes the time now to reinforce its open position for anyone in the community to try their hands — whole bodies, really — at martial arts.
“For whatever reason, whether it’s for fitness or personal protection, we offer classes for five-year-olds up to 105,” Clark said.
