Ballarat Karate Club

🥋 Traditional Okinawan Karate

Teaching traditional Okinawan karate with dedicated classes for adults and children.

Whether you’re looking to develop fitness, discipline, confidence, self-defence skills or simply learn traditional karate, everyone is welcome.

Training times and costs:
For further information, please contact:

Jack Lyons – 0407 185 656
Troy Wakefield – 0409 279 575

Or visit our webpage for further information and training details.

In a recent share from boxing showing some Okinawan coins, it brought back a great memory. During one of our visits to the Okinawan Honbu Dojo in 2008, I purchased several of these coins. When I returned home, I incorporated some of them into a set of tonfa that we made. (Daily use)

It’s always special when a simple item carries such a strong connection to Okinawa, its traditions, and the friendships we’ve built over the years.

Blast from the Past:

Wendouree Charity Fair, 1981

As we continue sharing moments from Ballarat Karate Club’s rich history, here’s another fantastic snapshot from the archives.

This photograph was taken at the Wendouree Charity Fair in 1981, where Rod Hilton and John Crebbin performed a kumite demonstration for the public (featured on pages 115–116 of the Ballarat Karate Club History).

It’s one of those one-in-a-thousand photographs capturing the perfect instant as a powerful kick lands. The timing, balance and realism of the moment showcase the skill, precision and spirit of traditional karate.

Community demonstrations like these helped introduce many people to Okinawan karate and played an important role in Ballarat Karate Club’s long and proud history.

A special thank you to Renshi Troy Wakefield, who mentioned this would be a great one to share.

A sincere thank you also to Hanshi Barry Packham for providing the photo, the historical resources, and the backstory that help keep Ballarat Karate Club’s rich history alive for future generations.

Do you remember this demonstration or attending the Wendouree Charity Fair? We’d love to hear your memories in the comments!

BLAST FROM THE PAST – MELBOURNE TOWN HALL, 1971

In a recent post, we highlighted Chris Livitsanos outstanding double nunchaku kata. That demonstration sparked a wonderful memory from Hanshi Barry Packham, who shared this fascinating story from over 55 years ago.
These images are from the 1971 Martial Arts Exhibition and Tournament held at the Melbourne Town Hall, organised by the Karate Association of Australia – Kei Shin Kan. The souvenir programme featured Sensei Masayuki Takasaka (5th Dan), one of the first official instructors appointed by the All-Japan Karatedo Association to teach in Australia.
Hanshi Barry Packham recalls:
“Chris Sano’s recent double nunchaku demonstration put me in mind of Masayuki Takasaka, or ‘Tak’ as everyone knew him. I first met Tak at the Melbourne Town Hall tournament in 1971 and saw him several times afterwards. Also in attendance were Tino Ceberano, Sal Ibanez and Tamio Tsuji (Wayne Williamson’s old nemesis).
Tak was an interesting character who ran classes from the old YMCA near Flinders Street Bridge in Melbourne. He taught a strong, hard Shotokan-style karate. His trademark demonstration was a spectacular double nunchaku kata performed with chrome-plated nunchaku under dimmed lights and spotlights. It was an unforgettable performance for its time, although I would say Chris Sano’s recent demonstration was every bit as impressive.
Interestingly, Shin Shi No Kai member Paul Coleman also trained under Tak during this period, although our paths never crossed.”
It’s remarkable how a modern demonstration can bring back such vivid memories from the early days of karate in Australia. Stories like these help preserve not only the history of our art but also the people whose passion and dedication helped lay its foundations.
A sincere thank you to Hanshi Barry Packham for sharing another valuable piece of Australian karate history from his personal collection.

Ballarat Karate Club, Shin Shi No Kai, held a special day of grading and presentations, with two long-time members grading to 3rd Dan (Sandan) in Karate and Kobudo. The successful candidates were Terry Sands (a foundation member) and Chris Livitsanos.

The testing requirements included empty-hand kata, kobudo kata (weapons), ippon kumite (empty-hand defence against attack), and a series of self-defence techniques against an armed opponent using improvised weapons.

Highlights of the grading were a demonstration of double nunchaku performed by Chris, and Terry’s excellent display of kata and self-defence. At 80 years of age, Terry is the oldest member to be graded by the club, further highlighting the value of lifelong practice. The club has members training from 8 years of age to over 80.

A special award was presented to Kyoshi Barry Govan (club founder) by Hanshi Barry Packham in the form of the Soken Patch. Two original patches were given to Packham Hanshi by Soken O’Sensei in 1973, with one of those original patches presented to Hanshi Wayne Reddrop in 2018. It was decided that further patches would be sourced by the club from the original and gifted to the club’s 6th Dan and above, recognising the direct lineage from Soken O’Sensei to Packham Hanshi.

Present in the group photo, from left to right, are: John Murphy, Barry Govan, Wayne Reddrop, Chris Livitsanos, Terry Sands, Barry Packham, Gary Robinson, Heather Wingate, and Paul Coleman.