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Profile - Mr George Koniaby Steve Pallant, I dan Mr George Konia is instructor of the Hurupaki club based in sunny Whangarei. Many of you will, no doubt, have met Mr Konia, either at seminars, training camps, regional or national tournaments. He is a ‘get out and do it’ kind of person with great drive and energy. This profile may help to discover what makes this ‘Northland Dynamo’ run.
When did you first become involved in martial arts? I was fifteen, martial arts were a mystery, and I wanted to know more. Bruce Lee movies helped light the candle, as they did for a lot of people back then. In 1974 I joined the Budokan Karate-Do club. The instructor was Mr Ian Hodgkinson and the dojo was at the Three Mile Bush Rd scout hall in Kamo. I had no transport at the time and would run everywhere. My normal working day would start with a 5km run from home in Onerahi to work in the Whangarei town centre, and then a 5km run home at night. Twice a week, on training nights, I would add to this a 5km run from work to Kamo, train for one and a half hours and then run the 10 kilometres home. We would attend grading in Auckland once a year. The examiners were Sensei Silver Sargent and sensei Carl Sargent – both of whom were 4th dan, which was considered to be a very senior rank at the time. They were also the heads of the Budokan Karate-Do in New Zealand. In 1977, I joined the Kyokushinkai Karate-Do club, where the dojo was in Vine Street Whangarei, and the instructor was Sensei Gary Uravich, 1st dan. Gradings were also held once a year in Auckland. The examiner was Sensei John Jarvis, 4th dan. I continued my training regime of running and that year I also joined the Whangarei rowing club, training twice a week. We would start training at 6am, either with weights, rowing or a 25km run before heading off to work. You may not know this, but Karate- Do has ten grading levels from beginner to advanced student (before achieving a 1st dan) these are called “kyu” and at this stage of my Karate training I had achieved the level of 6th kyu. My instructor, Sensei Uravich, had to move from Whangarei due to work commitments in 1980. So, after a short break, I joined Seikukan Karate-Do in 1981. My new instructor was sensei Bob Dalton, 4th dan.
Due to the difference in syllabus, I reverted back to 10th kyu (white belt) with my new club. However, I was very quickly elevated to my previous grade and continued until I achieved 1st kyu in 1984. In January 1985, my instructor advised me to prepare for my 1st dan grading, which was to be held in December that year. I successfully achieved 1st dan, and continued to train and participate in inter-club and regional tournaments. Because of my involvement in club training and tournaments, in November 1986 my instructor advised me to prepare for my 2nd dan grading, to be held the following month. This may sound like very short notice, but I had trained really hard and was ready for the grading. The grading was extremely hard. I was promoted to 2nd dan. I continued to train and instruct with Seikukan Karate-Do until 1989. What lead you to consider training in Taekwon-Do? I had been involved with Karate for some fifteen years when the kids came on board, and going down to a single income family, some things had to be put on hold. Martial arts was one. It was not until 1998 that I would don a dobok. I got talking to a work colleague, Mr Phil Thompson, who I hold in high regard as a practitioner of Taekwon-Do. I went along to train and liked what I saw. At the time it was more for the kids to get involved with martial arts – as they did and still are. Within a very short time I was hooked on all aspects of Taekwon-Do.
When did you receive your 1st dan in Taekwon-Do? November 2000, in Pacific Sun Taekwon-Do, which is an arm of Pacific International Taekwon-Do, Australia. I was very proud of my achievements. It must have been interesting for onlookers. It was meant to be a non-contact style, but at the end of the grading I was black and blue, and my dobok changed from white to very red from my rearranged nose. How did your club cope with the transition from Pacific Sun to ITFNZ? Hurupaki club’s transitional period was great, because many meetings with ITFNZ officials took place prior to joining. Any questions that members may have raised were covered already by the club’s committee and the ITFNZ Auckland North Region instructors. Our club members were consulted about the changes and things went ahead without a hitch. Members were very impressed with the 2001 “ITFNZ grading syllabus video”, which we showed on the initial changeover night. From what aspects of being part of ITFNZ have you and your students benefited most? Well, where do I start? I would have to say the huge depth of dan grades ITFNZ has, and their knowledge is a very good start.
Secondly, the high standard placed on students’ technique and understanding of what they are doing, plus the reassurance that, if you do get stuck for answers, someone will help. “You need only ask the question”. Third would have to be the website. From an instructors / students point of view, all one needs to know is there, to further one’s understanding of Taekwon-Do in New Zealand. Last, but by no means least, General Choi Hong Hi’s encyclopaedia of Taekwon-Do. That about covers it. These things resulted in members being able to participate at seminars and tournaments, and enabled them to get other qualifications such as umpire certificates. As for myself, just to be able to stand and train in the same room with 4th, 5th, 6thand 7th dan black belts is amazing! What are your short, medium and long term goals in Taekwon-Do? Having been a member of ITFNZ for nearly three years has seen some of my short term goals come to fruition:
Medium term goals are:
Also, to visit all ITFNZ clubs throughout New Zealand and train with them. Who has influenced you the most within Taekwon-Do, and why? This is a very hard question to answer, as there are many I have to mention. First, without a doubt, is the late General Choi Hong Hi. Having never met the great man, but talking to others who have, and seeing the impression he left on them, as well as knowing that millions of people around the world practise Taekwon-Do, is truly incredible. Secondly, I would have to mention Mr Phil Thompson again, without whom I would never have taken the first steps toward Taekwon-Do, and what it has to offer and helped me achieve. Thirdly, Mrs Sue Breen and Mr Andrew Niven for putting up with my never-ending
phone calls, email and following them along like a shadow, asking the
many questions I had in the early days of joining ITFNZ. Fourthly, Master
Paul McPhail and Mr Mahesh Bhana whose very honest answers after coloured-belt
gradings regarding the results and concerning students’ techniques,
have helped me become, I hope, a better and more understanding person
within the world of ITFNZ.
Last, but not least, the Hurupaki club. Everyday gives me more reason to practise something that has become very much a family affair with my great wife Wendy (1st dan) and my two kids (Xian, 1st dan and Brook, 4th gup). And to Mr Steve Pallant: thank you, Sir, for giving me the chance to answer these questions. As always, Taekwon. Thank you Mr Konia for this insight into your Karate and Taekwon-Do history. I conclude by congratulating Mr and Mrs Konia, on behalf of all Huripaki students, on receiving the Presidents Award for their outstanding contribution to ITFNZ, and we thank you for your dedication to your students. Congratulations also on your promotion to 3rd dan. |
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