Former television identity triumphs

Press, 25 August 1988, Page 24

Former television identity triumphs

A former television front man for “Spot On,” Danny Watson, of Auckland, beat the best ancient martial artists from Australia, Japan and New Zealand at the first international ancient martial arts and cultural exhibition in Adelaide earlier this month. The competition, restricted to black belt competitors and above, was judged by a panel of grand masters from several countries. Watson, a Sedo karate exponent, was a narrow winner. The exhibition, organised by Wonko Chong, an Adelaide Tai-Do master, formed part of the Australian bi-centen-nial celebrations. Masters and grand masters from 24 arts and representing five countries — Japan, Korea, China, the Soviet Union and the Philippines — were in attendance. The arts demonstrated ranged from the 400-year-old Japanese art of Tai-Do to the 40-year-old Soviet art of

sambo, a type of wrestling. Christchurch martial artists acted as guides and officials during the exhibitions. The two clubs represented were the Tai-Do association of New Zealand and the Sockbum Jujitsu club. The Tai-Do representatives were John Scott, Steve Kinley, Brendan King t Harawira Downes, Dean Mahoney and Hamish Robinson, while the ju-jitsu club members were Alistair Thompson, Rowan Dudley, Grant Page and Philip Sheedan. A similar event is being planned for Wellington in January next year. The programme is expected to include Tai-Do (a form of Japanese swordsmanship); Kyu-Do (Japanese archery); 80-Jutsu (stick fighting); AikiJutsu (an unarmed selfdefence style); NaginataJutsu (use of a bladed polearm); and Shorinji Kempo (an unarmed self-defence style).