The Educational and Technical Institute of Karate is for the second time this year organizing a high level training course for all Karate students in Malta.

The institute strives to diffuse knowledge in Japanese Karate to anyone interested, with no limitations or restrictions on membership with any other organisation.

Franco Azzopardi, the principal of the institute, is a name synonymous with karate and he is well connected and recognised worldwide.

“I have learnt karate from the Japanese and it has always been my mission to give Malta all the opportunities I have had in Karate”, he was quoted as saying by the local website di-ve.com.

Several karate black belts and established instructors in Malta hail from his school and have had instruction from the Japanese masters in his circles.

World class Japanese instructor Mr Takeshi Naito will be flying over to Malta tomorrow to conduct a weekend course.

This is going to be the first time Mr Naito will be in Malta and considering his high profile in coaching both classical and competition karate, it is definitely an achievement for the institute to be hosting him, as much as it will be enlightening for those who will participate in practice.

Mr Naito portrays the Japanese culture in whatever he does.

Even if karate has evolved over the years, Mr Naito always starts from and returns back to the roots of the discipline.

He passionately manages to explain the science behind the effective technique, merging it skillfully with the art aspect of the discipline.

The institute is very active with quarterly courses being held for top black belts. The most recent international event organised by the institute was in April when Mr Masao Kawasoe, also 8th Dan from Japan, was brought over to Malta to conduct a seminar and black belt examinations.

Mr Kawasoe has been hosted by the institute since 1995 and he has visited Malta since then for an average of twice a year.

Also in April, a group of four instructors were invited to participate in a course for the very senior grades (3rd Dan and above) in London. The course was conducted by Mr Masao Kawasoe, Mr Takeshi Naito and Mr Tasuke Watanabe.

Karate distinguishes itself from any punching and kicking sport through the diligent and endless research of ‘Budo’.

The institute strives to promote the culture, the spirit and the tradition of Karate. More information can be found on the website: www.InstituteOfKarate.com