A martial arts dojo is looking to build for the future after receiving sponsorship from a builders’ merchants.
Chi Rei Kai Dojos teach karate at Ivybridge Leisure Centre and have just secured sponsorship from local business Palladium, which is based in Blair Road, Ivybridge.
Funds have been provided to enable the dojo to expand and develop to provide further training opportunities.
Managing director Keith Olver said: “From what I know about karate it’s a very worthwhile pastime and provides great discipline and teaches self control and confidence.
“As a local business we are interested in supporting anything that inspires young and older people and provides a wholesome form of exercise and personal development.
“At Palladium we hold traditional values at heart and feel we are very like minded with the instructors of Chi Rei Kai Dojos, we’re proud to have our name alongside theirs and to support them doing something positive in the community”.
Running a karate dojo can be expensive and the Ivybridge dojo has been operating now for over a year and so far has been very successful in populating its classes.
Ivybridge instructor Jay Hawkes works alongside instructor Mary Egginton and delivers quality classes to adults and juniors in the main hall at Ivybridge Leisure Centre.
Jay, who has been practising karate for 22 years and also teaches in Kingsbridge and Stokenham, said: “I just want our group to continue giving these people the positive experience of learning to push themselves and reap the rewards of hard work.
“Karate is not an easy pastime and its virtues are in the labours of training and learning to develop your body and mind.
“It’s an amazing feeling to know that a very reputable company is happy to attach its name to ours and support us to develop further, that feels like really being accepted into a community.”
Jay is Chi Rei Kai squad captain and will be coaching competitors later this month in Birmingham.
Mary Egginton, who also teaches at East Allington, said: “For me I’m still forging my way on a long journey having just got my second dan black belt and I am following a teacher training programme at Chi Rei Kai to develop further as an instructor.
“To know that the group is rated and supported by local business is also very reassuring.”
Chi Rei Kai Dojos run classes through out the week in and around Kingsbridge and Ivybridge for Adults and Juniors and are always taking new members so get in touch or find them on line if you want to find out more.