Karate students kicked off classes at Hamlyn Heights Scout Hall on Wednesday night as indoor junior sport and activities resumed across regional Victoria.
Tang Soo Tao Karate Geelong had been practicing outdoors before the latest round of eased restrictions, the group’s Sa Bom Dominic Silo explained.
“Since we’ve been allowed to meet in groups of 10, we’ve been training outside on the oval,” he said.
“We’ve been doing that for a couple of weeks but we’re looking forward to getting back into the Dojang.”
The group had to cancel a Geelong tournament earlier this year celebrating 45 years since the martial art – combining karate with Korean and Chinese techniques – came to Australia.
“From all around Australia people had booked their airfares and accommodation,” Dominic said.
“Everybody felt a little bit deflated but knew we could pick ourselves back up.
“There are bigger things happening, which is why everybody was very understanding.”
The group had lost about a quarter of students due to the lockdowns, Dominic said.
“We’re already working on how we’re going to build the school back up again.”
Later that night, 1st Hamlyn Heights Scout Group leader Darren Jales was busily preparing for their return to the hall and activities like camping, hiking and abseiling.
“The kids are looking forward to it because they’re all Zoomed out; they’ve been doing Zoom for school, Zoom for Scouts,” he said.
“They can’t wait to catch up with each other and find out what they’ve been up to while we’ve been locked down.”
Details: tangsootao.com.au/tang-soo-tao-geelong and scoutsvictoria.com.au.
Luke Voogt
