New Zealand only had one representative at this year's Commonwealth Championships held in Singapore recently. Perth based Lee Bronkhorst competed in the combined -50 / -56kg category in both the Junior Mens and Senior Mens diivisions, gaining bronze medals in both. Congratulations Lee.

While recently attending the IJF World Masters event in Suwon, Korea as an invited referee, JNZ President David Browne attended the referees meeting where the main point of discussion centred on the new publicised hansokumake interpretations, particularly those involving a cross-grip.

In addition to being instructed to award shido if a cross-grip is taken and not immediately used to attack (ie; no 5 second allowance as for other non-standard grips), the IJF Referees Commission advise that the following examples from the 60 Clip Video Samples (refer previous news item) are now to be excluded; 23,25,27,29,31,39,40,44,46,47,49,50,51,53.

The IJF have anounced further changes to the contest rules to apply from 1 January, 2010. The controversial changes result in direct Hansoku-make for certain techniques applied with the hands to the opponents legs. A link to videos of examples of the application of the new rules on the IJF website is attached.

Eleven new black belts were awarded in 2009, with a total of 19 gaining promotion in dan grades for the year.

Congratulations to all who achieved these milestones in 2009. For a full list .....