Dave Craigie of Young lives and breathes karate, so when he received the PCYC NSW Life Instructor award he was lost for words.
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For the past 43 years Dave has had some kind of involvement in karate - 25 of which have been spent as an instructor with the Young PCYC.
Taking into consideration the amount of time and effort Dave has put into the PCYC and its members, manager Martin Langfield jumped at the first opportunity to have him recognised for his contribution.
Dave was invited to what he believed to be the annual PCYC conference held in Sydney, but got the surprise of his life when his name was called out for the Life Instructor award.
“I was like a big stunned mullet two be honest, I really was,” Dave said.
“It was the first time in my life I didn’t have any words to say.
“It was quite an honour, and a lovely gesture.”
The award was presented to Dave by the Governor of NSW David Hurley.
Dave runs three classes a week in Young with senior and junior students.
He said the favourite part of being an instructor is watching his students succeed.
“It’s like watching someone come in who really doesn’t have any idea whatsoever about martial arts, and then you take this person and mould them into better human beings,” he said.
“It’s more than karate they learn - they learn how to be respectful, how to discipline the mind and the body and get fitness and learn about health in general.
“It’s true martial arts which means it’s not easy, it does take some time and discipline to learn it, but if you are prepared to put that energy into it and be passionate about it there’s great rewards at the end of it.
“I’m now 64 and I’m still enjoying it, however I’m struggling a little with a few of the kicks,” he laughed. “But I’m still loving it.”
And he said he has no intention of hanging up his belt.
“As long as my health allows me - that’s the only thing that can stop me at the moment,” he said.
“I still enjoy it, I still enjoy teaching and I still have a good rapport with the students, I’m happy as a pig in mud.”
Dave obtained his first black belt in Kyokushin Karate when he was 24, and currently holds his third dan black belt.
“I suppose when I was a young lad I was only a little fella, so it was very good to learn a bit of self defence which is what it started off as, and then I grew to love it.
“I love the discipline, the respect that people showed you and the comradeship with other students and colleagues. It’s like a little family.”
Of all Dave’s years as both a competitor and instructor, his standout moment is from his time as an instructor in Young.
One of Dave’s former students, Mark Long, went on to win two national titles, a New Zealand title, and went to Japan to compete.
“He started with me when he was 13, so that’s one of my best achievements, I’m very proud,” he said.