Blog 3 | Bexley North | Karate Academy Bexley THE UNTOLD TRUTH
For most people this building looked like a rundown old bowling club, forever on the verge of closing. But what most people were not aware of was the fight and work that was been generated on the inside.
The karate Academy Bexley opened in the Bexley Bowling Club on the 7th of October 2014. Friends and family came down on the open day to lend a hand and support a very nervous me. This was my new adventure. Impulsed by the need to share my passion for the martial arts, I decided this run down looking hall was going to bring my vision of teaching karate to .........
Pulling splinters out from feet after training on dried cracked floor boards was definitely character. This did not deter the karate team from training hard. But enough was enough! I had to do something for my students.
The old board and president of the club resigned and a new board was elected. I saw this as a great opportunity to build this club and finally do something about those terrible floors, so I jumped on board. Wow where have the last 3 years of my life gone?
It took a few months of weeding, both plant and humans out of the club before we were set to get this club up and running. Everyone on the board had many ideas and visions for the club, it was great to work along side people with a common goal, to build the club up so that all the locals had somewhere to enjoy.
We decided the hall needed urgent attention, we wanted people to have their celebrations there again and give the bowlers somewhere nice to bowl. We painted the hall, bought new chairs, fixed curtains added drapes and the list goes on and on. Soon we started getting so many bookings on the weekends were having to turn people away. During this time a lot of our own personal time was taken up by answering calls, emails, volunteering behind the bar almost every Friday night and weekends for functions.
And the floors? well we never got around to fixing those! like mice on a wheel, we went around and around. One thing would be fixed and something else would break. We were plugging a sinking ship. I finally was able to get some mats, at least that saved our feet but the laying of the mats and taking them up again every week was taking its toll and so was the effort in defending the club from falling into the wrong hands.
The club went up for lease and soon there was gossip and questions at every corner. Who is taking over the club? I heard its going to be developed? whats going on? everyone wanted answers. Meanwhile our growing Karate Academy had its own challenges to worry about, we had to find somewhere to go and fast. While in search for a new premise to house the students many doors were shut in our face. Like that wasn't enough that another local karate school was trying to cut in by leaving brochures and vandalising our sign 6 times. Karma is sweet! he was caught red handed and legal proceeding have begun.
Last Sunday students and instructors from Karate Academy Bexley, gathered together to support the new group at the local Bowling Club, this group will be pouring a lot of resources in renovating the club.
It has been bitter sweet closing the doors of the Bexley Bowling Club, I definetley got back a lot more time but after spending so much time with people on the same mission. We cant wait to be a part of the new club.
Karate Academy Bexley
