New Ireland Governor Byron Chan says provincial support for senior martial artists is helping rebuild the province’s taekwondo and karate programmes while reintegrating local instructors into international competition and training networks.
Speaking at a recent certificate presentation, Governor Chan announced that the New Ireland Provincial Government had sponsored senior instructors Steven Tommy, Lyndon Chan, and Brendan Wengip to undertake four to six weeks of advanced training in Australia.
The intensive programme included instructor grading and participation in two high-profile tournaments: the Australian National Open Championship and the South Australian Open. Both Steven Tommy and Brendan Wengip competed in both events, each securing impressive second-place finishes in their respective disciplines.
The Governor highlighted that the initiative is part of a broader, collaborative effort with the provincial administrator to revive martial arts across New Ireland.
“Taekwondo and karate are internationally recognized sports and are also part of the Olympic programme. New Ireland has missed out for some time, but we are back on track,” Governor Chan said.
He added that the immediate priority is to upgrade the skills of the province's senior instructors so they can gain internationally recognized qualifications to effectively train and support the next generation of athletes.
While a knee injury prevented Lyndon Chan from competing in the tournaments, he successfully passed his instructor grading in two different forms of karate. Meanwhile, Steven Tommy competed in both tournaments and earned instructor qualifications in both karate and taekwondo. Brendan Wengip also competed successfully, receiving certificates in both disciplines.
Steven Tommy confirmed that he and Lyndon Chan completed the rigorous course for third-dan black belts, a level that officially qualifies them as senior instructors, or Senseis, in their respective karate styles.
Tommy represents Zen-Duru Karate, which is affiliated with the Duman International Martial Arts Karate Association. He currently serves as the association’s president and holds the rank of a sixth-dan instructor.
As a seasoned martial artist who has previously represented Papua New Guinea on the international stage, Tommy expressed his gratitude to Governor Chan and the New Ireland Provincial Government for providing the vital sponsorship.
"Having gained recognition as a Master and Sensei in my discipline, my focus now is to return to New Ireland and impart this newly acquired knowledge to our upcoming generation of young fighters," Tommy said.
Governor Chan concluded that the provincial government’s sponsorship aims not only to recognize the individual achievements of these instructors, but also to build a sustainable foundation for martial arts participation and training throughout New Ireland Province.