A 79-year-old who suffers from rheumatism has achieved a prestigious black belt in a challenging martial art.
Youcef Bendaoui has been awarded a black belt in shorinji kempo – broadly similar to karate with philosophy and self-improvement.
His trainer Stephen Stanway, 29, said Youcef was “active and determined” and had attended 350 of his sessions over five years to achieve the black belt.
These included working towards a philosophy exam on the day, hard technique work, spinning and perfecting body movement and stances.
Algeria-born Youcef, who has also achieved black belts in karate and hapkido and a brown belt in jujitsu, said his success was down to his healthy lifestyle and being well looked-after.
A 79-year-old who suffers from rheumatism has achieved a prestigious black belt in a challenging martial art.
Youcef Bendaoui has been awarded a black belt in shorinji kempo – broadly similar to karate with philosophy and self-improvement.
His trainer Stephen Stanway, 29, said Youcef was “active and determined” and had attended 350 of his sessions over five years to achieve the black belt.
These included working towards a philosophy exam on the day, hard technique work, spinning and perfecting body movement and stances.
Algeria-born Youcef, who has also achieved black belts in karate and hapkido and a brown belt in jujitsu, said his success was down to his healthy lifestyle and being well looked-after.
He said: “Every year I had to pass one exam, you don’t get a black belt just like that it takes time and a lot of work.
“My legs aren’t as strong as they were but I train twice a week with Steven and I do hapkido once a week.
“Steven is a very good instructor and I have a lot to thank him for.
“I won’t take a break now I’ve got my black belt, I will continue doing it and I am very happy I have passed this exam.
“I have a very good instructor and this keeps me fit. Someone asked me how old I was and I joked ‘over 100’ and they just looked at me. I don’t look too bad at all for my age.
“My good condition is thanks to how I live my life, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I sleep well and I am well looked-after, everybody cares for me very well.”
Mr Stanway, who teaches the martial art in Roath as a hobby, said: “He is a fit and active man and he has proved he has a very good level of skill. He suffers rheumatism in parts of his body but he is active and determined.”
Shorinji Kempo is a system for self-improvement and training, established in Japan in 1947 based on Shaolin kungfu. The training methods are based on the philosophy “spirit and body are not separable” and include religious, foundation, educational, global and intellectual property entities.
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