Jun Shihan Ben Otang

Ben Otang graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) degree from Canterbury University in New Zealand and holds a 6th Dan grade (sixth degree black belt) in the World Seido Karate Organisation.  Ben has been training and competing successfully in karate since 1974 when he started training under Mr Renzie Hanham (now a 8th degree black belt in the World Seido Karate Organisation).  In 1979, he established the successful Dunedin Seido Karate branch while working in Dunedin.  In 1982 his job moved him to Wellington where he started the Wellington Seido Karate branch. 

The Wellington dojo now has numerous black belts, who help Ben teach classes throughout the week.  Since August 2005 Ben has worked full time as the Principal Instructor for the Kaizen Academy NZ Limited (Kaizen runs the Seido Karate classes in Wellington.)

Born in the Republic of Kiribati (formerly the Gilbert Islands) in 1952, Ben's interest in martial arts started at an early age.  His father was well known for his local martial art skills and an older brother for his boxing skills - an environment where Ben tapped all sources for his interest in martial art.  Later, his interest in technical and people skills were fulfilled through his engineering projects and teaching karate throughout his career.

Ben believes that karate training is excellent for character building in terms of fitness, self defence and self confidence.  His vision to share such positive experiences and benefits can be seen through the steady growth of the Wellington Dojo members since he started it in 1982, despite the existence of other martial art clubs and fitness centres in the Wellington region.

Ben travels regularly to New York with some of his students to train under Seido's grandmaster, Kaicho T Nakamura.

In December 2005 Ben was promoted to the grade of 6th Dan Black Belt with the title of Jun Shihan.