The word itself means 'one heart, one mind'.

In less than a year, Matthew has attained his orange belt and is determined to spar his way to the top of his field.

Like other forms of karate, Isshinryu participants begin with a white belt and work their way through nine belts to get to a black; orange is fourth along the scale.

Matthew has always taken part in sports, his mother Jane says, but decided to try out Isshinryu one night last year at a local school hall after he read about new classes starting up.

His teacher Nerida Field is a qualified Isshinryu instructor and has built up her classes in Berwick over the past year.

Matthew trains twice a week and has entered four competitions so far.

He recently gained first place in his division in the Victorian state titles.

"Students enter the national all-styles competition and then those placed first, second or third can then enter the Victorian state titles," Jane says.

The history of Isshinryu karate begins with Master Tatsuo Shimabuku who had studied Gojuryu karate with its founder Chojun Miyagi, as well as Shorinryu karate, with Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu.

Taking what he believed to be the most important lessons from these systems, Master Shimabuku developed Isshinryu.

He awed the other masters with his performance of Chinto Kata in 1954 and so Isshinryu received acceptance officially as its own style.

Isshinryu has powerful lightning-fast techniques and uses kunite - sometimes called one-step sparing - where one student throws one or two techniques while another attempts to block and counter-attack.

But Isshinryu's main goal is to "perfect oneself through physical and mental development".

Its techniques are mostly thrown from natural stances, limiting wasted motion, maintaining stability and providing split-second advantages over other styles.

It allows a quicker delivery of punches or kicks and leads naturally into other techniques.

Matthew is aiming to perfect his techniques and attain his black belt by the time he's 16, Jane says.

"He loves every aspect of the sport - the fitness and especially the discipline."

Matthew has been selected as the Journal Sports Star of the Week.

To nominate a Sports Star of the Week, write to us: Sports Star, the Journal, editorial department, PO Box 318, Dandenong 3175; email:journal@

fairfax.com.a u or call us on 9238 7777 and ask to speak to a Berwick or Pakenham reporter.