Govan, who spent his working life as a magician, has been one of the key components of the sport in this city, and in his 56^th year has now been awarded the prestigious sixth Dan title.

To complete his requirements, Govan needed to complete two tests which were conducted over a series of weeks, the most recent being earlier this month.

The first was a demonstration of the complete syllabus up to, and including, the sixth Dan in the fighting art of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito - Australia.

This was done under the watchful gaze of 9th Dan black belt Hanshi Barry Packham and 7th degree black belt and chief Instructor Kyoshi Wayne Reddrop.

Following that review, Govan completed the required test kata followed by 11 combat sequences that have been developed from his extensive unarmed combat and security work over many decades.

Govan said while the testing was not physically taxing, learning so many requirements was a big test of memory.

"Each Kata contains 30-35 moves, so it's more a memory thing than a physical thing," he said.

It's been an incredible 56 years for Govan who was one of the eight people to open the Ballarat Karate Club in 1965.

"I did judo for five years before we opened here," he said. "We opened with eight people and seven of us are still training."

Govan also established the Shin Shi No Kai (Old Warriors) group together with fellow instructor Renshi Gary Robinson.

Both were instrumental in forming the club's extensive Unarmed Combat course based on decades of practice and teachings in the fighting arts, incorporating judo and boxing of which they both excelled."

While it has taken Govan 56 years to attain his sixth Dan, he takes pride in that many of those he has taught over the years have reached the mark sooner.

"If the student gets better than the teacher, then the teacher has done a terrific job," he said.

"The last couple of years I worked to become the higher level, the lockdown has extended things a bit."

Govan said he was content to finish as a sixth Dan, but would continue training.

"It'll be at least another five years before I could attempt a seventh Dan, so who knows where things will be by then," he said.