Dates & Events
The Dates and Events Section is open to all Members, Friends & Associates. If you would like to add your forthcoming event/s, or information on the monthly newsletter, please send in the details (no email attachments please). NB: Received information is correct at time of printing; please inform us if the information requires updating.
British Wadokai Southwest: www.wadokai-southwest.co.uk Want a Month’s Free Training? Introduce a new student, who becomes a licensed member to British Wadokai Southwest OR Horsham Wado Karate Club, and you will receive a MONTH’S FREE TRAINING at ANY & ALL of the British Wadokai Southwest & Plymouth Schools of Karate Club's PLUS the Horsham Wado Karate Club, for a whole month. All you need to do is bring him/her along to the Dojo to be introduced to the Instructor, who will then hand him a BWK Licence Form (as usual), and as soon as they become licensed members you will receive a ‘calendar month’s’ free training at any and all of the clubs mentioned, so you could be receiving up to 19 training sessions in a 30 day month FREE (less in shorter months) - That's a saving of £14 per week if you train every session. Also, the choice is yours as to which whole month you wanted to train FREE, so you may want take full advantage of a 'long' month. Just think of how many training sessions you would get if you introduced TWO students on one night?? If you introduced just 1 student per month you could get a whole year’s Dojo training for nothing! Clubs include (at present): Pomphlett, Elburton, Gunnislake, Roborough and Horsham Wado. Club venue and times may vary over time, but ample notice would be given upon any changes. To visit British Wadokai Southwest: www.wadokai-southwest.co.uk 05/02/12 Sunday 5/2/2012 S.E.M.K.A. Black Belt and 1st Kyu Standardization Course. The course is open to all S.E.M.K.A/BWK. Of 1st Kyu and above. All students of these grades from S.E.M.K.A. must attend these courses. Venue : Shin Ichi Do Club, Hut15, Tilgate Recreation Centre, Crawley 10.00am 1.00pm. Price £12.00 you must book for this course numbers are limited to 10 :contact: Paul Elliott 6th Dan Tel: 01403 218327 Mob: 07778 058482 email semka@btopenworld.com 07/02/12 Open British Wadokai-Southwest Advanced Kata Standardisation Course. Instructor; Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue; British Wadokai Honbu Dojo, Pomphlett Wadoryu Karate Club, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Pomphlett Gardens, Plymstock, Plymouth, Devon. PL9 7BL. Time; 7-8.30pm. Price; £5.00. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk Plymouth Schools of Karate: http://plymouthkarateclubs.weebly.com/ Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! This event is open to all British Wadokai and International Wado Federation Members. Warning: if you also hold outside membership to the English Karate Federation you may be violating EKF membership conditions by being in attendance; this event is open to ALL official Multi-Style National and World Governing Bodies (WUKF, WUKO, ITKF, WKC, WKF, etc.). 09/02/12 Callington Karate Club Closes - Training recommences at Gunnislake Karate Club at the Gunnislake Primary School, Chapel Street, Cornwall on the 20th February. 12/02/12 Sunday 12/02/2012 Martial Artist Chi /Ki Workshop. Learn how to develop and increase you Chi/Ki while using your martial Arts techniques. Venue :Shin Ichi Do Club, Hut15, Tilgate Recreation Centre, Crawley10.00am - 2.00pm. Price £15.00 you must book for this course numbers are limited to 10 :contact: Paul Elliott 6th Dan Tel: 01403 218327 Mob: 07778 058482 emailsemka@btopenworld.com 15 16 & 17/02/12 No Training at British Wadokai Southwest Clubs, Elburton, Gunnislake, Callington/Kelly Bray, Roborough, due to School Holidays. Pomphlett training as usual. 20/02/12 The Opening Night of the Gunnislake Karate Club. British Wadokai Southwest. Gunnislake Karate Club. Gunnislake Primary School, Chapel Street, Gunnislake, Cornwall. PL18 9NA. Juniors - minimum age 7-years. Instructor: Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi. Monday nights 7-8.30pm. 26/02/12 Sunday 26/02/2012 S.E.M.K.A. General Course. Open to all Students covering Sanbon Gumite, Ohyo Gumite, Kihon Gumite SEMKA Blocks, Kumite Gata., Kata , Basics and combinations. Ideal warm up for anyone taking grading in March and Black Belt grading in the coming months.Time: 10.00am-1.00pm Cost: £12.00 Venue: Tanbridge House School Gym, Farthing Hill,Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex.RH12 1SR Instructor Paul Elliott 6th Dan Renshi Forfurther details, please contact: Paul Elliott 6th Dan Tel: 01403 218327 Mob: 07778 058482 Email: semka@btopenworld.com. 06/03/12 Open British Wadokai-Southwest Sanbon-Gumite Standardisation Course. Instructor; Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue; British Wadokai Honbu Dojo, Pomphlett Wadoryu Karate Club, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Pomphlett Gardens, Plymstock, Plymouth, Devon. PL9 7BL. Time; 7-8.30pm. Price; £5.00. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk Plymouth Schools of Karate: http://plymouthkarateclubs.weebly.com/ Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! This event is open to all British Wadokai and International Wado Federation Members. Warning: if you also hold outside membership to the English Karate Federation you may be violating EKF membership conditions by being in attendance; this event is open to ALL official Multi-Style National and World Governing Bodies (WUKF, WUKO, ITKF, WKC, WKF, etc.). 11/03/12 Sunday 11/03/2012 S.E.M.K.A. Black Belt and 1st Kyu Standardization Course. The course is open to all S.E.M.K.A/BWK. Of 1st Kyu and above. All students of these grades from S.E.M.K.A. must attend these courses. Venue :Shin Ichi Do Club, Hut15, Tilgate Recreation Centre, Crawley 10.00am - 1.00pm. Price £12.00 you must book for this course numbers are limited to 10 :contact: Paul Elliott 6th Dan Tel: 01403 218327 Mob: 07778 058482 email semka@btopenworld.com 17/13/12 Saturday 17/03/2012 S.E.M.K.A. Pre Grading Training Session at Shin Ichi Do Club, Hut 15, Tilgate Recreation Centre, Crawley 10.00am - 1.00pm. Price £12.00 Instructor Paul Elliott 6th Dan Renshi For further details, please contact: Paul Elliott 6th Dan Tel: 01403 218327 Mob: 07778 058482 Email: semka@btopenworld.com. 17/03/12 Arizona Karate Championship and USA National Qualifier & USA Karate (WKF)Kumite Certification Seminar. Dear Sensei and tournament participant, USA Karate Arizona ASO would like to invite you to the Arizona Karate Championship and USA National Qualifier. Our goal is to operate an extremely professional tournament and give the competitor an exceptional experience. USA Karate Arizona ASO is a nonprofit 501c3(pending) corporation that is the approved sports organization for USA KARATE in the state of Arizona. USA Karate is the national governing body for the United States Olympic Committee and the World Karate Federation (WKF). Competitors that place in this competition will be eligible to compete at the United States National Karate Championships held July 12 - 15, 2012 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The mission of USA Karate Arizona ASO is to: a. Operate a state qualifier for the USA Karate National Championship. b. Raise funds to help with expenses for Arizona competitors that qualify and go compete in the U.S. Junior Olympics/Open and USA National Karate Championships. c. Develop world class karate athletes, referees, and coaches here in the state of Arizona. This is a nonprofit event and your entrée fee is tax deductible. We welcome your participation and are honored to be your host. Please feel free to contact me personally for additional information or any questions you may have. My cell is 602-315-5011 and my e-mail address is rhughes43@cox.net Sincerely, Ray Hughes President USA Karate Arizona ASO Sensei; please forward this invitation to your students. It would be most appreciated. Domo Arigato Gozaimashita! Tournament Date and Time Saturday, March 17, 2012 8:00am Competitor badge pickup 9:00am Opening Ceremony 9:15am Competition Begins promptly Order of events The competition will start with Men's Black Belt (advance) Kumite and the two youngest competitor kata divisions. Women's black belt kata and kumite will follow the men's kumite in the same ring. Men's black belt kata will then follow. Other than men's advance kumite division, all divisions will run kata then kumite. The divisions will run by age, youngest to oldest. However, teen advanced levels will run last. There are no weapons or team events this year. Tournament Location Supai Middle School 6720 E. Continential Drive Scottsdale, Arizona 85257 Pre-registration Only One of our goals is to give Arizona and other karate practitioners the experience of a National and International competition. This includes the registration process. Most national and international competitions require pre-registration only. This allows for the most efficiently operated tournament by eliminating the day registration issues that causes many of the mistakes, confusion, and delays. Competition fees: One or more events: before March 1, 2012 $35 for one or all events March 1 or after: $45 for one or all events USA-NKF members $5 discount To register: registration spectator fee: $5 per spectator ( 4 yrs. And older) To be paid at the door Special note to spectators: This is a non profit event with the proceeds going back to the athletes. Competitor Description Beginner Under one year of training Novice One to Two years of training Intermediate Two to Three years of training Advanced Three or more years of training USA Karate (WKF) Kumite Referee Seminar a sanctioned USA Karate seminar Friday, March 16, 2012 6:00pm to 9:30pm Scottsdale Martial Arts Center, Inc. 9151 E. Bell Rd. Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 480-951-2716 www.smacus.com Only Judges and Referees, in proper attire, who attended this seminar or are WKF or USA Karate certified will be able to judge and referee at this tournament. Instructor: Sensei Fariba Madani Sensei Madani Course instruction by Fariba Madani. Ms. Madani is a WKF Referee and is a member of the USA-NKF Referee Council and the WKF Referee Commission. *First woman to be a member of the USA Referee Council * World Karate Federation certified Kata Judge A, and Referee A, the highest rating for referees. *First U.S. female referee at the Pan American level, for both kata and kumite. *First women to achieve World Level Kata and Kumite License from the United States. *She has a Master's Degree in Architecture *She has a competition background. *She is a mother of two and teaches karate every day with her husband at their dojo in Louisville, Colorado. Fee: Certification $85 per participant Audit $45 per participant Fees paid at the seminar For more information contact: Ray Hughes 602-315-5011 rhughes43@cox.net Tournament Hotel ALOFT Hotel very nice! Official host hotel - Ask for the "AZ Karate Championship" rate of $119 s/d occupancy (based on availability, please call right away as March means Major League Baseball Spring Training and peak season for AZ hotels!) Reservations are limited and must be made no later than February 9, 2012 . This special group rate will also be extended three days prior to and following the 3/17 event, based on room availability. Aloft Tempe www.alofttempe.com 480-621-3300 USA Karate Arizona ASO Advisory Board Listed Alphabetically Sensei Chuck Coburn Shotokan Karate of Arizona-Chandler Sensei Doug Corlew The Dojo-Tucson Sensei Rudy Crosswell Arizona Budokan-Phoenix Sensei Bill Damon Eastside Karate-Tucson Sensei Ed DiNardo Arts of Self Defense-Phoenix Sensei Alejandro Hernandez Dynamic Traditions-Ajo Sensei Ray Hughes Scottsdale Martial Arts-Scottsdale Sensei Bob Hunt ENSO International-Scottsdale Sensei Robin Hunt ENSO International-Scottsdale Sensei Patrick Martin Nihon Karate School Sensei Chuck Merriman Goju Ryu Karate-Phoenix Sensei Mark Meyer Gojo Ryu Karate-Chandler Sensei Marlon Moore Az Wado Karate-Chandler Sensei Shannon Peterson Az Isshinryu Karate Academy Sensei Dan Rajic Goju Ryu Karate-Do-Phoenix Sensei Rick Savagian Mountainside Martial Arts-Chandler Sensei Bobby Walden Walden Martial Arts-Phoenix Corporate Officers Ray Hughes Doug Corlew Patrick Martin Bobbie Walden 18/03/12 Sunday 18/03/2012 S.E.M.K.A. Kyu Grading at Horsham Karate Club Tanbridge School Open to all senior grades and juniors grades taking green belt and above. 9.30am to 12.30pm. See you instructor to check if you are able to grade. Instructor Paul Elliott 6th Dan Renshi For furtheir details, please contact: Paul Elliott 6th Dan Tel: 01403 218327 Mob: 07778 058482 Email: semka@btopenworld.com. Mob: 07778 058482. 18/03/12 3rd Hartlepool Wadokai Inter-Club Invitational Karate Championships, Sunday 18th March 2012. Doors open 09:00am. Registration from 09:30am for 10:00am start. We have fantastic custom made JC Medals for 1st, 2nd and joint 3rd position. Venue: Brierton Sports Centre, Catcote Road, Hartlepool, TS25 4BY. Closing date for entries Monday 12th March 2012. Strictly NO ENTRIES on the day. Event organiser: Carl Jorgeson, Tel: 07984 798634, Email: carl@hartlepoolwadokai.com 21/03/12 Spring Equinox FOR SALE Kamizawa, Ki and Meijin Karate-gi UK SPECIAL OFFER! Only 1 each left!! New Kamizawa Karate Gi. 1 x Lightweight (size 5), usual price £37 now £25. Ki Master Gi. 1 x Elite Karate Super-Heavyweight (size 5) and 2 x Meijin Super Heavyweight (size 6), usual price £45 & over now £35 each. For details please contact Gary E Swift 7th Dan, 01752-493210. Email; garyswift@wadokai.co.uk 23/03/12 St George's Day. 25/03/12 British Summer Time Starts – BST. Clocks go forward 1-hour. 25/03/12 Open British Wadokai Standardisation Course Part 1 - Open to all levels. Essential for all British Wadokai Brown and Black-belts who wish to grade, or Yudansha who wish to retain their grading privileges. Includes standardisation of all British Wadokai Kihon-waza and Renraku-waza required for Yudan Shinsa, and all Sanbon-gumite. If there is time, there will be also elements and practise of the practical applications and tactics of Futari-dori (2-to-1 sparring), so please ensure you bring your Bogu (hand-mitts and shin & instep pads). Photo: Circa 1979. Instructor: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue: Tanbridge School, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. Time: 10am-1pm. Price; £15. Due to location, please also bring packed-lunch. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk British Wadokai: www.wadokai.co.uk Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! These courses are open to all students, as ALL the Wado syllabus is covered and standardised over the four-part courses. So, students wanting to grade for a future black-belt can start accumulating Standardisation Course stamps from when they first start training, if they wanted to, although these courses are personally recommended for 7th kyu & above. There is (or should be) no excuse for students who have not acquired the minimum requirements to grade for black-belt ranks (as they have from the day they start training to get stamps). Remember, all applications, which do not have the required training history, will be rejected due to inadequate training (Futanren). Entry submitted by: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. British Wadokai. 25/03/12 British Wadokai Yudan Shinsa. Venue: Tanbridge School, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. UK Yudan Shinsa (Black-belt Gradings). Time: Practical Examination: 2-3.30pm. Applicants must have already completed the written examination prior to attending the practical exam. Applications to be in by 31st January 2012. Chief Examiner: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. For details, and application form, please contact: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel: 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk For Application Form please visit: www.wadokai.co.uk Applicants so far: 25/03/12 British Wadokai Yudan Assessment Panel Judges Examination (for all BWK 3rd Dan (and above) Direct Members). This examination is for those who are not already qualified as YAP Judges. Venue: Tanbridge School, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. UK Yudan Shinsa (Black-belt Gradings). Time: Practical Examination: 2-3.30pm. Applicants must have already completed the written examination prior to attending the practical exam. Chief Examiner: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. For details, and application form, please contact: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel: 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk For Application Form please visit: www.wadokai.co.uk 25/03/12 British Wadokai Yudansha Reishiki. The formal awards ceremony for the promotion of new British Wadokai Yudansha. Time: 3pm (approximately). 03/04/12 Open British Wadokai-Southwest Ohyo-Gumite Standardisation Course. Instructor; Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue; British Wadokai Honbu Dojo, Pomphlett Wadoryu Karate Club, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Pomphlett Gardens, Plymstock, Plymouth, Devon. PL9 7BL. Time; 7-8.30pm. Price; £5.00. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk Plymouth Schools of Karate: http://plymouthkarateclubs.weebly.com/ Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! This event is open to all British Wadokai and International Wado Federation Members. Warning: if you also hold outside membership to the English Karate Federation you may be violating EKF membership conditions by being in attendance; this event is open to ALL official Multi-Style National and World Governing Bodies (WUKF, WUKO, ITKF, WKC, WKF, etc.). 06, 07, 08, 09/04/12 Eostre Weekend. FOR SALE Kamizawa, Ki and Meijin Karate-gi UK SPECIAL OFFER! Only 1 each left!! New Kamizawa Karate Gi. 1 x Lightweight (size 5), usual price £37 now £25. Ki Master Gi. 1 x Elite Karate Super-Heavyweight (size 5) and 2 x Meijin Super Heavyweight (size 6), usual price £45 & over now £35 each. For details please contact Gary E Swift 7th Dan, 01752-493210. Email; garyswift@wadokai.co.uk 22/04/12 Sunday 22/04/2012 S.E.M.K.A. Black Belt and 1st Kyu Standardization Course. The course is open to all S.E.M.K.A/BWK. Of 1st Kyu and above. All students of these grades from S.E.M.K.A. must attend these courses. Venue :Shin Ichi Do Club, Hut15, Tilgate Recreation Centre, Crawley 10.00am -1.00pm. Price £12.00 you must book for this course numbers are limited to 10 :contact: Paul Elliott 6th Dan Tel: 01403 218327 Mob: 07778 058482 email semka@btopenworld.com 23/04/12 St George's Day. About St George. St George is the patron saint of England, replacing the original 'English' patron saint, St. Edmund, around the 1600's. St. George is most commonly associated with the legend of St George and the Dragon. In the mythical tale, George obtains glory by slaying a dragon that is terrorizing the countryside and is about to eat a beautiful princess. George survives the ordeal by invoking the sign of the cross. As a mark of their gratitude, the local citizens all convert to Christianity and seek to copy George’s chivalrous, princess-saving behaviour. The story is loosely based on a real-life George who was born around 280AD and grew up to become a Christian soldier of the Roman Empire. The myth of St George and the Dragon in England was known prior to the Norman conquest in 1066, but the idea of George as the nation’s patron saint probably caught on around William Shakespeare’s time. In Shakespeare’s play Henry V, the English troops are rallied with the cry “God for Harry, England and St George!” Other popular English literature since has also mentioned St George. The St George’s Cross flag of England features a red cross on a white background. It forms part of Great Britain’s Union Jack flag, along with the Scottish St Andrew’s Cross and Irish St Patrick’s Cross. St. George and The Black Prince St. George & the Dragon (the George) was chosen by The Black Prince as the patron Saint for the Knight of the Garter, The Most Noble Order of the Garter. Prince Edward III, also known as The Black Prince, established the Order of the Garter around 1348 (exact date unknown). His motto for the garter is "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" which means "Evil be to him who think evil." St. George and the Dragon is one of the best-known stories in history. However, little information was documented during his time and little is known about this legendary hero. It is said that he was born sometime around 263-281AD in the city of Lydia near Jerusalem (Lydda - in stories). Sometime in his seventeenth year, George enlisted as a cavalry soldier in the army of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. He rose through the rankings quickly because he was a proficient soldier and an able horseman. Emperor Diocletian began his movement to persecute Christians during the service of George. George, however, was a devout Christian and requested an audience with the Emperor. At this conference, George pleaded with the Emperor to cease from this aggressive execution. Diocletian was so embittered and enraged that he commanded George to recant his religion. George refused and was arrested, tortured, and finally put to death on April 23, 303AD. This day is now known as St. George’s Day. Within a few years the Empire converted to Christianity. Classic storytellers told the tale of a city called Selene where a terrifying dragon lived in a swamp nearby. There are numerous variations of the story of St. George slaying the dragon but most fit with the following: A hungry dragon terrorized a city demanding sheep daily for food and then the town’s young when other resources ran low. Its breath poisoned those who came in close approach to the dragon. Eventually, it was the town’s young princess’s turn to be sacrificed to the dragon. George heard of this, rode into the village defeated the dragon and rescued the princess. Some accountings depict George killing the dragon immediately while others claim he subdued the dragon, delivered him into the city and then executed the dragon. Some stories portray that the injured dragon was brought back to the city to heel so that in the future it served the city it tormented. George told the people to have no fear, but to be baptized, and requested them to honour the clergy, pity the poor, and professed Christianity. Many Christians still identify with and address the story of St. George because he represents victory of good over evil. There are no known records of his epithet "The Black Prince." It is believed to refer to his black armour he may have worn, although other speculations attribute it to his dark temper. Early in life Edward III established an unyielding reputation as a soldier and was much occupied in upholding this claim. In doing so, the Black Prince provoked the long-running but intermittent battle between England and France, popularly known as the Hundred Years War. Edward had a fascination with the legend of King Arthur and promised to renew the fraternity of the "Knights of the Round Table." Work even began, but was never completed, on a gigantic circular building two-hundred feet across within the upper sector of the castle to house this so-declared Order of the Round Table. Incidentally, the Order of the Garter came to play when founding the new college of St. George at Windsor. For the elite members of the order, twenty-five knights were provided with a stall in the chapel with the king at their head. Prince Edward III never became king; he died in 1376 before his father King Edward III. A year later the Black Prince’s ten year old son succeeded his grandfather and became King Richard II of England. The institution of the Order of the Garter is an honour of knighthood going into battle. It is significant in comparison to other orders from the middle ages, fundamentally for prestige attached to the order and for its survival to present day. Every June, members of the order meet at Windsor Castle for the annual Garter Service. Today Knights of the Garter wear what is the more distinctive of the various ensembles, the collar. This is worn on collar days with the George hanging from a collar composed of alternate gold knots and 26 blue garters enclosing red roses. In more than 500 years, little has changed in the current setting for the home of the Order. St. George’s Chapel and Windsor Castle continues to play a central role in the life of the Garter. Still, today, the Order of the Garter is the oldest surviving Order of chivalry in the world! 27/04/12 The Birthday of Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki (8th Dan) Hanshi, who passed away peacefully at 83 years of age. 27th April 1928 to 12th July 2011. May he rest in peace. 29/04/12 Sunday 29/04/2012 S.E.M.K.A. Self Defence Course (Goshin-Jutsu ). Open to all students any grade, a course on self-defence utilising all aspects and concepts of Wadoryu Karate. This course works on the practical principles of Wadoryu to make full- efficient use of our Karate in practical self-defence. Contains everything we need for self-defence, which are very often neglected or untapped. All type of escapes, pressure-point attacks, strikes, locks and throws. Open to all. Instructors Paul Elliott 6th Dan Renshi and Mike Rapley 6th Dan. Venue: Tanbridge House School Gymnasium, Farthing Hill, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. RH12 1SR. Time; 10am-1pm. Price; £12. More details Tel: 01403 218327 Mob: 07778 058482 Email: semka@btopenworld.com. 31/04/12 to 15/04/12 No Training at British Wadokai Southwest Clubs, Elburton, Gunnislake, Roborough, due to School Holidays. Pomphlett training as usual. 01/05/12 Open British Wadokai-Southwest Kihon-Gumite Standardisation Course. Instructor; Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue; British Wadokai Honbu Dojo, Pomphlett Wadoryu Karate Club, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Pomphlett Gardens, Plymstock, Plymouth, Devon. PL9 7BL. Time; 7-8.30pm. Price; £5.00. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk Plymouth Schools of Karate: http://plymouthkarateclubs.weebly.com/ Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! This event is open to all British Wadokai and International Wado Federation Members. Warning: if you also hold outside membership to the English Karate Federation you may be violating EKF membership conditions by being in attendance; this event is open to ALL official Multi-Style National and World Governing Bodies (WUKF, WUKO, ITKF, WKC, WKF, etc.). 07/05/12 May Day Bank Holiday. Want a Month’s Free Training? Introduce a new student, who becomes a licensed member to British Wadokai Southwest OR Horsham Wado Karate Club, and you will receive a MONTH’S FREE TRAINING at ANY & ALL of the British Wadokai Southwest & Plymouth Schools of Karate Club's PLUS the Horsham Wado Karate Club, for a whole month. All you need to do is bring him/her along to the Dojo to be introduced to the Instructor, who will then hand him a BWK Licence Form (as usual), and as soon as they become licensed members you will receive a ‘calendar month’s’ free training at any and all of the clubs mentioned, so you could be receiving up to 19 training sessions in a 30 day month FREE (less in shorter months) - That's a saving of £14 per week if you train every session. Also, the choice is yours as to which whole month you wanted to train FREE, so you may want take full advantage of a 'long' month. Just think of how many training sessions you would get if you introduced TWO students on one night?? If you introduced just 1 student per month you could get a whole year’s Dojo training for nothing! Clubs include (at present): Pomphlett, Elburton, Gunnislake, Roborough and Horsham Wado. Club venue and times may vary over time, but ample notice would be given upon any changes. 13/05/12 Sunday May 13/05/2012 S.E.M.K.A Kata and Kumite Competition. Open only to SEMKA and BWK members. . Venue: Tanbridge House School Gymnasium, Farthing Hill, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. RH12 1SR. Time; 9am-5pm. More details Tel: 01403 218327 Mob: 07778 058482 Email: semka@btopenworld.com. 01/06/12 The Birthday of Ohtsuka Hironori (10th Dan) Meijin on the 1st June in 1892. The Founder of Wado-ryu Karate-do. Hironori-Ohtsuka was born in Shimodate City, Ibiragi, Japan on the 1st June 1892. 04/06/12 to 08/06/12 No Training at British Wadokai Southwest Clubs, Elburton, Gunnislake, Roborough, due to School Holidays. Pomphlett training as usual. FOR SALE Kamizawa, Ki and Meijin Karate-gi UK SPECIAL OFFER! Only 1 each left!! New Kamizawa Karate Gi. 1 x Lightweight (size 5), usual price £37 now £25. Ki Master Gi. 1 x Elite Karate Super-Heavyweight (size 5) and 2 x Meijin Super Heavyweight (size 6), usual price £45 & over now £35 each. For details please contact Gary E Swift 7th Dan, 01752-493210. Email; garyswift@wadokai.co.uk 02-03/06/12 SENI 2012 - The International Combat Sports Show. This event is open to all British Wadokai and International Wado Federation Members. Warning: if you also hold outside membership to the English Karate Federation you may be violating EKF membership conditions by being in attendance; this event is open to ALL official Multi-Style National and World Governing Bodies (WUKF, WUKO, ITKF, WKC, WKF, etc.). 04/06/12 Spring Bank Holiday. FOR SALE Kamizawa, Ki and Meijin Karate-gi UK SPECIAL OFFER! Only 1 each left!! New Kamizawa Karate Gi. 1 x Lightweight (size 5), usual price £37 now £25. Ki Master Gi. 1 x Elite Karate Super-Heavyweight (size 5) and 2 x Meijin Super Heavyweight (size 6), usual price £45 & over now £35 each. For details please contact Gary E Swift 7th Dan, 01752-493210. Email; garyswift@wadokai.co.uk 05/06/12 Queen's Diamond Jubilee. 05/06/12 Open British Wadokai-Southwest Idori-no-Gata Standardisation Course. Instructor; Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue; British Wadokai Honbu Dojo, Pomphlett Wadoryu Karate Club, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Pomphlett Gardens, Plymstock, Plymouth, Devon. PL9 7BL. Time; 7-8.30pm. Price; £5.00. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk Plymouth Schools of Karate: http://plymouthkarateclubs.weebly.com/ Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! This event is open to all British Wadokai and International Wado Federation Members. Warning: if you also hold outside membership to the English Karate Federation you may be violating EKF membership conditions by being in attendance; this event is open to ALL official Multi-Style National and World Governing Bodies (WUKF, WUKO, ITKF, WKC, WKF, etc.). 24/06/12 Open British Wadokai Standardisation Course Part 2 - Open to all levels. Essential for all British Wadokai Brown and Black-belts who wish to grade, or Yudansha who wish to retain their grading privileges. Includes standardisation of all British Wadokai Kata from Pinan to Rohai. If there is time, there will also be elements and practise of the practical applications and tactics of Futari-dori (2-to-1 sparring), so please ensure you bring your Bogu (hand-mitts and shin & instep pads). Open to all! Instructor: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue: Tanbridge School, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. Time: 10am-1pm. Price; £15. Due to location, please also bring packed-lunch. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk British Wadokai: www.wadokai.co.uk Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! These courses are open to all students, as ALL the Wado syllabus is covered and standardised over the four-part courses. So, students wanting to grade for a future black-belt can start accumulating Standardisation Course stamps from when they first start training, if they wanted to, although these courses are personally recommended for 7th kyu & above. There is (or should be) no excuse for students who have not acquired the minimum requirements to grade for black-belt ranks (as they have from the day they start training to get stamps). Remember, all applications, which do not have the required training history, will be rejected due to inadequate training (Futanren). 03/07/12 Open British Wadokai-Southwest Tanto-Dori-no-Gata Standardisation Course. Instructor; Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue; British Wadokai Honbu Dojo, Pomphlett Wadoryu Karate Club, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Pomphlett Gardens, Plymstock, Plymouth, Devon. PL9 7BL. Time; 7-8.30pm. Price; £5.00. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk Plymouth Schools of Karate: http://plymouthkarateclubs.weebly.com/ Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! This event is open to all British Wadokai and International Wado Federation Members. Warning: if you also hold outside membership to the English Karate Federation you may be violating EKF membership conditions by being in attendance; this event is open to ALL official Multi-Style National and World Governing Bodies (WUKF, WUKO, ITKF, WKC, WKF, etc.). 12/07/12 In Respectful Memory of Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi, who passed away peacefully at 83 years of age. 27th April 1928 to 12th July 2011. May he rest in peace and never be forgotten. 23/07/12 to 31/08/12 No Training at British Wadokai Southwest Clubs, Elburton, Gunnislake, Roborough, due to School Holidays. Pomphlett training as usual. 29/07/12 British Wadokai's Suparinpei & Temple Kata Course - Open to all levels. Another chance to learn Ji'in and Suparinpei, the 'lost kata' of Wadoryu. Instructor; Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi. Venue: Tanbridge School, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. Time; 10am-1pm. Price; £15.00. Learn 4-kata in 3-hours. For booking, please contact: Paul Elliott (6th Dan) Renshi. Tel: 01403 218327. Mob: 07778 058482. Email: semka@btopenworld.com 30/07/12 DEADLINE REMINDER 30th July 2012. No applications will be accepted after this date as venue date and time has to be confirmed by this date. 30/09/12 British Wadokai Yudan Shinsa. Venue: Tanbridge School, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. UK Yudan Shinsa (Black-belt Gradings). Time: Practical Examination: 2-3.30pm. Applicants must have already completed the written examination prior to attending the practical exam. Applications to be in by 31st January 2012. Chief Examiner: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. For details, and application form, please contact: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel: 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk For an up-to-date Application Form please visit: www.wadokai-southwest.co.uk 27/08/12 Summer Bank Holiday. Want a Month’s Free Training? Introduce a new student, who becomes a licensed member to British Wadokai Southwest OR Horsham Wado Karate Club, and you will receive a MONTH’S FREE TRAINING at ANY & ALL of the British Wadokai Southwest & Plymouth Schools of Karate Club's PLUS the Horsham Wado Karate Club, for a whole month. All you need to do is bring him/her along to the Dojo to be introduced to the Instructor, who will then hand him a BWK Licence Form (as usual), and as soon as they become licensed members you will receive a ‘calendar month’s’ free training at any and all of the clubs mentioned, so you could be receiving up to 19 training sessions in a 30 day month FREE (less in shorter months) - That's a saving of £14 per week if you train every session. Also, the choice is yours as to which whole month you wanted to train FREE, so you may want take full advantage of a 'long' month. Just think of how many training sessions you would get if you introduced TWO students on one night?? If you introduced just 1 student per month you could get a whole year’s Dojo training for nothing! Clubs include (at present): Pomphlett, Elburton, Gunnislake, Roborough and Horsham Wado. Club venue and times may vary over time, but ample notice would be given upon any changes. 04/09/12 Open British Wadokai-Southwest Muto-Dori-no-Gata Standardisation Course. Instructor; Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue; British Wadokai Honbu Dojo, Pomphlett Wadoryu Karate Club, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Pomphlett Gardens, Plymstock, Plymouth, Devon. PL9 7BL. Time; 7-8.30pm. Price; £5.00. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk Plymouth Schools of Karate: http://plymouthkarateclubs.weebly.com/ Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! This event is open to all British Wadokai and International Wado Federation Members. Warning: if you also hold outside membership to the English Karate Federation you may be violating EKF membership conditions by being in attendance; this event is open to ALL official Multi-Style National and World Governing Bodies (WUKF, WUKO, ITKF, WKC, WKF, etc.). 21/09/12 Autumn Equinox. For Sale Personalised and/or Club Japanese Hanko Service for all BWK Members. Your name and club, or association, embossed onto a Hanko. These traditional style Hanko will be personalised to you. You can have your name, your name with club or your name with association - the choice is yours! Prices start from £29.99 inclusive of 'set-up' charges and ink-stamp. For further information please see our 'shop' on www.britishwadofederation.co.uk for details and prices of rubber stamps. Email garyswift@wadokai.co.uk Patterns shown. Left; Eikoku Wado Kai Karate Do Renmei Dojo (British Wadokai HQ). Right; The ‘personal’ Hanko of Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Honbucho. 30/09/12 Open British Wadokai Standardisation Course Part 3 - Open to all levels. Essential for all British Wadokai Brown and Black-belts who wish to grade, or Yudansha who wish to retain their grading privileges. Includes standardisation of all British Wadokai Tai-sabaki of Ohyo-gumite, and Kihon-gumite. If there is time, there will also be elements and practise of the practical applications and tactics of Futari-dori (2-to-1 sparring), so please ensure you bring your Bogu (hand-mitts and shin & instep pads). Instructor: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue: Tanbridge School, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. Time: 10am-1pm. Price: £15. Please bring packed-lunch. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk British Wadokai: www.wadokai.co.uk Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! These courses are open to all students, as the entire Wado syllabus is covered and standardised over the four-part courses. So, students wanting to grade for a future black-belt can start accumulating Standardisation Course stamps from when they first start training, if they wanted to, although these courses are personally recommended for 7th kyu & above. There is (or should be) no excuse for students who have not acquired the minimum requirements to grade for black-belt ranks (as they have from the day they start training to get stamps). Remember, all applications, which do not have the required training history, will be rejected due to inadequate training (Futanren). FOR SALE Kamizawa, Ki and Meijin Karate-gi UK SPECIAL OFFER! Only 1 each left!! New Kamizawa Karate Gi. 1 x Lightweight (size 5), usual price £37 now £25. Ki Master Gi. 1 x Elite Karate Super-Heavyweight (size 5) and 2 x Meijin Super Heavyweight (size 6), usual price £45 & over now £35 each. For details please contact Gary E Swift 7th Dan, 01752-493210. Email; garyswift@wadokai.co.uk 30/09/12 British Wadokai UK Yudan Shinsa. Venue: Tanbridge School, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. UK Yudan Shinsa (Black-belt Gradings). Time: Practical Examination: 2-3.30pm. Applicants must have already completed the written examination prior to attending the practical exam. Applications to be in by 31st July 2012. Chief Examiner: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. For details, and application form, please contact: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel: 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk For Application Form please visit: www.wadokai.co.uk Applicants so far: 30/09/12 British Wadokai Yudan Assessment Panel Judges Examination (for all BWK 3rd Dan (and above) Direct Members). This examination is for those who are not already qualified as YAP Judges. Venue: Tanbridge School, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. UK Yudan Shinsa (Black-belt Gradings). Time: Practical Examination: 2-3.30pm. Applicants must have already completed the written examination prior to attending the practical exam. Chief Examiner: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. For details, and application form, please contact: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel: 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk For Application Form please visit: www.wadokai.co.uk 30/09/12 British Wadokai Yudansha Reishiki. The formal awards ceremony for the promotion of new British Wadokai Yudansha. Time: 3pm (approximately). 29/10/12 to 02/11/12 No Training at British Wadokai Southwest Clubs, Elburton, Gunnislake, Roborough, due to School Holidays. Pomphlett training as usual. 28/10/12 British Summertime Ends – Clocks go back 1-hour to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). 16/12/12 Open British Wadokai Standardisation Course Part 4 - Open to all levels. Essential for all British Wadokai Brown and Black-belts who wish to grade, or Yudansha who wish to retain their grading privileges. Includes standardisation of all British Wadokai Tai-sabaki of Idori-no-kata (kneeling defences), Tanto-dori-no-kata (knife defences), and Mutodori-no-kata (sword defences). Instructor: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue: Tanbridge House School Gymnasium, Farthing Hill, Guildford Road, Horsham, West Sussex. RH12 1SR. Time: 10am-1pm. If time; Tanto-randori (Knife-defence sparring). Please bring Bogu (mitts and pads). Also, if you have them, Tanto (wooden knife), Bokken (wooden sword). Price; £15. Due to location, please also bring packed-lunch. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk British Wadokai: www.wadokai.co.uk Instructor/Examiner Certrification will be issiued to those who are eligible corresponding to proceeding year. Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! These courses are open to all students, as ALL the Wado syllabus is covered and standardised over the four-part courses. So, students wanting to grade for a future black-belt can start accumulating Standardisation Course stamps from when they first start training, if they wanted to, although these courses are personally recommended for 7th kyu & above. There is (or should be) no excuse for students who have not acquired the minimum requirements to grade for black-belt ranks (as they have from the day they start training to get stamps). Remember, all applications, which do not have the required training history, will be rejected due to inadequate training (Futanren). 20/11/12 St Edmund's Day. St Edmund - The true Patron Saint of England. EADMUND (ST EDMUND) (c.853-20th Nov., 869); killed by the Danes, possibly in battle near Thetford, as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle seems to say; eventually buried at Beodericsworð (Bury St Edmund's); the cult of St Edmund became one of the most powerful in Medieval England. November 20th is Saint Edmund's Day, the 'original' patron Saint of England. It is time to set the records straight, the Norman propagandists and their supporters have held sway for too long. When the Northmen from Normandy arrived in England towards the end of the 11th Century, they set about some cultural cleansing. They didn't call it that in those days, they did not call it anything, but they clearly understood the purpose of their actions. The Norman intention was to remove obvious signs of Angle, Jutish and Saxon cultural emblems and symbols and replace them with something alien, different and more akin to whatever cultural pretentions the Normans had. Their first attempts were directed against English customs and language. Over the course of the next two centuries, the primacy of Saint Edmund the Martyr as the true patron Saint of the English and therefore England, was diminished in favour of the mythical image of a Middle Eastern St. George originating in the Papal/Norman Crusades. Although the Angles, Jutes and Saxons had other symbols of their origins such as the Raven, Boar, Wolf etc. their enduring and unifying emblem was the White Dragon - itself copied from the legions of Imperial Rome. As part of the power greedy Norman/Papal influence of the time and inspired by the religious fervour of the Crusades, the White Dragon Flag of the English was gradually replaced by the Red Cross (so called St. George's Cross). The poetically beautiful personal names of the Angles, Jutes and Saxons, such as; Waltheof, Aelfred, Aelgifu, Aedward and many others, were lost to the more mundane names of Biblical origin with a few of Norman provenance thrown into the mix. Fortunately, since Victorian times we have enjoyed something of a revival in the use of many of our traditional English names. Tinkered with it might be, but our wonderfully expressive English language survived intact. Our foreign rulers of the 12th and 13th Centuries; tyrants all, had to bow to the will of the English in that respect. So it was and so it would be for the future. Let all the English everywhere remember; your Patron Saint is St. Edmund the Martyr; honour him on the 20th November. Your flag is not the Red Cross but the White Dragon, well known to Alfred the Great, Knut the Great and King Harold 2nd. 21/12/12 Winter Solstice. The winter solstice is the shortest day in the year (for those living in the northern hemisphere). It is the point when the earth's north-pole is furthest from the sun. The earth moves around the sun titled at an angle. As the earth moves around the sun, in its yearly cycle, this angle determines the proximity of the north and south pole to the sun. When the north pole is tilting furthest from the sun the northern hemisphere gets the least sunlight. Pagans celebrate winter solstice, giving thanks for the re-birth of the sun and the coming lighter days and nights. Many traditions associated with Christmas actually have their roots in ancient pagan Yule celebrations. For example, holly, ivy and mistletoe are symbolic plants for pagans; and the Yule Log (nowadays often symbolised as a log-shaped cake) was a ceremonial log, which would be decorated and burnt for protection and good fortune. 24/12/12 to 04/01/13 No Training at British Wadokai Southwest Clubs due to School Holidays. 25/12/12 Christmas. Christmas is a Christian Holy Day that marks the birth of Christ, the son of God. The exact date of Christ’s birth is unknown (although scientists have suggested the 3rd April 30BC, due to planetary alignment and evidence). December 25th became the accepted celebration date during the 4th century, under the rule of the Roman Emperor Constantine. This date was probably chosen because it coincided with the Festival of Saturnalia, an ancient Greek and Roman Festival. In Britain, pagans celebrated the Winter Solstice between December 21 and 25. When Christianity became popular in Britain many pagan traditions were incorporated into Christmas. For example, holly, ivy and mistletoe were originally used in Winter Solstice celebrations to ward off evil spirits. The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Mass of Christ. Mass is a prayer service where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life. Many Christians attend a special midnight mass on Christmas Eve to celebrate Christ’s birth. For many people, giving and receiving gifts is a big part of Christmas but it is often forgotten that this symbolises the gift God gave to humanity – His Son. Children get presents from Father Christmas (or Santa Claus in North America, which comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas). He is based on St. Nicholas, a 4th century Christian leader who gave anonymous donations of money to poor families. Legend says that one day he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. The money landed in a stocking placed by the fire to dry. Hence, the story that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings. During Christmas, families and friends gather together to enjoy a special meal of turkey, roast potatoes, vegetables and trimmings followed by Christmas pudding and mince pies. Sometimes crackers (invented by a London baker in 1846,) are pulled. 26/12/12 St. Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, is a Christian Saint's Day celebrated on 26th December in the Western Church and 27th December in the Eastern Church. Many Eastern Orthodox churches adhere to the Julian calendar and mark St. Stephen's Day on 27th December according to that calendar, which places it on 9th January of the Gregorian calendar used in secular contexts. It commemorates St Stephen, the first Christian martyr or protomartyr. It is an official public holiday in Austria, Catalonia, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia. 2013 Want a Month’s Free Training? Introduce a new student, who becomes a licensed member to British Wadokai Southwest OR Horsham Wado Karate Club, and you will receive a MONTH’S FREE TRAINING at ANY & ALL of the British Wadokai Southwest & Plymouth Schools of Karate Club's PLUS the Horsham Wado Karate Club, for a whole month. All you need to do is bring him/her along to the Dojo to be introduced to the Instructor, who will then hand him a BWK Licence Form (as usual), and as soon as they become licensed members you will receive a ‘calendar month’s’ free training at any and all of the clubs mentioned, so you could be receiving up to 19 training sessions in a 30 day month FREE (less in shorter months) - That's a saving of £14 per week if you train every session. Also, the choice is yours as to which whole month you wanted to train FREE, so you may want take full advantage of a 'long' month. Just think of how many training sessions you would get if you introduced TWO students on one night?? If you introduced just 1 student per month you could get a whole year’s Dojo training for nothing! Clubs include (at present): Pomphlett, Elburton, Gunnislake, Roborough and Horsham Wado. Club venue and times may vary over time, but ample notice would be given upon any changes. 08/01/12 Open British Wadokai-Southwest Pinan Kata Standardisation Course. Instructor; Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Venue; British Wadokai Honbu Dojo, Plymstock Wadoryu Karate Club, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Pomphlett Gardens, Plymstock, Plymouth, Devon. PL9 7BL. Time; 7-8.30pm. Price; £5.00. For further details, please contact the Event Organiser: Gary E Swift 7th Dan. Tel 01752-493210 (ext. 3). Email: britishwadokai@yahoo.co.uk Plymouth Schools of Karate: http://plymouthkarateclubs.weebly.com/ Please ensure you bring your BWK Attendance Card for signing/stamping. Open to all! This event is open to all British Wadokai and International Wado Federation Members. Warning: if you also hold outside membership to the English Karate Federation you may be violating EKF membership conditions by being in attendance; this event is open to ALL official Multi-Style National and World Governing Bodies (WUKF, WUKO, ITKF, WKC, WKF, etc.). 29/01/13 Today, on the 29th of January 1982, Ohtsuka-Hironori Meijin, the founder of Wado-ryu Karate-do, passed away at the age 89; he had practised martial-arts for 85 years. The Founder & History of Wado-ryu Karate-do. Hironori-Ohtsuka was born in Shimodate City, Ibiragi, Japan on the 1st June 1892. He was the first son of Tokujiro-Ohtsuka, who was a doctor of medicine. 1892 was also the year that the Dai-Nippon-Butoku-Kai was established. He started training under Chojiro-Ebashi, an uncle of his mother, in April 1897 at the age of four, a style of training he would continue with, even at Waseda University in Tokyo. In 1905 Ohtsuka-Hironori entered the Shimozuma Middle School, where he started Shindo-Yoshin-ryu Ju-jutsu under Tatsusaburo-Nakayama. In 1910 Ohtsuka-Hironori entered Waseda University to learn commerce. In 1917 he started work at the Kawasaki bank; at this stage he was learning numerous styles of Ju-jutsu. Ohtsuka-Hironori met, and became good friends, with the founder of Aikido, Morihei-Ueshiba. In May 1919 he became master of 'bone-setting technique'. On the 1st of July 1921 he received his Shindo-Yoshin-ryu Ju-jutsu Licence from Tatsusaburo-Nakayama, and so became the highest authority. He started his Karate training with the famous Gichin-Funikoshi in July 1922, a style known as To-de or Okinawan Karate-Jutsu. Ohtsuka-Hironori met Funikoshi Sensei during a martial-arts demonstration at the Sports Festival organised by the Japanese Educational Department. Funikoshi Sensei agreed to teach Ohtsuka-Hironori all he knew about Okinawan Karate-Jutsu, the lessons started that same day. Within one year Ohtsuka-Hironori had studied all the Kata within the system. Even after this time Ohtsuka-Hironori could see the 'shortfall' in the Kata-only system. It was explained to him that all of the concepts of 'Budo' was within Kata, and that was the only aspect to train. In 1924 Ohtsuka-Hironori introduced Yakusoku-gumite to the system, this concept of 'partner-work' revolutionised Karate-Jutsu. He also developed Idori-no-kata, Tachiai-no-kata, and Shirahatori-no-kata. In 1928 he was 'Shindo-Yoshin-ryu Shihan', the Chief Instructor of his Shindo-Yoshin-ryu; he also set up a 'bone-setting' practice at this time. In 1929 he registered with the 'Nippon-Kobudo-Shinko-Kai', the Japanese Martial-arts Federation. In 1934 Ohtsuka-Hironori was recognised as an independent style, and started teaching full-time. |