THIS MONTH IN TRADITIONAL KARATE
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JSKA 4th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Comes to Great Britain |
 The Japan Shotokan Karate Association is an international organisation based in Chiba, Japan and headed by one of the most senior Shotokan figures in the world today, Keigo Abe sensei. Abe sensei is a direct student of Masatoshi Nakayama, 1st JKA headmaster, a former pre-split JKA Senior Sohonbu Instructor, JKA Director of Qualifications and post split, JKA (Matsuno) Technical Director.
The Japan Shotokan Karate Association (Great Britain) is honoured and privileged to be a JSKA representative in the United Kingdom and we are pleased to host the 4th World Championships in Manchester. We are also honoured that our two senior instructors, sensei George Carruthers 7th Dan and sensei Charles Gidley7th Dan, are amongst some of the highest Japanese graded Shotokan karate-ka in Europe, are both members of the JSKA Shihankai and are certified 'A' Class Instructors, Judges and Examiners, with the JSKA itself.
You have been asked to run the JSKA World Championships, can you tell us a bit about that?
GEORGE CARRUTHERS: Yes, it will take place at the Manchester Velodrome on August 22nd through to the 24th inclusive. Invitations have gone out to over 50 countries at the end of January and although we are only in February we have had positive responses from 25 to date. The tournament is open to all traditional Shotokan karate-ka and will use the Shobu Ippon rules as set down by Abe sensei and the JSKA Shihankai.
CHARLES GIDLEY: The tournament organisation is going very well and we are getting quite a bit of positive support and feedback. Also after a great deal of behind the scenes work between ourselves and Japan we will witness something that has not been seen at this level anywhere else in the UK, possibly even in Europe and we are very honoured that we will be part of Shotokan history in the making.
Read more in the Digital Edition
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KRIS WILDER - Interviewed by Iain Abernethy |
 Kris has been studying the martial arts for over 30 years; beginning his martial arts training in 1976. He holds dan grades in Goju-Ryu Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Kodokan Judo and teaches karate at the West Seattle Karate Academy. He has authored several books on the martial arts including 'The Way of Sanchin Kata: The Application of Power' & 'Lessons from the Dojo Floor'. Along with Lawrence Kane, Kris also co-authored 'The Way to Black Belt: A Comprehensive Guide to Rapid, Rock-Solid Results' and the very popular 'The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Martial Applications'. This book, on the practical application of traditional kata, won wide acclaim and further cemented Kris's position as one of the 'Big Hitters' of kata bunkai. Iain Abernethy has invited Kris over from then USA to teach his approach to kata in the UK for the very first time. Iain interviewed Kris for Traditional Karate Magazine about his martial arts training, his views on practical karate and his plans for his trip to the UK.
Could you tell us a little about how you got started in the martial arts?
As a kid I watched the cartoon Johnny Quest and the aide to Dr. Quest was named Race Bannon. Race Bannon was flat out cool - he did Judo while wearing slacks and slip-on shoes. Later on I watched Kung-Fu on television, and then came Bruce Lee, but it really all goes back to Race Bannon. I bought a Judo course out of a comic book and also learned from a book I found at school. The real beginning to my training, though was taking Tae Kwon Do classes starting from when I was 15...
Read more in Combat Magazine available from WHSmith and all good newsagents
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BOB HONIBALL - The Power of Goju Ryu |
 Sensei Bob started his journey in the Martial Arts in the late Sixties. He began training in Goju Ryu under the formidable Gary Spiers in the early seventies, and then decided to seek out the more traditional forms of Okinawan Goju Ryu, until finally settling with the Jundokan So Honbu.
Sensei can you tell me about your background, who exactly did you start to train with, and where?
Having suffered with my health since childhood and coming from rough inner city district of Liverpool, I was determined to improve my health and to learn how to look after myself. At that time, Martial Arts were new on the scene and had a mystery about them, which attracted me. I first started training in Judo at the age of 15 in Liverpool. Shortly after this, I started training in Mushindo Ryu Karate Do with Sensei Harry Benfield. 1971 saw me training in Ueichi Ryu under Sensei’s Tony Christian and Bob Greenhalgh. At that time there was a lack of senior instructors in the UK. Around 1972 Sensei Gary Spiers appeared on the Karate Do scene in Liverpool, fresh from Japan. It was decided we should invite Gary to become our Chief Instructor. Gary studied Goju Kai in Japan under Master Gogen Yamaguchi as well as training with Sensei Morio Higaonna.
Sensei can you briefly explain why you decided to change from the applied Japanese Goju Ryu of Sensei Spiers to traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu?
Training with Sensei Gary Spiers was excellent but in time, Gary’s attention was drawn more towards the Night Club security scene. Sensei Gary gave us a strong foundation in our practice of Goju Ryu and certainly developed our fighting spirit as well putting realism into our fighting ability. However, it was felt by my Sensei’s Tony Christian, Bob Greenhalgh and I that we needed to search for a more traditional style of Goju Ryu. After training on several courses held by James Rousseau Sensei, it was decided that in order to deepen our knowledge we should go on to study Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do. During this time, we trained under Sensei’s Morio Higaonna, Teruo Chinen and James Rousseau. In 1978, I opened a Dojo in Liverpool together with Sensei Roy Flat (IOGKF). A year or two later I moved to Norwich, Norfolk and opened a Dojo the same year. I continued training with various Goju Ryu groups including Karate Do International...
Read more in the Digital Edition
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TOOLS OF THE TRADE - By Albie O'connor |
 Shime Waza (Choking Techniques) Pt.1
Cautionary note: - Please take care should you practise the techniques in this article as injury may occur through miss-use. This article is aimed at serious and responsible martial artists. Any defence you use must be with reasonable force and be reasonable to the circumstances.
The following techniques are practised by having your partner on their knees. This method is safer as you will feel your partner drop should they pass out. All students should have been instructed and acknowledge that they understand the practise of 'tap-out'. Should you feel any discomfort you should immediately tap your partner who should then ease the pressure of the choke, strangle, joint lock or pressure point.
Once you have a degree of competence with the techniques you can then practise them in various positions such as standing up, lying down or in a sitting position. Practise the techniques individually and then progress to flowing from one technique to the next.
- Technique 1. With your arms in a cross-position reach with your hands high up on the gi jacket (Photo)...
Read more in Combat Magazine available from WHSmith and all good newsagents
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WABI TO SABI - Simple is best! |
An interview with Debra Scott
 Where were you born? Ottawa Ontario Canada
Your style? Okinawan Shorin Ryu BUNBUKAN
Your grade? Shodan 1st degree black belt
When did you start karate?
1985 was the real beginning... I did it for two months in 1983 but didn't stick with it that time because the teacher kept cancelling lessons and I just didn't get into it. I started training with Rault Sensei in April 1997.
How did you start karate and why?
I started Karate because I was terrible at school sports but I wanted to do something active. I tried figure skating, gymnastics, dancing, and swimming; you name it, I tried it - but I wasn't really very good at any of them. Sport is about competition and so it was hard for me to stay motivated when I was always last at everything.
I had been doing Karate for about 3 months when I asked one of the Senseis at the dojo "Am I doing ok?" He replied with a question "are you doing better today than you were doing yesterday?" I thought about it for a minute "yes, actually I am". He smiled "Then you are doing great!"
Something happened then, I realised that it was about me improving myself, competing with myself and that the others didn't matter. So Karate became 'my thing' after that, because not being good at it didn't matter. The journey was more important than the destination...
Read more in the Digital Edition
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THE KATA CHALLENGE - You could help! |
 by Hakan Volkan
Karate Master Student Peter Thompson is about to unveil to the UK a charity that will literally revolutionize the landscape of Martial Arts. Are you up for the challenge? Over the past three years Peter has undertaken a quest of in helping various charities and was looking for a way to blend his love of martial arts with his hearts yearning to help people less fortunate than ourselves.
Peter created Kata Challenge!! If you already a practising Martial Artist then Please consider joining Peter with a Challenge of your own and perform Your Styles basic kata 100 times...
In 2008 Kata Challenge is attempting to raise £10,000 to help to build a future for the children of Rainbow house. The unique challenge is for all martial artists to take part in, no matter what style or whereabouts in the world you are.
I spoke with Peter to find out more about his background as well as how to be part of this wonderful cause...
Read more in Combat Magazine available from WHSmith and all good newsagents
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35TH EUROPEAN JUNIOR & CADET KARATE CHAMP'S |
Photos & report from English Karate Federation
 With 44 counties and 700 elite athletes competing, this was the largest Junior & Cadet European Championships to date. The England squad flew out from Heathrow Airport on Tuesday 12th February arriving at their hotel in Trieste, Italy, early evening. The following two days the squad had some training sessions at the Palatrieste Stadium, venue of the 35th Junior & Cadet Championships.
For many of the squad they trained with the knowledge that this would be their last Junior & Cadet Championships, whilst for some this was their first time wearing an England badge. For the weekend of the Championships, the Palatrieste was the theatre of dreams where so many hopes and aspirations were either realised or dashed within a couple of minutes...
Read more in the Digital Edition
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