Shimbun – Issue 3

SHIMBUN THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE GKR KARATE FAMILY

£5 • $14.50 AUD

ISSUE #3

MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD

thor Young Samurai au ry shares his back-sto

MASTER OF THE DARK ARTS Blind and a black belt: Meet GKR Karate’s peak performer

On the trophy trail (from left to right): World Cup winners Jamie Lamb, Solomon Adams and Sydney Quarterman all found their way back to the top of the podium at the UK Championships in Sheffield.

Follow Shimbun online for exclusive coverage from the tournament

PRIDE BEFORE A FALL I MUST confess that a definite air of smugness had begun to seep into Shimbun HQ as this third issue of your new-look club magazine began to take shape.

And why not? Although incredibly bias, the content being created was — quite literally in the case of our interview with film director Kenneth Mercken (pages 43-47) — box-office stuff.

A phone call with England rugby’s head coach Eddie Jones and a chat about his use of martial 02

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arts in pre-tournament training (perhaps a tale for a future issue) did little to deflate the growing sense of overconfidence.

Throw an exclusive interview with award-winning author Chris Bradford (pages 26-31) into the mix and the editorial team were already toasting a job well done.

We should, of course, have listened more closely to the man behind the best-selling Young Samurai series.

While recalling his love for

“

It is really important to learn in life that there will always be someone out there better than you

”

testing his skills at tournaments, he told us: “Competitions are brilliant because you might be the best in your club or dojo, but you go to compete and realise that does not necessarily apply elsewhere. It is really important to learn in life that there will always be someone out there better than you.”

And so that proved to be the case as the back-slapping over a brilliant line-up of articles reached fever pitch. Our best was bettered. Our storytelling superseded. Our tales trumped.

WELCOME

Our big heads humbled. And sensationally so.

If you only read one thing in this issue, I implore you to make sure it is the superb article on page 9 — as told beautifully by Sempai Unity Wright (Region 11, UK) and supported with quotes from two of its stars. Take a bow and enjoy the spotlight, Jack Santarelli, Joshua-John Edmunds and Ethan Walker — it is not often you will find an editor lost for words.

This is where I would usually tell you to enjoy the issue [and it is

“

If you only read one thing in this issue, I implore you to make sure it’s the superb article on page 9

”

still a cracker!], but as I’ve already admitted to being brought down a journalistic peg or three, I’ll offer a reminder instead. Shimbun is your magazine and we want you to be part of it.

If you wish to follow Unity’s lead and put pen to paper or finger to keyboard, then you are welcome to do so.

Help us to shape future editions by emailing the team at shimbun@gkrkarate.com with any suggestions or simply get to know us better via Facebook

(@ShimbunMagazine), Twitter (Shimbun_Mag) and Instagram (@shimbun_mag).

We look forward to hearing from you. Until then keep an eye out online for exclusive interviews with those national champions pictured above. — Andy Simms

DEBUT

FOR THOSE ABOUT TO MAKE THEIR MARK

Web: gkrkarate.com/shimbun Email: shimbun@gkrkarate.com Tel: 01252 714870 Write: 10 Borelli Yard, Farnham, GU9 7NU Content © Debut 2019 • All rights reserved.

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03

56

43

58

IN THIS ISSUE

04

48

06 Bow in: Sensei Jake Malcolm offers a

supporting shoulder to those sidelined

24 World beaters: How one dojo

conquered its tournament ambitions

09 Warm-up: News from across GKR

Karate’s international network

26 Mightier than the sword: Author Chris

Bradford reveals his own back-story

10 Making the grade: A salute to some of

those who have recently swapped belts

32 In plain sight: Student with hidden

disability refuses to hide from gradings

18 Sensei says: Caroline Wallage opens the

doors to her Abington dojo

34 Master of the dark arts: Black belt

demonstrates blindness is no barrier

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CONTENTS 38

52

18 38 Sibling support: Meet the brother and

sister with a shared love of karate

52 Slicing through the science: Nutritionist

explains how to eat like a champion

43 Coming clean: Former cyclist cautions of

dangers of performance-enhancing drugs

56 A class act: Why committing to karate

can improve your academic grades

48 Due east: Shihan Anthony Ryan on the

open invite to train in Okinawa

58 Purple patch: Shimbun editor swallows

his prejudice to tackle food foe Issue #3

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BOUNCING BACK WHILE many people dream of emulating sporting greats, I’d rather not be in a similar position to one of the Premier League’s biggest stars as this issue of Shimbun hits homes and dojos.

countless friends through the sport — not just in the region in which I train but up and down the country.

It is this camaraderie, coupled with an enduring drive to improve my own karate, that has stopped me from becoming too down about my injury.

As a football fan, I winced more than most watching replays of Spurs’ skipper and shotstopper Hugo Lloris dislocate his elbow as he fell awkwardly during Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat at Brighton in October.

Rather than sitting at home and mulling over what might have been, I’ve surrounded myself with familiarity — attending instructor sessions in addition to continuing to oversee classes at Hoddesdon dojo in Hertfordshire, Region 20.

The reason for my viewing discomfort was not because the French international’s injury followed his failure to hold a third-minute cross that led to the game’s opening goal but because one week earlier I too found myself facing a long spell on the sidelines.

Competing at this year’s South and West London Regional Championships, I dislocated my right shoulder during the closing stages of a kumite bout with Sensei Thomas Colwill.

I felt it pop out as I punched and blocked and although the act of pulling back my arm returned the joint to its socket, the damage had been done.

Ironically, I had gone into the tournament — my first attempt at reaching the UK Championships as a black belt — worrying about an old knee injury but left Aldershot, via a trip to hospital, with a rotator cuff tear and damaged ligaments and tendons.

06

“

Rather than sitting at home and mulling over what might have been, I’ve surrounded myself with familiarity

”

So, like Lloris, that’s me out of action — unable to train — for the rest of 2019. With hopes of competing in Sheffield and attending a black belt assessment to train ahead of Christmas dashed, my injury marks a disappointing end to a year of mixed fortunes for the Malcolms on the mats.

Keynes. I would have dearly loved to have had the chance to add a national title to the family’s medal tally this year, but that is the nature of sport for you. You have to take the highs with the lows.

Indeed, things certainly looked a lot brighter this summer when I was at ringside to watch my dad and fellow sensei, Curtis, clinch kumite gold at this summer’s World Cup in Milton

Fortunately, being part of a close-knit club like GKR Karate means the lows do not extend to great depths. I first walked into a dojo alongside my dad 13 years ago and have made

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At the former, I’ve found I am still learning from the sidelines, improving my knowledge through watching others, and — even though I am not able to demonstrate techniques — I can still offer guidance and advice to my students at the latter.

Being injured has also thrown up an unexpected positive; it has been incredibly rewarding to see some of my students step up to teach what I’ve taught them. Why am I telling you all this?

Because I won’t be the only Shimbun reader currently nursing an injury. Missing out on what you love can be tough, but my message to those similarly sidelined is to take strength from your situation.

Sporting history is rich in setbacks. Try to make the most of yours and, importantly, know that having a frozen shoulder or the like does not mean you are frozen out of attending your dojo and mixing with your training family.

BOW IN: JAKE MALCOLM

Sensei JAKE MALCOLM Hoddesdon dojo Region 20 United Kingdom

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WARM UP: NEWS

TRUE SPORTSMANSHIP THE young man in the middle of this photo is Jack Santarelli, who has profound learning difficulties and is blind in one eye, writes Sempai Unity Wright.

Taken at At GKR Karate’s UK Championships in Sheffield, the picture also features two other finalists who, despite being in direct competition with Jack, helped him through his kata and were exceedingly gentle with him in kumite.

The pair — Ethan Walker (15, above left) and Joshua-John Edmunds (14, above right) — went as far as to drop their guards and encouraged Jack to score points during their bouts.

After the contest, Joshua-John — who finished second in both kata and kumite — approached Jack and presented him with one of his silver medals in exchange for a bronze, stating that he deserved

“

I thought he deserved a silver for his efforts — he earned it

it more. Many of those watching around the ring were reduced to tears by the act of generosity and Jack’s parents were amazed at how supportive everyone at the tournament had been.

Ethan and Joshua-John showed the real spirit of GKR Karate.

Joshua-John, who is focused on reaching black belt and wants to be a karate instructor in the future, told Shimbun that he had found Jack to be lovely to talk to and someone who had tried his best.

“

“He was brave because he

”

wasn’t scared to show up at the championships and was proud to be there. I could see how hard he was trying and thought he deserved a silver for his efforts — he earned it and that is why I wasn’t upset to lose one of mine.

And to Jack, Joshua-John offered the following words of encouragement: “Keep on trying your best and don’t let anyone put you down.

“You will get double silver or double gold one day; keep fighting and it will happen.”

Jack previously having been drawn against him at the regional qualifiers, also spoke highly of his fellow competitor in Sheffield.

“I wanted to be fair by him and give him a good fight. I let him score a few points and I’m sure he had a good day.”

The pair’s conduct at the UK Championships received widespread praise across social media and Ethan told Shimbun that the many messages had come as a surprise.

“I just did what I thought was right,” he said. “I was a bit confused when I heard people were talking about it and was amazed by the kindness of people’s comments.”

Ethan, who had sparred with

I wanted to be fair by him and give him a good fight

”

Of Jack, he added: “He should keep going with his karate. He’s doing brilliantly and I hope his training goes well because he’s a really nice lad.”

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MAKING THE GRADE

From Abbey to Zoe, Shimbun salutes a few of those students who have recently taken another major stride in their GKR Karate journey Abbey Wright, 8th Kyu, Uttoxeter, Region 25 (27/10/19) Abhishek Chaudhary, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19) AJ Wale-Falope, 5th Kyu, Hoddesdon, Region 20 (7/19) Alanna Plunkett, 5th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19) Alexandra Anastassiou, 5th Kyu, Region 7 (7/19) Alex Brock, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

Alice Fish

Amanda Cesnovska

Alex Dagg-Marks, 8th Kyu, Kings Heath, Region 33 (7/19) Alice Fish, 7th Kyu, Charford, Region 24 (9/19) Alistair Beaumont, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19) Alivia Stack, 5th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Aliyah Almelor, 2nd Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Allegra Harvey, 6th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Andrew Wilson

Annabelle Bennett

Amanda Cesnovska, 7th Kyu, Region 33 (22/9/19) Amba Rogers, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Amelie Mynott-Smith, 6th Kyu, Region 20 (8/19) Andrew Dixon, 5th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19) Andrew McCarthy, Shodan-Ho, Region 9 (12/7/19) Andrew Wilson, 7th Kyu, Charford, Region 24 (8/19)

Alanna Plunkett

Chris and Maryann

Annabelle Bennett, 7th Kyu, Shard End (9/19) Anna Erikkson, 8th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19) Anna Domagala, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Anne Sadler, Shodan-Ho, Region 35 (27/7/19) Anthony Carpenter, 3rd Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19) Antonia Sotiriou, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

10

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Daisy Wilson

Daniel & Oli

ver

BOW IN: NEWS Armaandeep Patara, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Aryan Kunchi, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19) Ashton Shquti, 7th Kyu, Raunds (25/8/19) Aston Wright, 8th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Aya Shah, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19) Ayla Shah, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19)

Daniel Sawford

Dawn Lawrence

Bailey Lloyd, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Barteck Radecki, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19) Ben Liu, 7th Kyu, Surrey Downs, Region 9 (10/11/19) Brett Lumsden, 5th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19) Brodie Stringer, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19)

The Dyers

Freya McAulay

Brooke Graham, 5th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Bruno Lanceleaux, Shodan-Ho, Region 9 (12/7/19) Caitlin Hallett, 4th Kyu, Acacia Ridge, Region 10 (13/10/19) Caitlyn Fenton, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Carla Guerra, 8th Kyu, Surrey Downs, Region 9 (10/11/19) Carys Bullows, 6th Kyu, Region 24 (27/10/19)

Geoff Sables

Gabrielle

Charlie Rumley, 6th Kyu, Hoddesdon, Region 20 (7/19) Chilun Wong, 7th Kyu, Surrey Downs, Region 9 (10/11/19) Chris Maddicks, 7th Kyu, Regions 24 and 25 (27/10/19) Christina Gill, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Christoper Rumford, 3rd Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19)

y

Grace Cole

Going green!

Claire Davies, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Claire Monkman, 2nd Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Codie Hickman-Wright, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Colin Barham, 7th Kyu, Kidderminster (22/9/19) Daisy Mains, 7th Kyu, Kings Heath, Region 33 (22/9/19) Daisy Wilson, 7th Kyu, Charford, Region 24 (8/19)

Harlow Waddell

Harry Williams

Daniel Bradley, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19) Daniel Farenden, 3rd Kyu, Hoddesdon, Region 20 (7/19) Daniel Gracey, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19) Issue #3

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Daniel Holdback, Shodan-Ho, Region 9 (12/7/19) Daniel Kordi, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19) Daniel Morgan, 6th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Daniel Sawford, 4th Kyu, Region 33 (22/9/19)

Harvey & Sasha

Hattie Mcaulay

Daniel Wallace, 5th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Dan Rock, 4th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Dawn Bevan, 8th Kyu, Region 20 (27/10/19) Dawn Lawrence, 6th Kyu, Hatfield, Region 20 (27/10/19) Dionne John, 7th Kyu, Kingsthorpe, Region 33 (22/9/19) Diyannah Tailor, 8th Kyu, Region 33 (25/8/19)

Hayden Watson-Turk

James Annison

Dojin Gurung, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19) Dominic Charlesworth, 5th Kyu, Belle Isle, Region 10 Donna Snape, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Dylan Dyer, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Ebony Freeman, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Edric Lim, 7th Kyu, Surrey Downs, Region 9 (10/11/19)

fas

James Sar

Jamie Williams

Elise Lim, 7th Kyu, Surrey Downs, Region 9 (10/11/19) Emilia Ibrahim, 8th Kyu, Hoddesdon, Region 20 (7/19) Emma Chambers, 6th Kyu, Region 16 (25/8/19) Emma Langston, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Emma Wotton, 5th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19) Erica McLachlan, 6th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19) Eric Hawkins, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Janet Coley

Joseph Christian

Eric Rai, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19) Ethan Hogan, 7th Kyu, Cranbourne East, Region 7 (8/19) Ethan Lim, 7th Kyu, Surrey Downs, Region 9 (10/11/19) Eva Jacques, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Evangeline Noske, 6th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19) Faith Groom, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19)

Justin Eyb

12

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Kaedon Delaney

Faith Morgan, 6th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Fiona Lewis, 5th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19)

BOW IN: NEWS Fletcher Hardgreaves, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19) Frank Nielsen, 7th Kyu, Cranbourne East, Region 7 (8/19) Freddie Dyer, 4th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19) Fred Pugh, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19) Freya McAulay, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (25/8/19) Gabrielle D’Abreu-Whitmore, 3rd Kyu, Region 20 (7/19)

The Johns

Harry Plunkett

Gary Dwyer, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Geoff Sables, 7th Kyu, Region 28 (22/9/19) George Holding, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Grace Coley, 4th Kyu, Charford, Region 24 (9/19) Gustaw Bogacz, 5th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19) Haider Muhammed, 5th Kyu, Region 33 (25/8/19)

Daisy, Pippah & Lee

rison

Keira Har

Hanna Sottar, 7th Kyu, Kingsthorpe, Region 33 (7/19) Harlow Waddell, 6th Kyu, Region 29 (9/19) Harry Hawkins, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Harry Mapp, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Harry Plunkett, 5th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19) Harry Rumley, 3rd Kyu, Hoddesdon, Region 20 (7/19)

bst

Karen Her

Laura Atkins

Harry Williams, 5th Kyu, Region 24 (22/9/19) Harvey Simpson, 3rd Kyu, Bentley, Region 25 (27/7/19) Hasmain Rashid, 8th Kyu, Region 33 (25/8/19) Hattie McAulay, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Hayden Watson-Turk, 7th Kyu, Region 24 (8/19) Helen Lewis, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Lewis Wilson

Lilly-Rae

Helen Spiller, 6th Kyu, Region 20 (27/10/19) Iffat Zareen, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Imogen Davies, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Isabella Anastassiou, 5th Kyu, Region 7 (7/19) Jack Lee, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (25/8/19) Jack John, 7th Kyu, Kingsthorpe, Region 33 (22/9/19) Jack Morgan, 8th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19)

liams

Linda Wil

Loki Sables

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Jacob John, 7th Kyu, Kingsthorpe, Region 33 (22/9/19) Jacob Ryder, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) James Annison, 3rd Kyu, Langley, Region 37 (25/8/19) James Gracey, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19)

Luke Bowerman

Lola Pulley

James Hale, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19) James Sarfas, 8th Kyu, Earley Dojo (25/8/19) Jamie Williams, 8th Kyu, Shard End (9/19) Jamuna Jasotharan, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Janet Coley, 4th Kyu, Charford, Region 24 (9/19) Jarred Addison, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19)

tella

Marco Cannatella

Michael and S

Jashani Jasotharan, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Jasmita Jasotharan, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Jasnavi Jasotharan, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Jasper Liu, 7th Kyu, Surrey Downs, Region 9 (10/11/19) Jenson Grimes, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Jerry Asikainen, Shodan, Region 9 (12/7/19)

h

Mike Smit

In seventh heaven!

Jessica Jeziorek, 8th Kyu, Region 33 (7/19) Jiya Bains, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19) John Guerra, 8th Kyu, Surrey Downs, Region 9 (10/11/19) Jonathan Radford, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19) Jordan Bell, Shodan-Ho, Region 9 (12/7/19) Joseph Christian, 6th Kyu, Region 33 (22/9/19) Joseph McCormack, 6th Kyu, Region 20 (27/10/19)

Burst of blue!

Owen Pittaway

Joseph Laidler, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Joshua Harter, 3rd Kyu, Region 7 (7/19) Jovan Bains, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19) Julia Domagala, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Justin Eyb, 8th Kyu, Newcastle, Region 14 (13/10/19) Kaedon Delaney, 4th Kyu, Region 24 (25/8/19)

Paige Bartlett

14

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Rugeley Reds

Kai Durbauree, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (25/8/19) Kaleem Homer Shah, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19)

BOW IN: NEWS Karanveer Singh, 7th Kyu, Region 7 (7/19) Karen Herbst, 4th Kyu, Region 29 (9/19) Katarzyna Bilska, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Katy Mapp, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Kayleigh Robinson, 1st Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19) Keira Harrison, 1st Kyu, Region 49 (25/08/19)

rasala

Sahith Ku

Samuel Waller

Sarah Boorman

The Shquti

Kelly Rourke, 7th Kyu, Region 33 (25/8/19) Kerry Dixon, 5th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19) Kevin Pearce, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Kevin Wright, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Ki Pierzak, 7th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Kuba Radecki, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19)

s

Laura Atkins, 3rd Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Layton Dwyer, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Leah Brindley, 8th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Lenok Gurung, 5th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19) Leo Charlesworth, 5th Kyu, Belle Isle, Region 10 Leo Mains, 7th Kyu, Kings Heath, Region 33 (22/9/19)

Stevenage

stars

Tania & Caitlin

Lewis Moore, 4th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Lewis Wilson, 7th Kyu, Charford, Region 24 (8/19) Lilly-Rae Bishop, 8th Kyu, Shard End (9/19) Linda Williams, 7th Kyu, Erdington, Region 24 (22/9/19) Loki Sables, 7th Kyu, Region 28 (22/9/19) Lola Pulley, 7th Kyu, Region 33 (22/9/19)

Teddy & Kaedon

Tiger & Colin

Louis Biggs, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Lucas Radford, 3rd Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19) Luke Bowerman, 2nd Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Maddie McAulay, 2nd Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Mahee Mohammed, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Makaela Incoing, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

s

Tonia Gibb

Wellingborough winners

Marcel Sotiriou, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Issue #3

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Meagan O’Dell, 5th Kyu, Region 7 (7/19) Medha Samiha, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Megan Giblin, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19)

Wyatt Millward

Yay for the yellows!

Mia Forward, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19) Michael Butcher, 5th Kyu, Region 20 (22/9/19) Michael Mullings, 8th Kyu, Kings Heath, Region 33 (7/19) Michael Swain, 7th Kyu, Region 20 (27/10/19) Michelle Powell, 1st Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Michelle Van der Hoeven, 6th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19)

Region 20

Region 33

Mike Smith, 6th Kyu, Region 33 (22/9/19) Millie Garbett, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19) Morgan Graham, 5th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Marc Hawkins, 4th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Morgan Grew, 2nd Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Marco Cannatella, 4th Kyu, Hoddesdon, Region 20 (7/19)

Nancy Bugler, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Margus Sareoks, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

Naresh Kori, 6th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19)

Marley Mika-Fowler, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19)

Natalie Rook, Shodan-Ho, Region 9 (12/7/19)

Marni Evans, 3rd Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Nathan Valdez, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19)

Fr Martin Charlesworth, 5th Kyu, Belle Isle, Region 10

Nirjal Poudel, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19)

Maryann Maddicks, 7th Kyu, Regions 24 & 25 (27/10/19)

Nirvan Koratagere, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Mary Crawley, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (25/8/19)

Nishal Vempalle, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19)

Mary Pitt, Shodan-Ho, Region 35 (27/7/19)

Oliver Finch, 5th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19)

Matthew Cracknell, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Oliver Hodgkinson, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Matthew Snibson, 7th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19)

Oliver Ryder, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Mayson Bell, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19)

Oscar Kidner, 6th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19) Oscar Smallwood, 5th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19)

roes esdon he

Hodd

Owen Pittaway, 7th Kyu, Region 33 (22/9/19) Paige Bartlett, 8th Kyu, Shard End (9/19) Peter Dyer, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19) Phil Taylor, 4th Kyu, Region 38 (25/8/19) Phoebe Snibson, 7th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19) Pippah Hardcastle, 7th Kyu, Region 33 (22/9/19)

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BOW IN: NEWS Pranav Sreeprajith, 7th Kyu, Region 7 (8/19)

Sydnee Hill, 5th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Preeya Garrett, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

Tania Hallett, 4th Kyu, Acacia Ridge, Region 10 (13/10/19)

Priya Givans, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Tamara Noske, 6th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19)

Quinn Hill, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Teddy Daniel, 8th Kyu, Shard End, Region 24 (25/8/19)

Ravina Dhooper, 8th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Tevez Ramsey, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Ria Tailor, 8th Kyu, Region 33 (25/8/19)

Thomas Davies, 7th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Reyon Samaratunge, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19)

Thomas Korbely, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Riley Korbely, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Tia Langmaid, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19)

Riya Terry, 8th Kyu, Region 20 (27/10/19)

Tiani McDonald, 4th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Ryan Terry, 8th Kyu, Region 20 (27/10/19)

Tiger Edwards, 7th Kyu, Kidderminster (22/9/19)

Sahith Kurasala, 7th Kyu, Region 33 (22/9/19)

Tina McLachlan, 6th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19)

Sam Flavell, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Toby Al-Hashimi, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19)

Samuel Waller, 2nd Kyu, Duston, Region 33 (25/8/19)

Tonia Gibbs, 7th Kyu, Charford, Region 24 (8/19)

Sarah Boorman, 2nd Kyu, Region 35 (27/10/19)

Toni Radford, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

Sarah Wynell-Mayow, 7th Kyu, Region 49 (15/9/19)

Toni Smith, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19)

Sasha Davies, Shodan-Ho, Bentley, Region 25 (27/7/19)

Tristan Palmer, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (8/19)

Serena Homer Shah, 7th Kyu, Region 25 (22/9/19)

Tristan Piddiu, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19)

Shane Shelton, 6th Kyu, Kings Heath, Region 33 (7/19)

Tyler Manning, 6th Kyu, Colchester, Region 16 (25/8/19)

Shkelzen Shquti, 7th Kyu, Raunds (25/8/19)

Tyler Todd, 6th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

Sidhaan Singh, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

Vivian Win, 7th Kyu, Rugeley, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Simon Allison, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

William Lovegrove, 6th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

Simon Todd, 6th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

William Plunkett, 5th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19)

Sofia Cevallos, 6th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19)

Wyatt Millward, 7th Kyu, Shard End (9/19)

Sohith Eeti, 6th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19)

Xander Valdez, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19)

Sophie Allison, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

Yadu Menon, 5th Kyu, Region 7 (7/19)

Stella Swain, 5th Kyu, Stevenage, Region 20 (27/10/19)

Yin Chung Wong, 7th Kyu, Region 9 (10/11/19)

Steve Gannon, 4th Kyu, Stevenage, Region 20 (22/9/19)

Yuki Mafham, 6th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19)

Steven Forward, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (14/9/19)

Zachary Hill, 6th Kyu, Region 25 (27/10/19)

Stewart Chambers, 6th Kyu, Region 16 (25/8/19)

Zakary Maali, 7th Kyu, Region 38 (22/9/19)

Sudipa Kendall, 8th Kyu, Region 38 (27/10/19)

Zaman Rashid, 8th Kyu, Region 33 (25/8/19)

Sunny Lim, 7th Kyu, Surrey Downs, Region 9 (10/11/19)

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“ SENSEI SAYS Inspirational instructor Sensei Caroline Wallage has overseen the progress of students in Abington, UK, for seven years, but how does she rate her current crop of karatekas? Shimbun asked her to dish the dojo dirt...

Sensei CAROLINE WALLAGE

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SENSEI SAYS: REGION 33

7th Kyu ELLIOTT BADGER A World Cup individual and team medallist, Elliott has already enjoyed plenty of success in the dojo. His dedication and focus suggest there is a lot more to come from this impressive student – both in terms of tournaments and gradings.

8th Kyu EZME PALMER One of our youngest students, Ezme is always full of life and has been quick to make friends with all those in the dojo. The Palmer pedigree suggests she is well equipped to enjoy a long and successful martial arts journey.

9th Kyu ZAMAN RASHID An extremely enthusiastic student, Zaman is full of energy and always keen to add to his expanding catalogue of karate techniques. He always gives 100 per cent in class and revels in training alongside several family members.

9th Kyu SHARON MONIE A newcomer to GKR Karate having followed her husband Jeff into the dojo, Sharon has an excellent attitude and is already displaying a sound technical aptitude. Her hard-working approach bodes well for the future.

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6th Kyu HAIDER MUHAMMAD A chirpy young man who has discovered a new-found focus, Haider has made winning the student-of-the-week prize a habit.

Following in family footsteps, he trains alongside his brother Badr and two cousins.

4th Kyu HEIDI PALMER An excellent student who has overcome a number of injuries, Heidi trains alongside her daughter Ezme and husband Sensei Leigh.

Her willingness to listen and react to feedback means she won’t have to wait long for her brown belt.

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3rd Kyu CHARLIE MCGEE An extremely hard-working student, Charlie was crowned Abington’s male student of the year in 2018.

That he is heading towards his final kyu grades at such an early age speaks volumes for his talent and the quality of his karate.

4th Kyu HEATHER BASON A lovely young lady but not one to be messed with where kumite is concerned, Heather was Abington’s female student of the year in 2018 and has maintained her high levels of commitment and effort over the past 12 months.

5th Kyu MUDRA SONI Now back in the dojo after a break to complete her GCSEs, Mudra has returned with renewed focus and will soon be rewarded with a red belt. Polite and committed, she is hard working and a pleasure to have in the dojo.

8th Kyu

JOSEPH OLIVER

Spurred on by sibling rivalry, Jospeh is the older brother of Brackyn and a popular member of the dojo. Boasting a big personality and no shortage of enthusiasm for his karate, he is continuing to make steady progress.

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4th Kyu CHLOE ROUSE Not as far away from the coveted black belt as she thinks, Chloe trains alongside her dad and is a role model for all of the younger students in her class. Her dedication to improving is secondto-none.

5th Kyu KIAN MCGEE A veritable pocket rocket, Kian is a dedicated student whose talent exceeds his current diminutive stature. A popular and enthusiastic karateka, there is no doubt this young man has the ability to go a long way.

5th Kyu JEFF MONIE A UK team and individual champion, Jeff was named Abington’s students’ student of the year in 2018. His exemplary karate is matched by his generosity of spirit – he is a kind, charming and dedicated member of the dojo.

9th Kyu DHYANA TAILOR A quiet but diligent student, Dhyanah trains alongside her sister Ria. She listens to her sensei carefully and watches her peers closely which is an ideal recipe for progress through karate’s grades.

Dyanah is developing well.

8th Kyu GLEN FOSTER A newcomer to the dojo, Glen has plenty of potential and is always striving to improve. Training alongside his son Sean, he’s an instructor’s dream – always quick to apply technical feedback in a bid to hone his technique.

9th Kyu DANIEL PACEY A dedicated student who is always polite, shows excellent etiquette and reacts to any feedback given, Daniel has the tools and talent to succeed in the dojo. It won’t be long before he begins to progress through the grades.

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9th Kyu RIA TAILOR Although a shy and quiet member of our dojo, Ria is incredibly hardworking and is showing constant signs of improvement. She trains alongside her sister Dhyanah and will soon see the colour of her belt change.

8th Kyu SEAN FOSTER An extremely pleasant young man, Sean began his karate journey earlier this year alongside his dad Glen. He primarily trains under Sensei Paddy McGee at the Rectory Farm dojo and is progressing well in his bid to earn an orange belt.

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8th Kyu ELEANOR CHAVUSH Always sporting a smile and quick with a kind word of encouragement for other students, Eleanor – who trains alongside her dad, brother and sister – is as committed to improving her kumite and kata as she is to being cheerful!

8th Kyu JOSHUA ROURKE Another Rectory Farm regular, Joshua routinely gives his all in training and his hard work in the dojo is paying dividends. His kata is coming on in leaps and bounds and he will soon be in a position to grade to 7th Kyu.

9th Kyu HASNAIN RASHID A very committed student who also trains regularly at Standens Barn dojo under the guidance of Sensei Jo Canfield, Hasnain has taken to karate like a duck to water and works hard on improving his kata.

9th Kyu

KHLOE SULA

Improving at an incredible rate, Khloe is focused on climbing the grades and her commitment to karate is clear. She can often be found working on her kata before bow in and should feel confident when it comes to grading.

SENSEI SAYS: REGION 33

8th Kyu BRACKYN OLIVER An awesome young lady who has a lot of potential, Brackyn is making a conscious effort to step up the frequency and intensity of her training. If she is able to maintain such commitment then the sky is the limit!

7th Kyu MARCUS ROUSE A true gent and model student, Marcus is a regular at both Rectory Farm and Abington. He boasts heaps of potential, has the ideal attitude to learning techniques and is simply a great guy to have around the dojo.

7th Kyu JULIA SZYMONSKA A polite and focused student, Julia is enjoying a rich run of form and has grown in confidence since earning her orange belt. Her perseverance at perfecting aspects of her karate has paid off and she has the attitude to go far.

6th Kyu WILLOW BADGER An extremely talented youngster, Willow’s talent was clear for all to see at this year’s World Cup. She took gold in kata and silver in kumite in Milton Keynes and, should she wish, has many more medalwinning performances ahead of her.

8th Kyu KELLY ROURKE Student of the month this August, Kelly is a dedicated, popular and well-behaved young girl who is achieving great things at a young age. Her focus in class is fantastic and – regardless of the drill – always gives 100 per cent.

7th Kyu OLIVIA CHAVUSH Currently taking a break from training alongside the other members of the Chavush clan, Olivia has all the attributes needed to progress and we look forward to welcoming her back soon for the next chapter in her karate story.

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WORLD BEATERS Abington dojo dazzled at the World Cup so Shimbun caught up with some of its medallists to find out the secrets behind the silverware...

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DAN FRENCH

DESPITE being an accomplished musician accustomed to delivering crowd-pleasing performances, Dan French would have struggled to compose a better climax to the one he produced to close his World Cup debut.

to the tournament not wanting to be knocked out in the first round and anything after that was a bonus. That perhaps helped me to relax, which definitely makes fighting easier, and luckily I did get to walk away with the gold.”

As show-stoppers go, his clash with CJ Laubscher in the final of the veteran men’s 8th-7th Kyu kumite contest was an undoubted hit and will live long in the memory of those lucky enough to be ringside in Milton Keynes.

By way of an encore, Dan added a further two individual golds to his medal haul at the UK championships and — after an absence of nearly two decades — is rightly delighted with what has been a triumphant return to the martial arts stage. Explaining how he has been coaxed back into the sporting spotlight by his son Jackson, Dan said: “I was a black belt in Shotokan when I was 15 but have been out of martial arts for a long time. During my teenage years I got heavily into music and started touring with bands. That took me away from karate and even though I always enjoyed it and thought I would go back, it wasn’t until my wife decided to get my son involved with GKR Karate that I realised how much I missed it.

For the 36-year-old, the bout represented the chance to complete a hat-trick of gold medals — having already clinched a team kata title alongside Mark Chavush and Elliott Badger and earned individual kata bragging rights — but got off to a painful start.

Trailing by a full point and having opened up his body while throwing a punch, he was struck in the torso by the foot of his opponent.

The blow cracked two of Dan’s ribs and left the then orange belt struggling to breathe.

Remarkably, the gigging guitarist levelled the scores seconds before the final whistle to send the gold medal match to sudden death.

“Knowing that the next point would win the contest certainly ratcheted up the pressure,” Dan told Shimbun. “I’m sure it added to the intensity for those watching, especially with the gold medal at stake, but to be honest by that stage I was happy whichever way the result went. Of course I wanted the gold but I went

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Dan’s switch from Shotokan saw him swap his black belt for a white one in December 2018, but he is revelling in his own re-education.

GKR Karate has certainly struck a chord with Dan and five gold medals in the space of six months suggest the musician has well and truly escaped the martial arts’ equivalent of a difficult second album.

To find out more about Dan’s music, visit @Dynamix300 on Facebook.

KEITH 'PADDY' MCGEE

HAVING decided to finally hang up his football boots after growing tired of trying to keep pace with younger players, Keith McGee has found a renewed energy since pulling on a gi.

The popular instructor, who began training 24

“I grew up doing martial arts and I wanted Jackson to do the same,” he added. “I think karate is a great discipline. It gives you rules to abide to, channels you and focuses you on becoming a better person all round. It sets you up nicely for life — not necessarily in regards self-defence, although it is great for that, but for schooling.”

“My first couple of sessions back I thought ‘what have I done’, but I then relaxed into it and actually enjoyed the fact that as a white belt there was no pressure to remember all the katas and combinations and could focus on learning rather than responsibility,” he added. “Getting my black belt in Shotokan was fantastic and I used to train with some of the best people in the art from all over the world but I never held a title or became a world champion. I was probably a bit young to realise what I had achieved back then and now I’m older, I understand what it means as I move through the ranks again. I definitely want to get my black belt but my focus at the moment is competitions. As a lad I did well in tournaments but towards the later stages I fell out of love with them. I’ve now re-found that love and I think that’s down to GKR Karate’s community. The club is great for meeting people and having the support of multiple sensei is amazing. I’ve already made good friends — people like Mark [Chavush] — and to have clubmates come to watch me, train beside me and even enter competitions with me is something I did not have before.”

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alongside his sons Charlie and Kian, has quickly climbed through GKR Karate's ranks and crowned his ascent by winning double gold in his veterans' division at the World Cup. Buoyed by his success in Milton Keynes, he is now set on tackling some of the club's youngsters.

"I remember watching Solomon [Adams] and James [Gabbitas] in action and thinking that I'll probably never be as good as they are, but that is what I aspire to be and that is my goal," he said. "I'm keen to enter the opens in the future and compete with these younger guys to see where I am."

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MARK CHAVUSH

WHEN Mark Chavush first walked through the doors of Abington dojo in March 2018, he was not expecting to be handed a "VIP ticket" to train.

Driven to GKR Karate by a desire to pursue a healthy lifestyle while spending quality time in the company of his daughters Olivia and Eleanor (Sensei says, pages 18-23), the self-confessed martial arts nerd was braced for having to push himself physically but not the accommodating environment he encountered week in, week out.

"It took a few weeks to settle in but very quickly the dojo, the instructors — and the attention they gave — and the club's family atmosphere set me on a course I never expected to go on," the 6th Kyu told Shimbun. "Sensei Caroline [Wallage], Paddy [McGee] and Leigh [Palmer] are so attentive and if they see you pushing yourself they will do all they possibly can to support you."

That support was the encouragement to throw himself into tournament karate and proved a gilt-edged nudge with a golden

ending. Alongside, teammates Dan French and Elliott Badger (above far left), Mark finished on top of the podium in Milton Keynes in the veteran men's 8th-7th Kyu kata competition.

"It felt fantastic and I was floating for the week after," the world champion, who also clinched team kata gold at the UK championships, added. "The World Cup success means my dojo, sensei and those I train with have done their job and I have had the absolute privilege to live up to that standard."

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MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD

Shimbun sits down with best-selling children's author Chris Bradford to find out more about the martial artist behind the masterpieces WHEN Chris Bradford scoured the shelves of book stores ahead of penning his first children’s novel he found a catalogue of caped characters, wand-wielding wizards and Herculeanstrength heroes.

The experienced martial artist in the aspiring author was disappointed and he spotted a super-sized gap in the roll call of remarkable role models for young readers.

“When I looked in the shops it was all Harry Potter and people with superpowers,” the awardwinning writer told Shimbun.

“Where were the heroes who gained their powers through their own hard work? That’s when I realised there were no stories about martial artists; heroes with actual powers that anyone can go and attain. That’s where the idea for the Young Samurai series came from.”

That The Way of the Warrior — the first of nine titles to focus on the adventures of chief protagonist Jack Fletcher — went on to be named among Puffin’s best

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Where were the heroes who gained their powers through their own hard work?

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ever books alongside Treasure Island and Robin Hood, suggests Chris was far from alone in his desire for tales of derring-do from the dojo to be translated to the page.

Indeed, since taking his bow as a children’s author in 2008, his best-selling works have been published in more than 20 languages, accumulated accolades and amassed a huge army of fans.

Although still amazed it is his editorial endeavours that have become so popular, Chris is not surprised that the subject matter at their core has chimed with modern audiences and is delighted it has done so.

“I think martial arts are more important than ever in this day and age,” the father-of-two said.

“The skills they give for life are beyond anything.

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Picture: Courtesy of Rune Hallestad Issue #3

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“Discipline, adherence to a goal, dedication, self-confidence, the ability to defend yourself, the camaraderie between those who train and the respect that is paid to a teacher are all supreme skills. I feel quite passionately about that.”

Chris’ strength of feeling towards martial arts is based on personal and extensive experience, having been practising since the age of 28

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eight and trained in nine different styles — including Shotokan and Wado Ryu karate.

BANISHING BULLIES A black belt in multiple disciplines, among them Zen Kyu Shin Taijutsu, the author’s journey from bullied beginner to best-selling author could easily be mistaken for one of his own plots.

“I was bullied at school,” said

Chris, explaining how he was originally encouraged into a dojo by his parents. “They were keen for me to try lots of different sports but one of the key reasons was to armour me against bullying.

"The idea was not for me to fight back but to put on that shield martial arts gives you — that tells others ‘I am not a victim’, ‘do not treat me like a victim’ and ‘I have

INTERVIEW: CHRIS BRADFORD something, improving yourself and that black belt, which is about becoming a true master of a discipline.

“You work towards that goal and are rewarded for each step you take and I think that is a really good life lesson and one that has helped me to achieve in my professional career.”

Of practising karate, he said: “I loved the learning of kata because if taught correctly you are learning to fight.

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I loved the learning of kata because if taught correctly you are learning to fight

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"If you understand the bunkai — the method behind it — you are not just learning a series of moves, you are learning a fight sequence and fighting someone in your mind.

“The challenge is to make those series of moves effective so that if someone is watching you they can see that battle going on and can see your opponent in your mind’s eye.”

MULTI-DISCIPLINED Currently honing his fitness — and escaping the demands of deadlines — through Muay Thai, Chris certainly has no shortage of self-defence skills in his armoury.

His nomadic approach to training in different disciplines has been driven by a number of factors, but it is a meandering journey he does not regret.

a strong inner core’. I’ve held onto that for a long time and it carried me through all those years of being bullied at school and has translated into the Young Samurai series, in which Jack experiences bullying from the perspective of being an outsider.”

Bullies may have led to his introduction to the martial arts, initially through judo, but it was bunkai and the boost of belts

that kept him engaged.

CAPTIVATED BY KATA “The discipline of training was crucial to me and the sense of achievement that comes with the grading process is something a lot of kids miss out on because of the instant-celebrity culture that some people in society aspire to,” Chris added.

“Martial arts is about working at

“The reason for the changes of dojos and styles were often because I moved, went to university or changed locations because of jobs,” he explained.

“It was generally more practical reasons that led me to leave a club, however, there were a few that didn’t grab me or had a teacher that didn’t inspire me and there were others I would have stayed at forever.

“I am glad to have had the Issue #3

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opportunity to experience each though, to experience different angles of the same mountain; there are, after all, many different paths to the peak.

“I feel I’ve been able to take techniques from different styles and apply them to become a more rounded martial artist.

"I’m not saying I’m a great martial artist, there are far better than me, but it has enabled me to pick what is great and combine them.”

FACT TO FICTION While Chris modestly plays down his own prowess on the mats, its impact on his books is telling. He has been praised for penning authentic and technically accurate action scenes and takes research for his novels the proverbial extra mile.

“If I have an idea for a book that needs a new angle on martial arts I will seek out a dojo and learn that discipline for a couple of years so that I understand it before I start work on it,” he said, describing a technique he refers

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to as method writing.

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It doesn't matter if you are a girl or boy, you're big or small, strong or weak, if you can master the technique you are a master of martial arts

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“Before the Young Samurai series I trained in iaido [samurai swordsmanship] so I knew exactly how to handle a sword and then when the books developed into the ninja side of stuff I found a brilliant ninjutsu club to join and absolutely adored that.

“There has been a symbiotic relationship between my books and martial arts, depending on what is required at the time.”

For his hit Bodyguard series, the author followed this winning formula, committing to an intensive close-protection course that saw him add defensive driving, firearms handling, surveillance and unarmed combat skills to his arsenal. While the task of fending off ninjas and double agents fortunately falls on the shoulders of his fictional friends, Chris is a champion of martial arts’ self-defence credentials.

“Some styles are more effective than others but what all martial

arts teach is awareness — awareness not to be a victim and awareness of dangerous situations,” he said.

“Those two elements are huge self defence in themselves and mean you are less likely to become a target for an attack or put yourself in harm’s way.

"It doesn’t matter if you are a girl or a boy, you’re big or small, strong or weak, if you can master the technique you are a master of martial arts.

“However, one of the common misconceptions of martial arts is that is all about learning to fight, when really it is learning about fighting to empower your life, to overcome obstacles that would otherwise seem like mountains.

"It is your climbing gear — it gives you confidence to take on a challenge and is about focus and determination and being the best you can be.”

REWARDING CAREER When it comes to writing, Chris’ best has delivered a succession of best-sellers but the former musician insists his motivation to add to his growing portfolio is not a pursuit of personal acclaim or wealth.

“You don’t become an author for the money,” he said. “It’s a tough job and one you wouldn’t do if your goals were financial.

"I do it because of my passion for writing and passion for getting kids reading. I love seeing my own boys reading and when I get emails from parents telling me that their sons

or daughters are buried in the Young Samurai series having struggled to find a book they like before, it is a huge boost.”

Chris, who was involved in the Read To A Million Kids campaign and has appeared before more than 100,000 schoolchildren, said another welcome reward of his words was hearing of the “dojo effect”.

daughter had seen me at her school and been inspired to take up karate,” he concluded.

“If I can turn a kid on to reading or martial arts then I am doing a good job because I’ve just changed their life.”

“I received an email recently from a mother saying how her

WIN A SIGNED COPY! SHIMBUN has teamed up with Young Samurai author Chris Bradford to offer five lucky readers the chance to win a signed copy of his latest book, The Return of the Warrior. Available at independent book shops, Waterstones and Amazon, the novel is the final chapter of the epic series.

Of his new book, Chris said: "The legions of Young Samurai fans around the world are sounding the biggest battle cry at this ninja-tastic news! I promise this final epic chapter will be as sharp as a samurai sword and as deadly as a ninja assassin.

You’ll cut yourself reading it!”

To be in with a shout of winning, simply tell us how many books feature in the Young Samurai series. Email your answers to shimbun@gkrkarate.com by January 31. Winners will be drawn at random from the correct answers received.

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IN PLAIN SIGHT

Thomas Trow has a hidden disability but doesn't seek any hiding place in the dojo IT’S a much told truism by sensei that a student’s first class usually proves to be the toughest of their karate journey.

Whether baffled by the bow in, confused by kata or left exhausted by the physical exertion, dojo debuts are rarely the easiest of experiences. The act of stepping into unfamiliar surroundings to be greeted by a chorus of Kiais is tougher still if you are a teenager on the autism spectrum and find large groups and loud noises overwhelming.

Such a challenge was the reality faced by Thomas Trow (pictured above and right) six years ago, when his mother accompanied him to a GKR Karate class close to their Bromsgrove home.

“New experiences are always a bit daunting for Thomas, but I have brought him up to try and face his fears,” Susan Trow told Shimbun.

“He was only 14 back then and really quite shy, but I thought karate would be good for his social skills.

“I wanted a way to keep fit and going to a class was something I could share with Thomas and would hopefully allow me to watch him flourish.”

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The Trows have certainly thrived in the dojo.

Both mother and son now sport brown belts around their waists and are committed to continuing to hone their skills under the direction of Sensei Gemma Clements at Charford dojo (Region 24, UK). Wearing ear plugs to block out some of the noise made by his training companions, 20-year-old Thomas is extremely keen on kumite and — as evidenced by his climb to 3rd Kyu — is undaunted by assessments and gradings.

“If I’m honest, I didn’t think we’d get this far but here we are,” continued Susan (pictured above right). “Thomas does like being at the back but he does work really hard and picks up on what others are doing.

“It’s amazing — you think he’s not watching or listening but he takes it all in and is excellent at gradings. He doesn’t follow me, he goes off and does his katas and at the end he’ll ask me ‘do you think I’ve done alright, mum?’. He’s aware of where he is and does his best.

“I never have to be uptight thinking about him at gradings because people within the club are always nice to him — it’s like a family atmosphere and they are as proud of him as I am.”

Susan was also quick to praise Sensei Gemma Clements, who has guided the Trows from green to brown belts, for her enduring support. “She is excellent with Thomas and excellent with me,” the 3rd Kyu added.

“She’s brought him on tremendously and always includes him in classes. For his birthday, Sensei had a ‘Tom section’ and we did all the things he likes doing.”

Sensei Gemma, who has professional experience of supporting people with autism, modestly played down her contribution to Thomas’ martial arts progress.

“It has just been a case of tailoring to his needs and finding out who he is,” the instructor explained. “He likes to use the pads so if he gets a little frustrated, I’ll let him hit them, get the frustration out and that then helps with his concentration so he can get back to focusing on drills and techniques.

“His confidence has blossomed and he now does his katas all by himself, rather than just following his mum. He used to also only want to practise his kumite with his mum but now he’ll ask to spar with other people. For him to have the confidence to ask is huge.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: THOMAS TROW

“At his last grading, he absolutely went for it and using his own timing and own style, he owned his second kata.

“It is a privilege to see Tom’s karate develop and it was quite emotional watching him get his brown belt.

"He is more than capable and doesn’t want anyone to give him any special treatment — he wants to succeed for himself, and his mum — and earnt his brown belt like anyone else.”

And Thomas’ positive progress in the dojo has been matched by his personal development out of it, according to his mum.

“He has gained a lot more confidence and now feels more comfortable being part of a group,” Susan added. “GKR Karate has helped him to develop social skills that most people take for granted — just being able to say ‘hello’ or

“

simply ask someone if he can help them.

“It has also given me more confidence because I know that he can now defend himself. My big wish for Thomas is for him to be happy and able to live independently as both myself and my husband aren’t the youngest of parents, and I think he is on the way to doing that.

“I am quite surprised we are both still going [to karate] but I am really proud of Thomas for what he has achieved,” she concluded.

“He was diagnosed [with autism] at the age of three and it has been hard, but it has all been worth it — he’s given us a lot of joy. Thomas is very good and I wouldn’t change him.”

GKR Karate has helped Thomas to develop social skills that most people take for granted — just being able to say ‘hello’ or simply ask someone if he can help them

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MASTER OF THE DARK ARTS

Brisbane-based black belt Brian Haupt tells Shimbun why blindness is no barrier to climbing a martial arts mountain Picture: Steve Halama on Unsplash 34

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INTERVIEW: BRIAN HAUPT THERE is at least one major perk to losing your eyesight during early adulthood, insists Brian Haupt, and that is “eternal youth”.

“After I got home from Tanzania I had a knock at the door and there was a fellow recruiting for the club,” the peak performer recalled. “I was jet lagged and still had calluses on my feet but agreed to go along to a class the following week, had a crack and have been going ever since.”

“I’m 53 and a very good looking 53-yearold,” the Brisbane-based businessman told Shimbun, with a hint of the humour and verve for life that have allowed him to climb from the depths of despair to the top of the world.

Some students may feel they know certain kata well enough to perform them with their eyes closed, but the reality of doing so should not be underestimated; never mind the challenge of learning their execution without ever seeing them demonstrated.

“Of course it helps that I’ve not been able to look in a mirror since March 1993, which is well before some GKR Karate students were born or even thought of. Back then I still had tunnel vision and I studied my facial features in the mirror and photographs so I wouldn’t forget what I looked like.

Of his steep learning curve, Brian said: “In the beginning it did seem very difficult because a lot of what we do with kata is so different to how a person would move in everyday life.

“It doesn’t matter how many years pass, in my mind I still look 26.”

“Sensei Colin Tudehope has been marvellous with me and initially it was a case of him holding my wrist or elbow and moving it and giving me compass directions. After that it comes down to muscle memory.

Brian has endured a lot since so those last glances at himself as a young man and concedes that life is very different for him now. Then a blue collar worker who did everything with his hands, the deterioration of his retinas robbed him of a job he loved and — temporarily — his independence.

“It was devastating,” he said. “There were a lot of dark days and I still remember the very day I had to give up driving. It took me years to accept my new situation and I think the biggest realisation of what had happened to me came when I had to begin using a white cane to get about.”

By 2001 Brian had lost his sight entirely — and remains only able to make out major changes in the light — but not his indomitable spirit.

“I was sitting having lunch one day and thought ‘forget this, I’m going out tonight’,” he added. “So I went out with my stick, everyone spilt my beer and I spilt theirs and nobody cared. I danced, stayed out until stupid-o’clock in the morning and had a really good time — and that night changed my life.

“I realised the sun rises everyday and that you have to do whatever you have to do to achieve want you want to achieve.”

Brian soon set himself some rather lofty ambitions, including scaling Kilimanjaro — the highest peak in Africa and highest single freestanding mountain in the world — in 2009 as part of the Highsight Expedition.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, once you are up to speed it is not usual to look down at your hands or your feet to make sure they are in the right positions.

“

I danced, stayed out until stupid-o’clock in the morning and had a really good time — and that night changed my life

”

He completed the 5,895-metre summit alongside a group of vision-impaired and blind adventurers and in doing so helped to raise a mountain of money for the Queensland Eye Institute in South Brisbane.

However, the mountainous feat — “a bl*#dy long walk” which Brian recounts in his e-book Trek to Kilimanjaro — proved to be a warmup for an even longer ascent; a ten-year climb of GKR Karate’s grading ladder to the heights of Shodan.

"Eventually, just like when you walk down the street, you don’t think about what you are doing and that is the same for me.”

The black belt is equally pragmatic when it comes to describing his prowess at kumite and is quick to warn anyone he spars with of the dangers of going easy on the “blind guy” as the charitable streak that took him to the top of Tanzania does not stretch to the dojo.

“What’s not to understand?,” Brian said. “If they kick me, I’m going to kick them — I’m not going to hold back so nor should they.

“When I spar with a student for the first time I tell them there are two things to consider; if you get beside me, hit me, and if you stay in front of me, I’m going to hit you.

“I do a lot of blocking but if I feel an opening I’ll take it and I’ve surprised quite a few people with the accuracy of some of my strikes.

"I can often pick up the combinations they use by judging the position of their fists and mitts with my forearms and that allows me to open up their guard.

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“When I am hearing, I don’t just use my ears, I use my feet as well,” he added.

“Depending on the flooring in the dojo I can sometimes feel their movements through the floor and if they are breathing heavily it helps me to work out where they are.

back up, he has become a proficient guide for karateka of all grades.

"It’s all good fun but I don’t want students to be nice to me because if someone attacked me on the street they wouldn’t be and kumite is my practise.”

“Some hold their breath too much so I’ll encourage them to relax their breathing and others can be very flat footed, which I can hear from the way they move about.

With “bling” on his belt, Brian is also a respected instructor within Region 29 and believes his blindness allows him to provide a unique perspective on others’ progress and techniques.

"Likewise, I can feel from their blocks how they hold their arms and if they’ve got chicken legs going on.”

Using his own hands and feet to ascertain and adjust his students’ positions and the eyes of supporting sensei and sempai as

Picture: Sergey Pesterev on Unsplash

“Depending on what they are doing I’ll be able to give them little tips here or there,” Brian continued.

Solid support: Brian is a regular at GKR Karate's dojos in Moorooka and Yeronga and has climbed to Shodan under the guidance of Sensei Colin Tudehope and Sensei Gary Luxton

Furthermore, Brian is adamant that his presence in the dojo is as much a lesson for fellow sensei and students as it is for him.

“My classmates have to learn a new

INTERVIEW: BRIAN HAUPT language,” he said. “They’ll say ‘Brian, watch me’ and then realise that they can’t say that because I can’t see and that they have to describe what they are doing when showing me a new kata or technique.

“And sensei in different dojos have to understand that when giving an instruction they have to be specific in what they say because I’ll do what they say, not what they do.

"My blindness has been a learning curve for all of us, but I hope they’ve enjoyed it as much as I have.”

Brian’s eyes may have failed him long

“

Sensei have to be specific in what they say because I'll do what they say, not what they do

”

before he first entered a dojo — or stepped foot on a mountain — but the Nidan-in-waiting is not blind to karate’s considerable benefits.

“You can’t beat the enjoyment of sweating like hell once or twice a week,” he

concluded. “It’s given me a focus for four or five hours each week and the sense of achievement at mastering a new kata has kept me motivated.

“Karate has given me a lot of confidence and I am very aware of my surroundings.

Anywhere I go now I’m listening out for trouble. I’m one of those guys that if I hear anyone getting any abuse or someone carrying on like a twit, I’ll walk straight towards that sound to make sure nobody is getting hurt.

"What will I do when I get there? What do you do in kumite? You don’t know for sure until it happens.”

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INTERVIEW: THE DUNCANS

SIBLING SUPPORT

Kieran and Alexandra Duncan tell Shimbun about the benefits of training alongside a family member ALL families fight but the Duncans are far better at it than most.

Indeed, from an early age siblings Kieran (15) and Alexandra (17) have committed wholeheartedly to becoming as proficient as possible at punching and kicking each other.

Fortunately for their parents, the pair’s pursuit of breaching blocks has been driven by attaining belts rather than bruises, and the brother and sister are actually the very best of friends.

“There is a bit of sibling rivalry in the dojo but not at home,” big sister Alex told Shimbun. “We are incredibly close and if anything GKR Karate has helped to bring us closer together.

"It is something we do together each week and now that I’ve passed my driving test, I take him to training and we travel around the country together.

“We are known as the karate kids at school — it’s what the Duncans do, it’s our thing.”

It is a thing they do exceptionally well.

The teenage black belts have already completed a hat-trick of World Cup appearances and both came away from this year’s UK Championships with a silver medal around their necks — Alex clinching second spot on the podium in kata in the junior women’s open and Kieran matching his sister’s result in the junior men’s open kumite competition.

The Duncans’ devotion to the dojo began when Alex opted to ditch dance classes as a five-year-old in favour of mastering martial arts moves.

“I started because I had a bit of a problem at my nursery where a boy was being mean to me,” explained the Shodan, who is now a sensei and runs monthly advanced kata classes for students in Kent (Region 35).

“

We are known as the karate kids at school — it's what the Duncans do, it's our thing

”

“It was so different to dance; the routines were more exciting and I felt powerful while doing karate. I liked princesses and suddenly I was getting to punch people, which I guess I wasn’t getting from dance.”

With a role model already making great strides in learning her stances and strikes, Alex said it was inevitable that Kieran would follow in her footsteps and give being in a gi a go.

“I enjoyed it and I knew he would too,” she Issue #3

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“

I definitely look up to her... she's my reference point. When I've forgotten how to do something, she'll know because she's smart added. “He could see there was so much to karate — you could grade, compete and progress and we both liked that you could tell you were getting better at something.”

For Kieran, having his sister as an instructor and setting the sporting bar high has not always been easy, but is a reality he readily accepts has its benefits.

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”

“I’ve had to get used to her being an instructor and it’s helped that I now know more of the stuff she does because I’ve had to put up with her pestering me about what I’ve done wrong for a long time.

“Things are a bit more equal now and I get to pick her up on the odd thing.”

Aside from the lifts to and from training, he has a karate coach and confidante living across the corridor at home.

The evening of the scales was recently demonstrated to Alex when Kieran was forced to sit out of a training session with a foot injury.

“I definitely look up to her,” the Shodan-ho confessed. “It’s always useful being able to walk across the hallway of the house and say ‘Alex, how do I do this?’. She’s my reference point. When I’ve forgotten how to do something, she’ll know because she’s smart.

“He text me a list of everything I did wrong,” she laughed. “I got a load of messages about my stances and what I could have improved on, but it is genuinely nice to have a training partner who knows you so well that they feel they can call you out!”

As anyone who has seen the Duncans at a tournament will testify, any criticism swapped by the pair is done out of love — whispered words of encouragement, supporting shoulders and hugs of reassurance and congratulations are a common characteristic of their competition repertoire.

“We push each other and it works well,” Alex added. “Sometimes he’ll come home from school saying he’s too tired but I’ll say ‘I’m going to karate so you are too’ and other times I’ll moan about having too much homework and he’ll say ‘let me help you with that and then let’s go to training’.

“I think it’s Kieran,” said Alex, answering amicably.

“Hmm, she’s got the flashy belt,” responded Kieran in kind.

“I am the higher grade but that’s because I’ve been doing karate longer; I think Kieran is better.”

“Well I have medalled at Nationals before.”

“So have I.” “Yeah, but you medalled as a team with other people, I medalled on my own.”

“We motivate each other and it’s going to be weird not having him around when I go off to university.”

“It still counts.”

Alex and Kieran are not, however, immune to the odd sibling squabble — as evidenced by the exchange which unfolded when Shimbun quizzed them, ahead of their success at 2019’s UK Championships, as to who has family bragging rights when it comes to karate.

For those parents who spend their time at home trying to keep the peace between warring siblings, the Duncans’ bout of verbal sparring will be instantly familiar in tone and come as a reassuringly ordinary end to this story of an extraordinary family.

“My medal is cooler...”

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'DON'T PUNCTURE YOUR SPORTING DREAM' Why winning at all costs isn't winning: Former elite cyclist-turned-movie maker Kenneth Mercken warns of the risks of using performance-enhancing drugs MUD sticks. Just ask anyone involved in professional cycling about the damage caused by the ceaseless procession of scandals surrounding drug use.

The seemingly epidemic adoption of Erythropoietin (EPO) by cyclists during the 1990s and early 2000s has permanently scarred the sport’s reputation and a new film flagging the dark side of life in the saddle has just joined the peloton.

Following the fortunes of young Flemish rider Felix Vereecke, who dreams of becoming a champion but is dragged into a world of performanceenhancing drugs and corruption, The Racer is based on the true story of its director, Kenneth Mercken.

Shimbun caught up with the filmmaker to find out what drove him to cheat and to shine a spotlight on the dangers of doping.

Q. You describe Felix’s story as your own. At what point in your sporting career did you first consider taking performance-enhancing drugs and why ultimately did you decide to do so (fame, money, sporting success)?

A. During my first year with a semi-pro team my dad convinced his friend, who was terminally ill with cancer, to give a box of EPO to me. “With or without that stuff, you’ll be under the ground within a few weeks. Kenneth can become national champion with it,” he reasoned. I knew that some riders on my team were being paid with doses of growth hormone and EPO, according to their performance level.

When we went to race in Italy, it was as if the local riders were on mopeds. I knew so many riders around me were using it, so it seemed like the only logical thing to do if I wanted to advance in my career. My only motive was to one day realise my childhood dream of becoming a good pro rider. I wanted to win big races — money or fame had little to do with it. I did it because I loved the sport. And because I loved winning. I don’t think there is anybody crazy enough to start with bike racing, to ride so many miles on a bike in the rain and the cold, just with the idea of making money or becoming famous.

Q. At the time, did you consider what you were doing as cheating or merely levelling the playing field? Did you feel any guilt?

A. Because performanceenhancing drugs were so widespread and normalised in the peloton, I didn’t really look at it as cheating. Of course it was cheating but any notion of the Olympic ideals I quickly lost in the milieu of youth cycling, which was infested with doping, clandestine money and cheating. I knew that there were exceptions among my competitors, who must have 44

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been clean, but they would be confronted with the big choice soon enough if they got to a higher level.

Q. What impact do you believe the drugs actually had on your body? Are there any of your race successes you can credit to your own performance?

“

Any notion of the Olympic ideals I quickly lost in the milieu of youth cycling, which was infested with doping, clandestine money and cheating

”

A. Some performances — early in my career, when I was clean — I can’t understand how I performed so well even to this day. But these were one-day races. It was during the many consecutive stage races abroad that I felt my body break down. I realised I needed to do something or I was not going to last very long.

Initially, I turned to doctors for help, who gave me hormones for which I was granted a TUE [Therapeutic Use Exemption] — but it was a grey area.

The hormones helped me a lot but I couldn’t stay on them forever — I knew I would get in trouble with the cycling federation, and I personally believed it wasn’t healthy to use those drugs long term.

Back then, the first instinct was always to grab for a syringe, be it with a supplement or a doping substance. Now, I know that I would have been a lot better off with training for shorter periods and with more intensity.

All that slow pace endurance training was devastating for my hormonal system but there was nobody around to tell me this at the time.

Q. Why do you think cycling was so susceptible to the invasion of such substances?

A. From the day of its invention, the sport knew a drug-infested culture. The first editions of the Tour de France demanded performances of the riders that were simply humanly impossible, with the purpose of making it as sensational as possible so that the organiser could sell more

newspapers. Riders would jump on trains, take drugs or alcohol and even risked being attacked by rival supporters who would jump out of bushes and beat them from their bikes with sticks. Even today the sport still carries with it this dark heritage. I don’t believe it is humanly possible to race for 21 consecutive days on the level of the current Grand Tours without any aids of some form.

Q. Ultimately, what led you to come clean?

A. My Italian team boss took me to a cycling doc, who was quite infamous on the racing scene at the time. I explained to him that I had taken an unbelievable amount of EPO but without any positive effect: my blood levels had dropped instead of rising. He told me that, with my delayed puberty and hormonal problems, the only solution for me was to take growth hormone constantly, every day of my future career.

Then he explained that this might be accompanied with a higher risk of cancer. When I heard the word cancer something broke in me. I knew it was over then and there.

It was as if I suddenly woke up after living in a crazy dream for years. In the car ride home to the team house I didn’t exchange a word with my team boss. It was during that car ride that I decided to go to film school.

Q. On reflection, do you think you could have succeeded without the drugs?

A. I never really fully succeeded.

But knowing what I know today, maybe with the right coaching and surrounding, there is a chance I could have gotten just as far or even further without drugs. But I don’t know, it was a difficult time to be a young cyclist in the late 90s, the middle of the EPO era.

Q. What are your views on those who take performance-

SPARRING PARTNER: KENNETH MERCKEN

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enhancing drugs in the modern era? What should be the consequences of doing so?

A. In many cases, the ones that are caught lack the right support and knowledge to stay under the radar. Performance-enhancing drugs are still a widespread problem in the sport. There have to be rules and reasonable punishments, but I don’t feel that the unlucky ones that are caught should be completely shamed and criminalised as often happens. Especially not in a world where drugs are being abused in all segments of society.

Athletes need to adhere and display the highest morals and virtues. But isn’t sport a mirror of society? And is that society which funds the sports with its often dirty money so immaculate and pure? I get the feeling that many people point the finger so vehemently to doping offenders and are scapegoating them in order to turn a blind eye to their own behaviour and faults. I think it’s the responsibility of the federations, teams, media and anti-doping organisations to strive and make the sport clean in a global, sustainable way. After each doping scandal, I feel that many point the finger at individuals and

“

I have fallen in all the traps and let the sport corrupt me in so many ways. I hope my story and my film can serve as a warning

then pretend that the sport is saved from the few rotten apples.

I think we should stop being naive about it, and acknowledge that the problem lies deeper.

Q. With karate set to become an Olympic discipline next year and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) continuing to grow in popularity, the pressure and prizes in the sport are growing.

Does a bigger profile lead to a bigger risk of drugs infiltrating a sport’s ranks?

A. I’m a huge MMA fan myself, and have even done a few amateur fights in the past. If I was forced to choose between watching an MMA event and a bike race I’d go for MMA hands down. But to answer the question: yes, I believe that along with the globalisation of sports the use of performanceenhancing drugs is also becoming

”

more widespread. But I don’t think this is a problem of the future. The testimonials anyone can read on internet fora from anonymous pro MMA athletes are quite shocking: detailed accounts about cheating with steroids, EPO and growth hormones. I think USADA [U.S. Anti-Doping Agency] has made great efforts during recent years in trying to clean up the sport. But as long as it’s possible to knowledgeably time and dose certain drugs and in this way escape controls, athletes will continue to do so.

There was a time, in the early years of MMA, that many Japanese athletes were at the top of the sport. I am under the impression that their culture, and their desire to be a true martial artist in the most pure, spiritual sense of the word, in a way prevented them from dropping weight to make an unnatural weight class or to

tamper with drugs. I believe that as a consequence of this, many of them are no longer among the top athletes in the sport.

On the other hand, if I look at cycling now, I’m hopeful. I see young athletes that are winning big professional races. That was unthinkable in my day.

Q. What would your message be to those young athletes focused on winning at all costs?

A. Make sure you are surrounded by the right people that care for you personally and that care about your long-term goals and health and not the success of today. I wish I had known back then what the human body and mind are capable of in a natural way. But why should they listen to me? I have fallen in all the traps and have let the sport corrupt me in so many ways. I hope my story and my film can serve as a warning, and I felt that it was important to share my story with the world, but I don’t feel the need to be a preacher of high morals.

The Racer (Coureur) is available across all major digital platforms, including iTunes, Amazon, Sky Store and Google Play, now.

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DESTINATION OKINAWA Martial arts masters meet crystal-clear waters... will you be heading due east in 2020?

WITH karate making its long-awaited Olympic Games bow at Tokyo 2020, the eyes of the martial arts world will collectively turn east in August.

For students of Go-Kan-Ryu, however, the focus on Japan — and sense of anticipation and awe — will endure beyond the action and medal presentations that unfold in the Nippon Budokan.

As this issue went to press, plans for a clubwide, open-invitation trip to Okinawa were progressing with pace. Shimbun sat down with Shihan Anthony Ryan — GKR Karate’s unofficial tour guide — to find out what 48

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a visit to the tiny tropical island, which is situated off the south-west coast of Japan, has in store...

themselves and so we’ve taken the decision to open 2020’s tour to everybody.

Q. Why hasn’t this happened sooner?

Q. Why is Okinawa 2020 causing as much excitement as Tokyo 2020?

A. Kancho has been visiting Japan for decades, but has organised trips for GKR Karate as a club since 2000. Initially, these visits were exclusively reserved for senior instructors and more recently they have been opened up to our top tournament competitors. Each year we are flooded with requests from students who, having seen photos on social media, want to visit

A. Two words, size restrictions. Historically, we have visited Japanese masters with whom GKR Karate enjoys a close relationship. The average dojo in Japan is quite small, so in 2006 we started hiring Budokans — full-time dojos — so that our tournament team, who were in-country to compete, could train. It wasn’t unusual to have up to 70 students training at one time but these were solely GKR Karate sessions and the issue remained; only a small number could train with masters in their dojos.

TRAINING: OKINAWA Picture perfect (from top to bottom): New Zealand black belt Jessica Patterson gets a copy of Master Higa’s book signed by the man himself; Okinawa boasts plenty of outdoor showers in which to wash away the sweat from a hard session in the dojo; Sensei Hokama is a master of karate and calligraphy; the island is a tropical paradise; Shihan Anthony Ryan in 2000 during his first trip to Japan for a full-contact tournament.

venue and teach us there. Being able to train together under one roof and under the instruction of the same instructor was fantastic, and during the trip we were able to benefit from the expertise of four inspirational teachers. Sensei Jesse Enkamp — aka the Karate Nerd, Sensei Sunagawa (9th Dan, Goju Ryu), Sensei Higa (9th Dan, Shorin Ryu and 5th Dan, Judo) and Sensei Hokama (10th Dan Goju Ryu and founder of the Okinawa Karate Museum) each spent three hours teaching us.

Q. What is it about these trips that gets people itching to attend?

“

A. As Okinawa is the birthplace of karate, I think every karateka is drawn to the idea of training there. There’s something magical about donning a gi in Okinawa, whether it’s training in the tiny dojo that belonged to Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju Ryu, or in the giant, three-storey Budokan, which happens to be shaped like a Samurai helmet.

Away from the dojos you can visit memorials of our art’s pioneers or outdoor areas where they practised. In some respects, it’s like stepping back in time and with so much Japanese culture infused into karate etiquette it’s enlightening to spend time there.

Okinawa is a paradise where you can snorkel with tropical fish and swim alongside giant sea turtles

Additionally, it’s an incredible holiday destination. Okinawa is a paradise where you can snorkel with tropical fish and swim alongside giant sea turtles within a stone’s throw of the beach or walk under warm waterfalls. En route to Okinawa, flights stop in mainland Japan, which provides a chance to see the super-modern city of Tokyo or the traditional city of Kyoto with its giant temples.

In 2016 we mixed the two — hiring the Budokan in Okinawa to train as a club and splitting into smaller groups in the evening to train in numerous dojos with various masters.

Q. Given GKR Karate has more than one affiliation with alternative forms of karate and willingly embraces other styles, is there a danger that masters’ lessons run the risk of contradicting each other?

A solution dawned on us for our last trip in 2018 when we decided to reach out to masters willing to come to our larger

A. It’s important to remember that Go-KanRyu’s kihon and kata curriculum is in itself a relatively even blend of Kancho’s prior training

”

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Dream trip (clockwise from left): Sensei Jesse Enkamp enthrals 2018’s travelling group; Okinawa, and its surrounding islands, offer a taste of paradise; Sensei Sunagawa poses with GKR Karate students and instructors; Masters in action.

“

He spoke no English so karate was the only channel through which we could communicate.... the evenings basically entailed me being beaten up – but I learned a lot

in both Goju and Shotokan karate styles. It’s also worth noting all traditional forms are a mix of other, older, styles. The purpose of these trips isn’t that we need educating or guidance, although of course, like all karateka, we’re always learning. We have, however, been operating for more than 40 years and Kancho is very comfortable in who we are and what we do. Therefore these trips exist for multiple reasons. For one, it’s rare that students from GKR Karate’s global family get to train together. It builds a stronger international community, not just through training but socialising.

We choose a variety of masters and styles to expose our students to differing training practices, philosophies, ideologies, tactics and techniques. Outside of our day-long seminars, we also encourage the students to go and train with other masters in the evenings. It matters not that each master may perform a technique differently to us, or from each other. Most masters in Okinawa promote that this is “their way” and that there are many ways to execute techniques or kata — although most principles relating to generating power, torque, precision and speed in a technique are universal.

Ultimately, technique among karate styles is more similar than it is different and the masters are teaching their own individual 50

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”

perspectives on the same martial art — karate.

A huge part of these trips is familiarising students with karate’s history, as well as developing a deeper appreciation for their art, in a hands-on, educational way.

Q. We understand you’re a veritable veteran when it comes to heading east.

How have you found previous visits to Japan and Okinawa?

A. I believe this will be my thirteenth or fourteenth trip. I love the group tours but I also like to go on my own. As a white belt I

was captivated by Kancho’s stories of visiting Japan alone to train whenever he could and knew that I’d end up doing the same one day.

I recall landing in Tokyo on my first solo trip and heading north on a train until the signs no longer featured anything I could understand — only then did I disembark. From the station, I found a hotel where someone spoke a little English and asked them to track down karate instructors for me. They would call on my behalf to arrange an invite. I’ve done similar things in Fujian, China — an area that greatly influenced karate’s development.

My first ever visit was for a full-contact tournament in 2000. I knocked my opponent down twice – firstly with a head kick and then with a head punch – but, although he didn’t touch me, the judges’ decision went in his favour. Despite this particularly brutal introduction to Japanese officials, I immediately caught the bug. Having been lucky enough to catch the eye of Master Ishihara, a venerated fighter, I returned to Japan to stay with him in his home. He spoke no English and my Japanese back then was very limited and so karate was the only channel through which we could communicate. Consequently, the training would continue after returning from his dojo with our nights spent sparring on the road outside his house. We used lamps on his porch for lights and the evenings basically entailed me being beaten up... but I learned a lot.

Picture: Hayato Shin on Unsplash

“

I liken Okinawa masters to university professors capable of providing a much deeper education

”

My first two trips to Okinawa were also solo.

Being a small island you can find and train with multiple masters within walking distance of your base. The karate found on mainland Japan is very basic with self-defence elements secondary to the perfection of technique. In contrast, Okinawa masters are very big on the conditioning and the self-defence aspects of karate. I liken Japanese masters to high school teachers and Okinawa masters to university professors capable of providing a much deeper education. That said, I love training in both places.

Q. So what’s the plan for Okinawa 2020?

A. We will be hiring a large venue. You can’t

actually secure space prior to three months before the date in question but we are expecting it to be the Budokan in Naha. It’s also too early to lock down masters, who will be unsure of their daily movements in August, but there are many great individuals to choose from. The plan at this stage is for two seminars — one in the morning, one in the afternoon — on Monday, August 17th; a day of relaxation in Naha or chance to join us for a drive to the north of the island to visit a couple of waterfalls on Tuesday, August 18th; a further two seminars on Wednesday, August 19th; and a ferry ride to Zamami and Aka

islands, where you can swim with sea turtles and marvel at the marine wildlife in one of the world’s best snorkelling spots, on Thursday, August 20th.

Based on the popularity of this trip, Kancho is contemplating adding more sessions but this is yet to be confirmed. All you need to do is get yourself to Naha, Okinawa and show up.

We recommend that anyone interested should join the GKR Okinawa Trip 2020 Facebook group, where you will find lots of information and regular updates.

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Busy mum-of-two, fitness professional and qualified naturopathic nutritional therapist Ruth Harries explains why eating like a champion is not only reserved for the elite YOU don’t need to be an Olympian to see the appeal of having a specialist nutritionist on hand to devise menus, source provisions and prepare meals that are tailored to fuel your sporting ambitions.

Unfortunately, few household budgets and diaries allow for such a luxury and the challenge of going solo and serving up snacks and dinners that deliver winning performances for you or a loved one can seem daunting.

The good news is that readying your body for training and tournaments is not as complicated as it might initially seem. A balanced diet of carbohydrates, fats and protein — supplemented by a rainbow of vegetables and fruits — will provide karatekas with the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants they need to maintain energy levels, recover and repair.

Worried your fridge and food cupboards are not up to the task? Fear not, let’s take a closer look at the reality behind the technical terms...

PRE- AND DURING WORKOUT SNACKS Carbohydrates are a key source of fuel for exercise and quickrelease options eaten up to 30 minutes before and during lengthy training sessions and competitions will ensure athletes remain energetic without feeling overfull — a sensation common with those

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who suffer from pre-tournament nerves, which can make digestion difficult.

Fruits are an excellent choice, which is why you often see tennis players devouring a banana courtside, and can cater for most tastes. For example, dried fruit is a simple and portable snack solution and the slightly sweeter flavours often appeal to young athletes.

Don’t feel the need to always resort to raisins though — mango, banana and dates are satisfying substitutes. The only downside of going “dried” is the high sugar content, so portion control needs to be exercised.

Similarly, smoothies are easy to digest, usually a firm favourite with children and can be personalised to suit any likes and dislikes. I like to keep pre-chopped fruit in food bags in the freezer so that quickly throwing things into a blender is not a

burden. The options are endless, although a banana, handful of berries and an apple is a winning mix!

You can also sneak in some green vegetables such as spinach or broccoli but, if you have a 10-year-old like my own who is equipped with a well-honed veg detector, I’d advise starting small.

Shops are awash with energy balls and while adding packs to your supermarket trolley may be convenient, opting for homemade is a far cheaper alternative.

Delicious and a great source of energy, my simple recipe (see panel overleaf) only takes five minutes to follow and the omega 3 in the chia seeds delivers a dose of essential dietary fat and an antiinflammatory boost.

If you are looking for an off-the-shelf answer then malt loaf is high in energy and easy to stash in a kit bag.

POST-WORKOUT SNACKS Protein — made up of building blocks known as amino acids — is essential for strengthening and the recovery and repair of the human body and should be part of any post-workout refuelling.

Combining carbohydrates with protein further improves the process of repairing and building muscle.

Ideally, a karateka should eat something within 30 minutes of coming off the mats and then have a proper meal within a couple of hours.

Again, catering for this need is not overly complex. An hard-boiled egg, for example, is simple to prepare, portable, contains all the essential amino acids we need and can be eaten alone or smashed up inside half a wholemeal pitta.

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MISSED US? Don’t miss out on our origin story. UK readers can now order a hat-trick of back copies (issues 1, 2 & 3) for just £9. Scan the QR code on this page to catch-up on our opening chapters.

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MARKETING WITH REAL KICK Do you run a company, provide a service or create products which would be of interest to your fellow karatekas? Issue 4 will see the launch of our advertising section dedicated to businesses run by — or employing — members of GKR Karate’s international community.

Whether a sensei, sempai or student, we will help promote your business to those who train within your region — and further afield — through the creation of eye-catching ads or the crafting of tailored copy. To add some punch to your marketing by featuring in the next edition, email shimbun@gkrkarate.com for details.

and veg sticks are a great thing to devour after the dojo. There is nothing wrong with shop-bought hummus but you can easily make it yourself by blitzing a can of rinsed chickpeas with one teaspoon of olive oil, two tablespoons of tahini, one clove of garlic and the juice of one lemon until smooth. Add a little water if your mix is too thick and throw in spices like paprika or cumin if you want to add a bit of heat to your hummus.

Don’t fancy anything savoury? Not to worry, chocolate milk can deliver the

same effects and is always a popular choice in my household. Readymade options are usually unhealthily high in sugar so I’d recommend blending a banana, one tablespoon of cocoa powder and 250ml of milk for a delicious hit of protein, carbs and calcium (pictured below left).

Finally, nut butters have become increasingly popular and when combined with fruit are a fantastic boost.

Slices of apple and pear are ideal for dipping, while bananas taste great when spread with the butter.

One note of caution — when buying ensure you check the ingredients as some of the cheaper brands add significant amounts of sugar.

For more mouthwatering tips from our resident nutritionist, follow redefine_nutrition_fitness on Instagram or visit redefinenf.com

BALLS OF ENERGY Prep time Ready in a matter of minutes.

Ingredients 50g oats, 25g chia seeds, 85g dried dates, 2 tbsp. cocoa powder, ½ tsp vanilla extract.

Method Put everything in a blender and mix together before adding 2–4 tbsp of water to bind and then shaping into ping pong-sized balls.

Benefits Other than an opportunity to make a mess and eat cocoa? A healthy shot of fat and an antiinflammatory boost.

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A CLASS ACT

Tony Cheung, a chemistry teacher and martial arts coach at Millfield School in Somerset, England, tells Shimbun why committing to climbing karate’s grades can help improve students' academic grades UNDOUBTEDLY fuelled by the explosion on to the sporting scene of the Mixed Martial Arts and Ultimate Fighting Championship movement, karate has benefited from an increase in interest and uptake internationally over the last decade.

And while the impact of time training in the dojo is obvious in respect of honing health, the advantages of integrating its practice into everyday life are often underestimated.

Karate is split into three main disciplines – kihon (basics), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) – and each lends itself to developing behaviours and skills which can bolster the performance of students at school. The emphasis on 56

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having a disciplined mind easily translates into the classroom as it allows pupils to work better for longer and develops resilience in achieving targets and objectives.

Speaking from a personal perspective, I have always believed that one of my character

strengths is a high degree of patience when it comes to my own learning and helping students in my classes.

This discipline of maintaining an interest in the challenge ahead of me and having the motivation to persevere to achieve a goal

is no doubt reinforced by my karate training.

There have been many studies that have supported the use of martial arts as an approach to boosting mental cognition, which is how we acquire knowledge and understanding.

Karate’s repeated practice of techniques and sequences links nicely to classroom learning and revision. A student will study a syllabus for a belt grading in the same way they would prepare for a test or an exam. The ability of karateka to prioritise aspects of a grading in order to focus on areas in need of most attention is a trait many teachers see in more independent pupils.

There is also on-going research exploring how martial arts training helps to improve an

BOW OUT: TONY CHEUNG

individual’s emotional well-being and their capacity to manage stress. In the fast-paced, fluid and digital world we live in, young students can often find it difficult to balance their academic commitments with leisure activities and the need to have an appropriate amount of sleep.

Karate’s adoption of controlled breathing techniques and moments of meditation during the bow in and out of sessions help to combat such chaos and calm minds.

Mindfulness classes do the exact same thing and have been shown to help young adults better manage their stress levels.

For those school, college and university-age Shimbun readers dismissing this as yet another lecture from a teacher, you don’t

“

The emphasis on having a disciplined mind easily translates into the classroom as it allows pupils to work better for longer and develops resilience in achieving targets and objectives

need to just take my word for it.

Two of your peers – Millfield sixth form students Charlie PearmanWright and Katherine Haselton (pictured) – also believe karate is a class act when it comes to aiding academic progress.

When tested on the dividends delivered by the dojo they told me: “The main benefits we have had from karate is that it has really developed our self-discipline and

”

communication skills. However, it is the added benefits you do not expect or think about which are more rewarding.

“Being able to coach children at Millfield Prep has been very enjoyable, but at first it was hard to explain a technique or a set of moves to a small group.

"You have to be patient and eventually, through adapting your

demonstrations and explanations, you find a voice they can understand and learn from.

“Karate has definitely given us the confidence to express ourselves.”

Another striking similarity between karate and education is that participation is not limited by skill and potential – everyone is equipped to have a go. As a school, Millfield is well known for its sport and academic provision and has a large spectrum of students in terms of ability and educational needs, and I see this mirrored in our karate classes.

So in answer to the exam question, one of the unseen and unsung side effects of karate is that it develops wellrounded students who are better prepared for the futures that lie ahead of them.

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PEEL’S PURPLE PATCH

Shimbun editor Andy Simms swallows his prejudice to tackle an old food foe WHEN it comes to dining, everyone has at least one chink in their armour; an ingredient — no matter how lovingly prepared or presented — that is capable of instantly wilting your appetite.

For this reviewer, that culinary kryptonite is beetroot. First sampled as part of a sad-looking primary school dinner, I’ve earnestly evaded this earthy-flavoured edible for the lion’s share of three-and-

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a-half decades. Efforts by loved ones to break my beetroot boycott have been plentiful but futile. Regardless of whether roasted, boiled, juiced or pickled, the gaudy-coloured vegetable has been routinely rejected; its reputation as tainted in my mind as the salad plates it has stained.

Imagine, therefore, the evaporation of enthusiasm I experienced when spotting the presence of the purple-skinned

produce as the sole starter of a fourcourse tasting dinner at Hampton Manor, which is located a short drive from the numerous GKR Karate dojos dotted in and around Birmingham.

Until this point, my visit to the West Midlands had gone wonderfully well. Indeed, the 19th Century Manor — nestled in 45 acres of gardens and with interiors pitched as a home-from-home country retreat — is incredibly difficult not to warm to.

BOW OUT: TRAVEL Family run, this “restaurant with rooms” has hospitality at its core and, as befitting a venue with its own master mixologists, serves its guests a difficult to achieve and rarely sampled blend of laid-back luxury.

The Manor, its guest-rooms and public spaces are undoubtedly grand and well-dressed, but there is no hint of any upstairs downstairs divide present in this historic house.

Staff are smartly turned out and attentive without looking like tournament officials and guests are encouraged to make use of the Manor’s reception rooms, which feature a tasting table at their heart (pictured below).

Found in the lobby, this marble-topped oak centrepiece has been designed with conversation, as much as an opportunity to explore new organic wines and gins, in mind.

Convivial chat is also actively encouraged in Peel’s Restaurant — a salute to former Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, whose son built the Manor in his honour — where a long oak table can accommodate two family-sized parties while maintaining their privacy.

It was against this serene backdrop, and while savouring a whisky-based pre-dinner cocktail and canapes, that beetroot threatened to burst my Friday evening bubble.

Despite being in incredibly safe hands – Peel’s won its first Michelin Star in October 2016 and head chef Rob Palmer continues to wow diners with his best of British-inspired menu — the urge to skip a course was compelling.

“

Efforts by loved ones to break my beetroot boycott have been plentiful but futile.

Regardless of whether roasted, boiled, juiced or pickled, the gaudy-coloured vegetable has been routinely rejected

”

Only a “don’t you dare” stare from my dining companion persuaded me from refusing the plate and so, with much trepidation, I was forced to face my foe in culinary conflict.

However, true to the old martial arts adage that no plan survives first contact, I was caught completely off-guard by the reaction of my taste buds.

My strategy for survival was simplistic; be swift and use the accompanying matched Chardonnay as cover.

Beetroot it transpires should always be served with pear and a side of goat’s cheese (Bosworth Ash-flavoured) “ice cream”.

Far from having my Achilles’ heel poked by the kitchen staff at Peel’s, I savoured every spoonful of their creation and then watched in disappointment as my partner did the same without proffering me a second taste.

This debut dish set the bar incredibly high and although the smoked eel with kohlrabi and samphire and mallard with turnip and damson that followed were equally sublime, it was a purple patch that will live long in the memory.

The Manor may already have a reputation as the Midlands’ premier dining destination, but it deserves special praise indeed for evoking an epiphany in this former beet berater.

Beetroot is no longer a vegetable to be endured, but to be enjoyed.

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