British Wado Heritage and Lineage
Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi Picture by Eleni Libiri-Suzuki 6th Dan
In Respectful Memory of Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi. 27th April 1928 to 12th July 2011.
Passed away peacefully at 83 years of age. RIP. |
  WA from British Wadokai |
A Letter from Sensei,
"I want to tell you about when I started Karate and how I trained and how I want you to tell all my karate students. Most students do not understand about what my Karate world is. Anyway this is very simple not only for Karate students but for all life.
When I started Karate I did not want to just learn the techniques but with mind and body and spirit as well. I contacted Ohtsuka Sensei because he was the founder of Wado Ryu and already a great teacher. He heard that I wanted to follow his example completely and became my teacher.
Ohtsuka Sensei was a true Martial Artist he acted in all things as he should as a martial artist not just technically but mentally and physically as well. He was not just a Karate man but a true Martial Artist. In Japan Karate, Kendo Aikido were learnt differently, they were learnt as martial arts. Most people chose only one of these and studied them fully but Ohtsuka Sensei had practiced many martial arts from a small child and he learnt them as a martial artist, mentally physically and technically this is what made him a great martial artist. This is why I wanted to learn from him how to be just like him in all ways. This is why I trained so hard many, many hours each day to be like him in all things and to understand.
When Ohtsuka Sensei passed away I wanted to follow his life and carry on his teachings exactly the same way he had done. Because I had trained so hard with him for so long I understood the way he practiced martial arts. I wanted to have the same attitude as Ohtsuka Sensei and this is how I learnt.
I copied the way Ohtsuka Sensei taught in all things mentally, physically and technically and this is what I passed on, all things not just one of them. Many teachers do not pass on like this as they do not understand. After Ohtsuka Sensei passed away other instructors changed many techniques as they did not understand them, they were not proficient enough as they had not followed Ohtsuka Sensei’s example. I was the only one to follow his way. Others did not follow him in Karate, one because they were not proficient enough and also because they had not had enough training or understanding to follow him in all aspects and so things were changed.
I was very upset and decided that I must carry on Ohtsuka Sensei’s teaching myself because I was in Japan a professional. I always followed Ohtsuka Sensei but unfortunately others could not because they were not professional in all three (mental, physical and technical) they did not understand enough to carry on his way properly. Sensei’s life had been wonderful to me and I wanted to follow his way exactly but now there was no one to teach me and I had to carry on myself.
When I was studying with Ohtsuka Sensei in his old age he could not teach properly and the other instructors did not have enough training to understand. Their technique was therefore not as fully developed and it was impossible for them to teach as they had not learnt all the aspects fully (mental, physical and technical). However I had always learnt the way he practiced Karate and I understood. His way was to show the technique and practice the technique again and again until the body and mind understood to do the technique without thought. He did not teach by talking, he demonstrated not always talking.
When I came to England I taught like Ohtsuka Sensei and demonstrated for students to copy. This is very important, the instructor by show the technique as example not just by talking. In Japan when some people got old they did not demonstrate, they just talked and then the body forgets the proper technique. Ohtsuka Sensei did not teach like this even when he got old and also neither have I. It is a very bad thing. We always practiced together with the students.
This is why, when I came to England I always demonstrated from the beginning and did the techniques together with the students in front of them so they could copy.
I was very surprised when I first came to England, because at that time in Europe Karate was very unknown as the only martial art then known was Judo as a world champion had been English. Lots of people then wanted to know about martial arts. But after a time the Karate was poor because the instructors were not of a sufficiently good standard. The English government wanted to stop Karate because many people were just reading books and watching films like Bruce Lee and did not understand. At that time many newspapers, magazines and journalists came to me and asked why this was. Unfortunately there were no proper Karate groups and most were run by people without sufficient understanding and training. We were the only ones training like Sensei’s way and other people had not trained properly. When teaching in England I taught in exactly the same way I had trained with Ohtsuka Sensei in Japan. Other Karate instructors had not had sufficient training from proficient teachers. It was very hard for me because most people misunderstood Karate and had not learnt properly, but for me there was no problem.
I travelled all over the world teaching by demonstrating in Ohtsuka Sensei’s way. This was important, as I could not communicate by voice in all these countries but by copying the technique and to see the way I trained I could communicate to these entire countries and they could understand the martial art way.
At the same time I was also training very, very hard to keep my technique good in order to demonstrate good technique. I did not want to just remember the technique mentally this is no good. I trained hard by myself in order to keep good technique. I always practiced in front of the students to demonstrate the right way and be on top of them. Many students were training very hard with me and understood that training very hard for a long time together is very important.
I have carried on training and teaching like this for a long time the same way, I never give up. Always on top of them Students tried very, very hard to follow me. I never give up I have to show how I am standing up and how much power. Then students would know proper technique.
All over the world people wanted an International Karate Federation to be formed. I did not want lots of students, only those true martial artists.
In Japan most senior Wado instructors had stopped training but they told me when I started this new federation that they could not follow me but they wanted to help me. Many people are helping me, this is why the federation started. I thought that at the beginning there would not be many students but soon we had many students all over the world.
I have never given up my way of teaching, always teaching and training. If like this I can continue teaching and training for a long time. I never give up training, training and training and teaching. Never talking always demonstrating, the same way I have always taught.
In 1990 I started the WIKF and carried on with the teaching and training in the same way as Ohtsuka Sensei. I taught all the students together and trained with them and we became like a big family helping each other. I like it like this, this is my way and the best way.
Finally in November 2005 I suffered a big heart attack and at that time I could not teach for a while. By 2006 I started teaching again slowly, slowly and during this time I kept training. I became stronger and stronger again that by 2007 and 2008 I could teach around the world again.
In October 2008 I again had problems and many students began to help me. They thought I was a very hard teacher always training hard together with them. I could not teach them any more but they still wanted to train together with me all the time.
After my cancer operation in November 2009 my students still wanted to train with me. Many were calling me and asking when I would be teaching again. I was very surprised because I could no longer teach but students still wanted to train hard with me. I could not travel to other countries but many students travel to London to the various courses that we hold.
Because of this from my students my spirit never gives up. The loyalty has surprised me and this is important as it is very good for my spirit.
I have tried to ensure throughout my lifetime that the true spirit of Ohtsuka Sensei’s Karate is carried on. I have done this for the past 30 years since he passed away and I have also imparted my knowledge and spirit to various instructors to carry out the work and ensure the future of the WIKF and traditional Wado Ryu as it was taught to me by the founder. Through various instructors in the WIKF throughout the world, I have ensured that this will carry on. A strong family that will help each other and the future of Ohtsuka Sensei’s authentic Wado Ryu will carry on."
"I want to tell you about when I started Karate and how I trained and how I want you to tell all my karate students. Most students do not understand about what my Karate world is. Anyway this is very simple not only for Karate students but for all life.
When I started Karate I did not want to just learn the techniques but with mind and body and spirit as well. I contacted Ohtsuka Sensei because he was the founder of Wado Ryu and already a great teacher. He heard that I wanted to follow his example completely and became my teacher.
Ohtsuka Sensei was a true Martial Artist he acted in all things as he should as a martial artist not just technically but mentally and physically as well. He was not just a Karate man but a true Martial Artist. In Japan Karate, Kendo Aikido were learnt differently, they were learnt as martial arts. Most people chose only one of these and studied them fully but Ohtsuka Sensei had practiced many martial arts from a small child and he learnt them as a martial artist, mentally physically and technically this is what made him a great martial artist. This is why I wanted to learn from him how to be just like him in all ways. This is why I trained so hard many, many hours each day to be like him in all things and to understand.
When Ohtsuka Sensei passed away I wanted to follow his life and carry on his teachings exactly the same way he had done. Because I had trained so hard with him for so long I understood the way he practiced martial arts. I wanted to have the same attitude as Ohtsuka Sensei and this is how I learnt.
I copied the way Ohtsuka Sensei taught in all things mentally, physically and technically and this is what I passed on, all things not just one of them. Many teachers do not pass on like this as they do not understand. After Ohtsuka Sensei passed away other instructors changed many techniques as they did not understand them, they were not proficient enough as they had not followed Ohtsuka Sensei’s example. I was the only one to follow his way. Others did not follow him in Karate, one because they were not proficient enough and also because they had not had enough training or understanding to follow him in all aspects and so things were changed.
I was very upset and decided that I must carry on Ohtsuka Sensei’s teaching myself because I was in Japan a professional. I always followed Ohtsuka Sensei but unfortunately others could not because they were not professional in all three (mental, physical and technical) they did not understand enough to carry on his way properly. Sensei’s life had been wonderful to me and I wanted to follow his way exactly but now there was no one to teach me and I had to carry on myself.
When I was studying with Ohtsuka Sensei in his old age he could not teach properly and the other instructors did not have enough training to understand. Their technique was therefore not as fully developed and it was impossible for them to teach as they had not learnt all the aspects fully (mental, physical and technical). However I had always learnt the way he practiced Karate and I understood. His way was to show the technique and practice the technique again and again until the body and mind understood to do the technique without thought. He did not teach by talking, he demonstrated not always talking.
When I came to England I taught like Ohtsuka Sensei and demonstrated for students to copy. This is very important, the instructor by show the technique as example not just by talking. In Japan when some people got old they did not demonstrate, they just talked and then the body forgets the proper technique. Ohtsuka Sensei did not teach like this even when he got old and also neither have I. It is a very bad thing. We always practiced together with the students.
This is why, when I came to England I always demonstrated from the beginning and did the techniques together with the students in front of them so they could copy.
I was very surprised when I first came to England, because at that time in Europe Karate was very unknown as the only martial art then known was Judo as a world champion had been English. Lots of people then wanted to know about martial arts. But after a time the Karate was poor because the instructors were not of a sufficiently good standard. The English government wanted to stop Karate because many people were just reading books and watching films like Bruce Lee and did not understand. At that time many newspapers, magazines and journalists came to me and asked why this was. Unfortunately there were no proper Karate groups and most were run by people without sufficient understanding and training. We were the only ones training like Sensei’s way and other people had not trained properly. When teaching in England I taught in exactly the same way I had trained with Ohtsuka Sensei in Japan. Other Karate instructors had not had sufficient training from proficient teachers. It was very hard for me because most people misunderstood Karate and had not learnt properly, but for me there was no problem.
I travelled all over the world teaching by demonstrating in Ohtsuka Sensei’s way. This was important, as I could not communicate by voice in all these countries but by copying the technique and to see the way I trained I could communicate to these entire countries and they could understand the martial art way.
At the same time I was also training very, very hard to keep my technique good in order to demonstrate good technique. I did not want to just remember the technique mentally this is no good. I trained hard by myself in order to keep good technique. I always practiced in front of the students to demonstrate the right way and be on top of them. Many students were training very hard with me and understood that training very hard for a long time together is very important.
I have carried on training and teaching like this for a long time the same way, I never give up. Always on top of them Students tried very, very hard to follow me. I never give up I have to show how I am standing up and how much power. Then students would know proper technique.
All over the world people wanted an International Karate Federation to be formed. I did not want lots of students, only those true martial artists.
In Japan most senior Wado instructors had stopped training but they told me when I started this new federation that they could not follow me but they wanted to help me. Many people are helping me, this is why the federation started. I thought that at the beginning there would not be many students but soon we had many students all over the world.
I have never given up my way of teaching, always teaching and training. If like this I can continue teaching and training for a long time. I never give up training, training and training and teaching. Never talking always demonstrating, the same way I have always taught.
In 1990 I started the WIKF and carried on with the teaching and training in the same way as Ohtsuka Sensei. I taught all the students together and trained with them and we became like a big family helping each other. I like it like this, this is my way and the best way.
Finally in November 2005 I suffered a big heart attack and at that time I could not teach for a while. By 2006 I started teaching again slowly, slowly and during this time I kept training. I became stronger and stronger again that by 2007 and 2008 I could teach around the world again.
In October 2008 I again had problems and many students began to help me. They thought I was a very hard teacher always training hard together with them. I could not teach them any more but they still wanted to train together with me all the time.
After my cancer operation in November 2009 my students still wanted to train with me. Many were calling me and asking when I would be teaching again. I was very surprised because I could no longer teach but students still wanted to train hard with me. I could not travel to other countries but many students travel to London to the various courses that we hold.
Because of this from my students my spirit never gives up. The loyalty has surprised me and this is important as it is very good for my spirit.
I have tried to ensure throughout my lifetime that the true spirit of Ohtsuka Sensei’s Karate is carried on. I have done this for the past 30 years since he passed away and I have also imparted my knowledge and spirit to various instructors to carry out the work and ensure the future of the WIKF and traditional Wado Ryu as it was taught to me by the founder. Through various instructors in the WIKF throughout the world, I have ensured that this will carry on. A strong family that will help each other and the future of Ohtsuka Sensei’s authentic Wado Ryu will carry on."
Tatsuo Suzuki (8th Dan) Hanshi. The man who brought Wado Karate to our shores.
Tatsuo Suzuki, 8th Dan, Hanshi (1928-2011). The Founder of the Wado International Karate-do Federation (Wado Kokusai Karate-do Renmei).
Suzuki Tatsuo was born in Yokohama, Japan on the 27th April 1928. At 10 years old the family moved to Ushigome, Tokyo. At 13 they moved to Hamamatsu, his father's original home town.
His first style of Karate was Shito-ryu, at his high school. He started training at the Yokohama YMCA Wado-ryu Karate Club at the age of 17 under a student of Hironori-Ohtsuka, known as Kimura. Kimura was reputed to be the best student of Ohtsuka Hironori Meijin at that time.
Sensei Suzuki trained regularly with Ohtsuka Meijin, as he visited the YMCA regularly.
Sensei Suzuki was awarded 5th Dan in 1951 for outstanding courage and ability. In 1965 he was awarded 7th Dan, the highest grade ever awarded, by the Zen Nippon Karate Renmei (all Japan Karate Federation). In 1975 he was awarded 8th Dan by the All-Japan Karate-do Organisations (Wadokai) and the title of 'Hanshi', which was awarded to him by a member of the Emperor Higashikuni family.
In 1963, with the assistance of Arakawa Toru and Takashima Hajime, Sensei Suzuki introduced Wado-ryu Karate to the UK, Europe and the USA. In 1965 he returned to England where he set up his European Headquarters.
Amongst his titles he holds: 2nd Dan in Tenshin-Koryu Bo-jutsu and 1st Dan in Judo. He has also studied Zen doctrine with the High Priests, Genpo Yamamoto and Soyen Nakagawa. Website: www.wikf.com
Suzuki Tatsuo was born in Yokohama, Japan on the 27th April 1928. At 10 years old the family moved to Ushigome, Tokyo. At 13 they moved to Hamamatsu, his father's original home town.
His first style of Karate was Shito-ryu, at his high school. He started training at the Yokohama YMCA Wado-ryu Karate Club at the age of 17 under a student of Hironori-Ohtsuka, known as Kimura. Kimura was reputed to be the best student of Ohtsuka Hironori Meijin at that time.
Sensei Suzuki trained regularly with Ohtsuka Meijin, as he visited the YMCA regularly.
Sensei Suzuki was awarded 5th Dan in 1951 for outstanding courage and ability. In 1965 he was awarded 7th Dan, the highest grade ever awarded, by the Zen Nippon Karate Renmei (all Japan Karate Federation). In 1975 he was awarded 8th Dan by the All-Japan Karate-do Organisations (Wadokai) and the title of 'Hanshi', which was awarded to him by a member of the Emperor Higashikuni family.
In 1963, with the assistance of Arakawa Toru and Takashima Hajime, Sensei Suzuki introduced Wado-ryu Karate to the UK, Europe and the USA. In 1965 he returned to England where he set up his European Headquarters.
Amongst his titles he holds: 2nd Dan in Tenshin-Koryu Bo-jutsu and 1st Dan in Judo. He has also studied Zen doctrine with the High Priests, Genpo Yamamoto and Soyen Nakagawa. Website: www.wikf.com
Katsumi Kobayashi Sensei |
Tadayuki Maeda Sensei |
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Yamanashi Sensei
 Suzuki Sensei defends against Yamanashi Sensei during Tanto-Dori Sugasawa Fumio 7th Dan Suzuki Sensei defends against Sugasawa Sensei during Tanto-Dori.
Sugasawa Fumio Sensei was born in Sawara City, Chiba prefecture, sixty miles east of Tokyo, the youngest son in a family of seven children.
He first experienced karate when his second eldest brother started training at a local club and erected a Makiwara (striking post) at the family home. Although Sensei's first love was Baseball, he used to practise on his brother's Makiwara. In 1969 he went away to study Commerce at the famous Meiji University, Tokyo. He was coerced into the university karate club. Although he admits it did not take much by the way of persuading. As a result of his experiences with his elder brother he always had an interest in karate. The training was severe, but due to his contact with the physical hardships common in Japanese Baseball training, Sensei had no trouble adapting to the regime. One of the regular instructors at Meiji was Jiro Ohtsuka Sensei, son and future successor to the founder of Wado Ryu karate Hironori Ohtsuka Meijin (1892-1982). The founder also visited and instructed at the university, but Jiro Ohtsuka Sensei had a particular attachment to Meiji, as he was himself a Meiji old boy. Sugasawa Sensei enthusiasm and physical prowess soon gained him the position of Meiji karate club captain, an achievement his is still proud of to this day. Sugasawa Sensei came to the UK in July 1978 and joined Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi, and the rest of the group of resident Japanese instructors of the UKKW. At that time the UKKW were responsible for spreading traditional Wado Ryu karate throughout the country under Hironori Ohtsuka Meijin. He initially taught in the East London area, but soon established contacts with clubs in all parts of the UK. Website: www.wadoryu.org.uk Shiomitsu Masafumi (9th Dan) Hanshi From left to right: Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi, M Shiomitsu Hanshi and Iwasaki Sensei.
Masafumi Shiomitsu 9th Dan Hanshi
Shiomitsu Masafumi was born in Kagoshima, Japan, on 24th November 1940. He began studying Shorin-ryu Karate at the age of 15. He entered Nihon University in 1959 and joined the Wado-ryu Karate club, one of the university clubs that Ohtsuka Sensei taught at. His prowess at the style led to his appointment as the captain of the university's Karate team in 1963. By the time he graduated in 1964, with a degree in economics, he had already reached the grade of 4th Dan in Wado-ryu. Sensei Shiomitsu's natural ability at Wado-ryu led to him being chosen by Ohtsuka Sensei as one of the Karate instructors chosen to take Wado-ryu Karate outside of Japan. In 1965 Sensei Shiomitsu travelled to England, where he was appointed Assistant Chief Instructor. He then spent the next 10 years visiting and staying in different countries throughout the world, including Spain, Portugal and even Madagascar, teaching Wado-ryu Karate. In 1976 he returned to England in his original position. In 1981 Sensei Shiomitsu returned to Japan to celebrate the 90th birthday of Ohtsuka Sensei, the founder of Wado-ryu Karate. He was awarded the rank of 7th Dan by Ohtsuka. This was later followed by his appointment as the Chief Instructor to the European Wado-ryu Karate organisations, and in 1989 he founded the Wado-ryu Academy. Website: www.wado-ryu.org |
Yoshi Shinohara 8th Dan
My full name is Yoshitsugu Shinohara. I was born in 1946 near the centre of Japan, in the prefecture of Nagano (where the 1998 Olympics were held). I moved to Tokyo in 1961 to further my education and find work. I entered Meiji University in 1966 to study Economics and Political science.
I had practised Judo in my teenage years but when I started University I changed to Wado-ryu Karate. Because I was a bit short but a fighter and challenger, I wanted to become stronger. Although Karate was a relatively new martial art at that time, it seemed the ideal sport for me to achieve my goals. All the junior Karate students were taught by Sempai (senior colleagues) and OB (old boys) in the Meiji University Kenren (student’s union) Karate-do Club. Every training session lasted about 3 hours and we trained almost everyday, and they used a military style of discipline. The aim of the Karate training was to improve skill, speed, strength, stamina and self-discipline (the 5 S’s). The training was often repetition of a few thousand kicks and punches with full speed and power (Kihon). Then Kata, Yakusoku-gumite and finally Jiyu-gumite at each session. We often found a small pool of sweat on the floor around our feet when we were allowed to have a standing short break in summer season. However the training methods were not always scientifically correct, we had to hit makiwara board with seiken many times with full power…the skin on my knuckles peeled off and they bled all over, but I was forced to continue hitting the board. The worst part was when I had to hit the bloody makiwara again 2 days later when the skin on the knuckles had just started to heal. However, after 2 years of hitting the makiwara, my fist became so strong I used to be able to hit a large concrete lamppost with full power without damaging my hand. We also often had to bunny-hop up and down approximately 150 steep stone stairs. One day when one of our Sempai saw me smiling when I had completed it, he ordered me to repeat the exercise. Many years of Judo training had made my legs quite strong, but that evening, people at the train station watched us with strange looks on their faces when many of us wobbled down the stairs holding onto the railings. We often went away for one week long Gasshuku (training camp) for intensive training. The day’s training began at 6am sharp with a morning run in bare feet for about an hour and plenty of press-ups, sit-ups, etc.. Apart from breakfast and lunch breaks we continued to practice Karate all day until we were completely exhausted. One day after the training, a Sempai heard us talking, complaining about the hard training and tiredness; he said that we were not really tired, because we were still able to speak! I remember one occasion, well after midnight our sleep was abruptly interrupted by colleagues because a junior colleague was missing. We were really worried because he was not a tough character and his belongings were still in the dormitory which meant he hadn’t run away at night … there was also a fast flowing river next to our Ryokan (inn). Fortunately, we found him later in the middle of the back stairs, poor boy was so exhausted and had fallen asleep and couldn’t make it to his bed! I remember the 2nd year above Sempai were a hard lot, they used to take us to free-fight with them after the formal session at the club and beat us black and blue. One of them in particular was pertinacious brute … he would force us to fight for at least 20 minutes despite our injuries and exhaustion. One day when I had suffered enough and felt I couldn’t continue any more with him but didn’t want to be defeated by him, he was very good at sunegeri and kingeri to torment us, I was determined I would take a chance and use my Judo techniques to strangle him into unconsciousness and quit the Karate club for good. After all I was a 2nd Dan in Judo and had confidence to beat him with the knowledge of Judo if I could get a hold on him. Strangely, the Sempai was not cruel to me that evening or ever again. Competition was not popular at that time, fighting was not as sophisticated as nowadays, we did not wear any protection, mitts etc. … we just aimed to knockdown our opponents… therefore, competitors often received injuries at the tournaments. I remember one incident at one of the early Wado-kai Championships. One of my colleagues received a serous injury, he kicked his opponent so hard but his leg crushed opponent's knee and his leg was broken in half … white shinbone was protruding through the skin! Ohtsuka Shihan visited our club once a month to teach. We were all glad to see him because although his lessons provided us with much information the sessions were physically easy. There were 96 boys when we joined the Karate club but just 9 of us survived through the 4 punishing years training and this number was a club record; normally only a few students were successful enough to complete the course and sometimes none! Anyway we were young students, enthusiastic with lots of energy and ambition. We tried everything to toughen ourselves up and challenge our limitations. The training sessions were sometimes unreasonably hard but after the session we all enjoyed a drink together and forgot all the aches and pains and were happy, the beer tasted great. We surely learned the value of truth, integrity, courage, perseverance and an indomitable spirit with pride and honour. When I graduated from the university in 1970, minus a graduation ceremony, because of university disputes (Gakuen-Funso), we just had to leave the teargas filled university (whose motto was Liberty and Right), which had become a battlefield between Zengakuren (united student’s union) and Kido-tai (police combat units). I had now completed my education and I was now free and independent and confident of looking after myself, I wanted to leave Japan to see the world and learn new languages. After 2 years of hard work as one of Tokyo’s notorious kamikaze taxi drivers (very fast, skilful, special licensed drivers, but not suicidal), I had saved enough money to travel. I boarded a ship in Yokohama Harbour in 1972, but my first voyage was a disaster because almost immediately the ship had left the harbour a huge typhoon struck, with gushing winds and huge waves. All passengers on the ship were seasick and I was unable to leave my bed or eat for 3 days and nights. It took me 2 weeks to get to England through Russia, Austria, Germany and Belgium (now it takes just 12 hours from Japan to England by non-stop flight) and I settled in an Oxford boarding school for languages to study the Queen’s English. My original plan was to study English for 2 years in England then go to Madrid to study Spanish for another 2 years … but have lived in England now since. Unfortunately my English is still not good enough to move onto Spanish! I met a few Japanese Karate instructors at a college when I moved to London in 1973 and it led me into teaching Karate. I opened Essex Wado-kai Karate Club in 1975 with branches in Romford, Chelmsford and Harlow after 6 months of travel in a camper van around Europe and North Africa. I established BWKS in 1987 with senior students of mine. Nowadays I get invited to attend weekend courses and teach Karate at other Karate clubs very often, and it’s a pleasure to meet and practice Karate with different people in different places. In return, we invite all the associate members to our BWKS Championships every year, which is the biggest event in the BWKS calendar. I am also a qualified Japanese language teacher and I used to teach at colleges and am currently teaching in the City of London, so I’m able to help anyone who needs to learn Japanese. It’s important to be fit physically in the early stages then you can enjoy going out to open fields for jogging, general exercise and Karate training whenever you have time. Exercise is good for me and makes me feel stable and happy. I will continue training as long as I can. PS - I had a chance to visit the Meiju University Kenren Karate-do Club in 2000 and encountered a total change. The old familiar university buildings had been demolished and re-built and are now huge shining new buildings. Half of the 30 students who were training in the new dojo were young women, one of them told me later that most of the women there were (at the club) for health and beauty reasons! Website: www.avlk87.dsl.pipex.com/bwks History of Karate Wadoryu |
