Black Belt of the Year 2010

Each year consideration is given for the award of a Black Belt of the Year within the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Karate Australia organisation. Nominations are invited from the various Dojo Instructors, with those nominations reviewed by Shihan Jim, Shihan Max and the senior advisory council. Ordinarily, the award is made at the Annual Black Belt Camp, although this was not so this year for logistical reasons.

For this years award, four individuals were nominated for the Black Belt of the Year. Each of these individuals is very committed to Shorinjiryu, and is a consistent contributor to various events and aspects of the organisation.

On behalf of Shihan Jim and Shihan Max, I am pleased to announce that the Black Belt of the Year award for 2010 goes to Sensei Tony Fletcher of the Shishikan Dojo. The below information is copied from nominations received for Sensei Tony:

Sensei Tony works tirelessly for the betterment of Shorinjiryu as a whole, and works hard to maintain a healthy dojo.

Sensei Tony’s contributions, past and current, to Shorinjiryu Australia and the Koshiki method are outstanding.

Sensei Tony has shown that he has a deep understanding of the budo way in and out of the dojo.

Please join us in congratulating Sensei Tony on his well deserved award of Black Belt of the Year.

Yudansha Promotions

During our National Training Camp at Coolum over the weekend of 16-18 April, Hanshi Watanabe oversaw the promotion of several yudansha (black belts).

On behalf of all members of Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Karate Australia, we are pleased to congratulate the following for their successful promotions:

• Shihan Jim Griffin (Seiryukan Dojo) - promoted to Nanadan (7th Dan)
• Sensei Mark Slingo (Kensuikan Dojo) - promoted to Sandan (3rd Dan)
• Sempai Christine Dewar (Shishikai Dojo) - promoted to Nidan (2nd Dan)
• Sempai Adrian Cepak (Kengokan Dojo) - promoted to Shodan (1st Dan)

In addition, Hanshi Watanabe announced the following individuals have been appointed to official advisory roles within the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha World Federation:

• Shihan Jim Griffin - Shibucho (branch chief) for Australia and Saiko Komon (chief advisor to Hanshi Watanabe)
• Shihan Max Estens - Fuku Shibucho (vice branch chief) and Komon (advisor to Hanshi Watanabe)
• Renshi Lesley Griffin - Komon (advisor to Hanshi Watanabe)
• Renshi Des Paroz - Komon (advisor to Hanshi Watanabe)

National Training Camp 2009

The Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Australia Training Camp was held the weekend of 3-5 April at the Chapel Hill Camp on Queensland Sunshine Coast. Members for this year’s camp came from the following Dojo:

• Kennankai Melbourne (Vic)
• Kengokai Sydney (NSW)
• Kensuukan Coonabarabran (NSW)
• Kazoku Murgon (Qld)
• Shishikai Brisbane (Qld)
• Seiryukan Bribie Island (Qld)
• Yagizakai Rockhampton (Qld)

Friday the 3^rd of April saw the Black and Brown belts arrive ready to begin training and we launched into a very spirited session of the Sai Bo no kumite lead by Shihan Jim and Renshi Des. This was an excellent lesson and everyone threw themselves into either learning or re-learning this kumite.

Saturday morning commenced our 9-hour training session where Shihan Jim and Shihan Max conducted formal introductions and welcomes. Shihan Jim then read messages from HanshiWatananbe and Hanshi Myron Lubitch (Shinzen Kyokai). While Hanshi Watanabe may not have been physically there with us, we know he was there in spirit and everyone recognized this.

A warm up session prepared us for the next lesson on kihon waza and the remainder of the day was a mixture of kata, kumite, goshin-jitsu, formal discussions and regular demonstrations from those grading. In addition, some students doing their Yudansha grading took lessons in Izutsu no waza and Sai Bo no kumite under the watchful eyes of Shihan’s Jim and Max and Renshi Des.

Following the evening meal the managing body of Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Karate Australia, the Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo Association Inc, held its Annual General Meeting. At this meeting the National Executive were elected:

• President Renshi Des Paroz
• Vice President Sensei Tony Fletcher
• Treasurer Shihan Jim Griffin
• Secretary Renshi Lesley Griffin

Sunday saw the continuation and revision of Saturdays work with Shihan Max leading us through some in depth explanations of joint locking and pressure points which were then put into practice.By the sounds of the groans and tapping out, it was obvious everyone was getting into this session especially Shihan Jim and Sensei Jason who seemed to be trying to out do each other and take their joint locking to the next level.

The latter part of the morning saw the Mudansha being put through their grading and the following received their promotions:

• Joanna Choe (Kengokai) 2nd Kyu Brown Belt
• Alan Reading (Shishikai) 3rd Kyu Green Belt Brown Tip
• Andrew Plowman (Shishikai) 4th Kyu Green Belt
• Chris Savini (Shishikai) 4th Kyu Green Belt
• Sam  Dennien (Kazoku Dojo) 4th Kyu Green Belt
• Ben Oliphant (Shishikai) 5th Kyu Orange Belt Green Tip

After lunch, Shihan Max Estens provided us with a demonstration, as did Renshi Des Paroz and Tashi Lesley Griffin who were all doing their final testing stage for their promotions. On completion of these senior belt demonstrations, Shihan Jim Griffin conducted the formal promotions and presentations to:

• Shihan Max Estens - promoted to Rokudan
• Renshi Lesley Griffin - promoted to Godan
• Renshi Des Paroz - promoted to Godan
• Sensei Mark Slingo - promoted to Sandan
• Amanda Bugden - promoted to Nidan
• Dean McKernan - promoted to Nidan
• John McDonnell - promoted to Shodan

At the end of the Yudansha grading, Shihan Jim presented some Yudansha members with certificates and ceremonial belts from the Shinzen Kyokai.

After a formal bow out, congratulations were abundant and lots of photos were taken. The respect and camaraderie shown by all at the end of this camp attests to the closeness of our Australian Shorinjiryu family and the support everyone gives to each other.

As it was last year, the weekend was intense but enjoyable and full of quality information and instruction. Although people were weary and tired, there were still smiles all round making it all worthwhile and I know we all look forward to next year for more training and especially to catch up with Hanshi Watanabe.

Domo arigato

NSW Training Camp 2008

The camp started with NSW Chief Instructor, Shihan Max Estens (an avid rock climber) leading several of us on a “scramble” up Mt Timor, to the point where the serious rock climbing begins. This was repeated later in the same day for some who had missed out, and for those wanting to undertake a repeat performance!

The formal training saw us work through Naihanchin Sho no Kata, a variety of joint locking techniques, many of the Sankakutobi Kumite (including the full Sankakutobi Nidan series), Renshu Ichi no Kumite and Nijushiho no Sai no Kata. 

Many thanks to all who made the effort to attend. Many stated that this camp was one of the best they had been to, a fact reflected by Joint Chief Instructor, Shihan Jim Griffin.  The training was excellent, the venue was ideal, the company excellent, and the food superb.

Many thanks to all who attended, and to the Kensuukan Dojo in Coonabarabran for the excellent organization – in particular to Shihan Max and Sensei Dean McKernan.

Kazoku Dojo Official Opening

The Kazoku Dojo (as named by Kaicho Watanabe during his April 08 visit), was recently opened by Sensei Leanne Sippel in her home town of Murgon some 3hrs drive Nth West of Brisbane.

On Saturday 6^th Sept 08, Sensei Leanne held her first training and grading camp. Shihan Jim Griffin our Qld Chief Instructor, Tashi Lesley Griffin, Sensei Tony Fletcher and Sensei Christine Perkins made the trip to Murgon for the official opening of the Kazoku Dojo and to assist Sensei Leanne with the training and to conduct the grading.

The training consisted of a warm up, Kihon Waza (basics) and then a session on Goshin Jutsu (self defence) and Kata Bunkai led by Shihan Jim. Individual work with those grading followed these sessions. The Mudansha who attended were Brittany Hockenhull, Nev Kratzmann, Anne Kratzmann, Samuel Dennien, Jared Sippel, Cody Hockenhull and Courtney Sippel.

Congratulations goes to Nev Kratzmann and Samuel Dennien for their promotion to 8^th Kyu and to Sensei Leanne for returning to Shorinjiryu after many years away and now opening her own Dojo