August 2008 Black Belt and SEQ Training Camp & Grading

Saturday the 23rd August saw our Qld members travel 2hrs from South East Queensland, 3 hours from Murgon and 6 hours from Rockhampton in Central Queensland to converge on Bribie Island, the stomping ground of our Qld Chief Instructor Shihan Jim Griffin. While Renshi Des Paroz and Senpai Adrian from the Kengokai Dojo in Sydney were able to grace our shores, unfortunately the rest of our NSW family of Shihan Max Estens and company were unable to attend as were our extended Shorinjiryu family in Cairns (Tashi Peter), Melbourne (Sensei Marnie) and in Tasmania (Sensei Barry), but we know they were there in spirit.

As with previous years, the black/brown belt training day was held to coincide with the anniversary of the death of our founder, Kori Hisataka, Shinan. This year celebrates the 20th anniversary of his passing and our training was fittingly by the waters edge with the sun in full blossom and a brisk fresh breeze blowing into our faces.

The early morning saw us kick off with individual warm ups and then the rest of the morning session was focused on an in-depth session on Sanchin no kata led by Renshi Des and guided by Shihan Jim. This session included a history lesson from Renshi Des, more explanation about the kata of Sanchin and various demonstrations of bunkai for the kata.

The next training session was then on Sankakutobi Kumite led by Shihan Jim and Renshi Des. This was a fantastic lesson and thoroughly enjoyed by all. While there were a few sore muscles, there were still smiles of appreciation and enjoyment in being introduced to the Sankakutobi movements of Sankakutobi kumite.

We then focused our attention on a spirited session of Kudaka Sai Kata or as we know it, Nijushiho no sai no kata which continued on for the rest of the afternoon. During the course of the day, we were treated to the various kata, kumite and bukiho demonstrations from Senpai John who was grading for his shodan-ho and Nidan Mark Slingo who was doing his pre-grading demonstration for his San Dan. After a full on six (6) hour training session, we paid our respects to Shinan with a formal bow and headed off to freshen up for our annual Black Belt dinner.

Sunday morning commenced our SEQ training and grading day involving the other mudansha members as well as those that trained on Saturday. Senpai John took us for an excellent warm up with Sensei Christine following up with a session on kihon waza. Such was the interest in the Sankakutobi kumite from Saturday, this was extended into our training session on Sunday and again, thoroughly enjoyed by all. Further training with revision sessions for those grading, filled the rest of the training until it was time to conduct the grading.

Four mudansha were put through their paces with all suceeding. Senpai John finished his long and arduous grading session which started on the Saturday culminating in a physical and vigourous shiai session to see him awarded shodan-ho. Nidan Mark Slingo was also put through his paces demonstrating his grading requirement to Sandan.

Congratulations goes to all and keep watching for the photos to be posted.

SKWHKA National Training Camp

Friday the 11th April saw most of the senior Shorinjiryu members turn up ready for an exciting weekend of catch up, making new friends, refreshing friendships, rekindling old acquaintances and ready for the training. After checking into the very scenic and comfortable Chapel Hill camp, we kicked off with a 5 hour training session under the tutelage of Hanshi Watanabe and Shihan Hayes and the guidance of our joint chiefs Shihan Jim Griffin and Shihan Max Estens.

Saturday morning commenced our 10 hour training session where we covered a wide and varied curriculum with particular attention to detail, the why's, the why not's and a deeper better understanding of the kumite and kata supported with impromptu bunkai demonstrations. Hanshi Watanabe also gave us the benefit of a history lesson by telling us about his training under Shinan Hisataka and of his own experiences and philosophies. If we didn't want to train so much, we could have all listened to Hanshi all day such was the interest in his history. Saturday also saw Sensei Garry Edwards, a 4th Dan in Shito-ryu Karate, attend our session and he gave Hanshi Watanabe and us all an excellent kata demonstration followed by a detailed bunkai.

Following our evening meal we had another training clinic for the Black Belts and 2nd/1st kyu students and then the managing body of Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Karate Australia, the Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo Association Inc, held it's Annual General Meeting. At this meeting Renshi Des Paroz (Kengokai) was elected President, Sensei Tony Fletcher (Shishikai) was elected Vice President, Tashi Lesley Griffin (Seiryukan) was elected Secretary and Shihan Jim Griffin (Seiryukan) was elected Treasurer. Some very tired people went straight to bed after this days activities.

Sunday morning was started with the Yudansha grading which saw Shihan Max Estens commence part of his Rokudan grading, Sensei Tony Fletcher receive his Sandan, Sensei Jason Romer his Nidan and Johannes Rickert his Shodan.  Following the morning grading session, more intense and detailed training carried on through the day till 4:00pm. The long weekend was intense but enjoyable and full of quality information and instruction and although people were weary and tired, there were smiles all round making the long trips made by Shihan Max Estens and his Coonabarabran students from NSW, Sensei Marnie Roberts from Melbourne, Sensei Leanne Sippel from Murgon and Sensei Mark Slingo with his students from Rockhampton, all worth while.

A special thank you to Hanshi Watanabe for making such a long arduous trip from Baltimore. Hanshi Watanabe's presence makes for a special training camp. We also thank Shihan Dan Hayes for making this journey and taking time out from his Long Island Dojo and it was also a pleasure to meet Senpai Zorrian Jomo who travelled from the USA to train wth us.

Finishing off this great weekend was the presentation of a fully hand made engraved large leather diary holder to Hanshi Watanabe. Shihan Dan Hayes was also presented with a leather engraved gift with Senpai Zorrian receiving a leather holder. A special thank you goes to Sensei Christine Perkins (Shishikai Dojo) for her time and effort in making these beautifully crafted gifts.

Roll on 2009 Camp.

SKWHKA Update April 2008

Over the past 12 months, the Australian Shibu of the SKWHWF has gone through a process of assimilating so much that is new to us.  Following the example of Hanshi Watanabe, Shihan Dan Hayes, Shihan Page Christis and Sensei Richard Alicea from their visit to our shores in March 2007, we have been practicing refined ways of standing, walking and turning, as well as a variety of different forms of kata and kumite.

While this has been a challenging process, we are all truly excited to be able to get closer to the original teachings of Shinan Hisataka, and those of his key student, Hanshi Watanabe.  We feel privileged to be able to learn from such a gifted, dedicated and humble man.

In April 2008 we again welcomed Hanshi Watanabe and Shihan Dan to Australia for another National Training Camp (3 day clinic), along with Senpai Zorrian Jomo.  Over this time, we had the opportunity to further refine the way we stand, walk and turn, as well as practice tanshiki kumite, yakusoku kumite and kata.  We were also privileged to have Hanshi Watanabe share much insight into his training with Shinan Hisataka, and aspects of karate philosophy.  Many of our number are busily learning as much as they can about Bun Bu Ryo Do, Ikken Hissatsu, Karate ni Sente Nashi and other important concepts.

We hope that our visitors enjoyed their short visit as much as we enjoyed having them.  Of course a visit to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo was a highlight for them, and a highlight for all of us was watching Senpai Zorrian put into practice a variety of self defence techniques from the carnivorous Australian marsupial, the Drop Bear, a close but deadly relative to the Koala.

Under the leadership of Shihan Jim Griffin and Shihan Max Estens, Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Karate Australia is moving into a new phase of steady growth.  We have six dojo operating along Australia’s east coast, from Innisfail in Tropical North Queensland in the north, to Sydney in the south.  A seventh dojo is shortly to open in the state of Tasmania (also known as the Apple Isle), and there are plans afoot for new dojo in the state of Victoria, and another in Queensland. If all goes well, we will have nine dojo operating in four states of Australia.

Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia Proud to Become Part of the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha World Federation

Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia was formed in the late 1970's by Shihan Laurie Vanniekirk, a long time pioneer of karate in Australia who became a follower of Shorinjiryu after reading the book Scientific Karatedo by Hanshi Masayuki Hisataka.  After reading the book, Shihan Laurie travelled to Japan where he trained with Shinan Kori HIsataka and Hanshi Masayuki Hisataka, before returning to Australia and founding Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia.  Currently Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia is under the joint leadership of our Chief Instructors, Shihan Jim Griffin, 6th Dan and Shihan Max Estens, 5th Dan.  We have 10 dojo running in locations along the east coast of Australia, between Cairns in the tropical north to Sydney in the south, with our largest group centred around Brisbane.

In the mid-1990's Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia became an independent school of Shorinjiryu.  Having become disillusioned with the sporting focus that Shorinjiryu was taking in Japan, and with other aspects of the direction of the hombu, our Australian organisation determined to refocus on the roots of Shorinjiryu and try to maintain and ultimately get closer to the teachings of Shinan Kori Hisataka.  In time, Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia became a member of the Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai, and our members have participated in three  International Shorinjiryu Shinzen Shiai events.  We are proud that we are part of the Shinzen Kyokai, as we believe it is an important glue that is bringing together many disparate Shorinjiryu groups, worldwide.

In October 2006, 6 of our number visited the US, and spent several days training with Kaicho Shunji Watanabe (Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha), Hanshi Myron Lubitsch (Shorinjiryu Kenryukan Karate), Shihan Dan Hayes (Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha), Shihan Page Christis (Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha), Shihan John Salasko (Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha), Shihan Vincent Capers, Jr (Shorinjiryu Kenryukan Karate) and other senior Shorinjiryu Karateka at dojos in Baltimore, New York and Long Island.  Key among this was our days spent in Baltimore with Kaicho Watanabe and his team of Shihan and Sensei.  In this time we saw and learned Shorinjiryu Karatedo from a direct student of the founder, who has kept the original teachings pure.  This was a turning point for us, in that we could see what we had long suspected - that the teachings of Shinan Kori HIsataka have been changed significantly in the Kenkokan organisation in the years since his retirement and passing.

After heady 2 weeks in the States, where the other highlight was our visit to New York and participation in the 20th Annual Shorinjiryu Shinzen Shiai, we headed back to Australia, with lots of new (old) material to absorb and practice.

In March 2007, we had the great honour of hosting Kaicho Watanabe, Shihan Dan, Shihan Page and Sensei Richard Alicea to our shores.  Here they gave 150% of themselves, participating in our National Training Camp (3 days), plus evening training sessions in Brisbane and even a one day trip to Sydeny where they also trained at a local dojo.  We were inspired by the energy and talent of these fine karateka. 

During the visit, we were humbled and honoured that Kaicho Watanabe invited our organisaiton to become part of the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Federation.  We were delighted to accept this invitation, and in many ways we have come full circle.  We are closer now to the teachings of the founder, and we are grateful to have the opportuity to become students of such a fine karateka and wonderful human being as is Kaicho Watanabe.  To have such wonderful people as Shihan Dan, Shihan Page and Sensei Richard to also support us is incredible.

So, we are setting forth on a new journey.  As Shihan Jim Griffin stated we are now "making progress by returning to the roots of Shorinjiryu".  We look forward to working with all the members of the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha family.

The members of Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha Australia (as we will henceforth be known) would like to express our sincere thanks to Kaicho Watanabe for your leadership and willingness to invite us into your organisation.  Also to Shihan Dan for your vision, and Shihan Page for your support and patient teaching.  

We should also pass a thanks to Hanshi Myron Lubitsch, whose frienship and support continues to be instrumental to us, and whose vision for the Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai is a major factor in bringing Shorinjiryu Karatedo Australia into the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe Ha family.

Black Belt of the Year Award 2006

Each year the Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo Association presents its Black Belt of the Year award to a black belt member who has contributed to the effective development of Shorinjiryu Karatedo in Australia.

We are pleased to advise that for 2006, the Black Belt of the Year has been awarded to 2 people, each of whom was nominated due to their long term commitment to Shorinjiryu.

Hanshi Myron Lubitsch, President of the International Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai has been recognised for his efforts in bringing together the various independent schools of Shorinjiryu under the banner of a friendship society.  Under the direction of our Joint Chief Instructors, Shihan Jim Griffin and Shihan Max Estens, Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo became a member of the Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai in 2000, and since then has had the opportunity to greatly develop through contact with people like Hanshi Myron Lubitsch, Hanshi Shunji Watanabe and many others.  We express a deep appreciation to Hanshi Myron for his vision.

The other recipient of the Black Belt of the Year for 2006 was Tashi Des Paroz, President of Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo, who was recognised for his efforts in developing communications within the Association, and also internationally.

Hanshi Myron's award was presented at the banquet dinner held following the 20th Annual Shorinjiryu Shinzen Shiai in New York on 8 October 2006 by our Joint Chief Instructors, Shihan Jim Griffin and Shihan Max Estens.  Tashi Des' award was presented at the Black Belt Dinner held in conjunction with our Black Belt Training Camp on 26 August 2006.

Congratulations to the recipients of the Black Belt of the Year for 2006.