celebrating 25 YEARS – 25 Years of Karate

Published in 2010 by Karate-

PO Box 566 Dear Members, Parents and Relatives EN9 3WU It is with great pride I welcome you to the celebration of our 25th Anniversary. It is hard to believe that I have England been seriously teaching Karate for 25 years and even more difficult to remind myself that I started my own Karate 35 years ago. To celebrate our special 2010 Anniversary we have some special courses with some of the Copyright Rod Butler © leading figures in Karate today. There will be weekend courses with Sensei , Paul Herbert, Scott Langley and our own Sensei Kasajima. I hope that you will all take advantage of these opportunities and enjoy The right of Rod Butler to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of training with these wonderful instructors. the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Things are a lot more organized and professional now than they were in years gone by, although we certainly have to deal with much more administration and paperwork than we did when I first started. Karate technique A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library has improved although karate itself is not really much different. The standards of teaching however have greatly improved and we are now aware of the dangers in teaching incorrectly; we also understand ISBN 0-9546947-3-2 how to encourage children and less able students to achieve success. We have held dozens of courses, championships and gradings and the high standards of our members would be difficult to find in most others All rights reserved. clubs and associations. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publishers. During these years there have been some fantastic successes and I have felt so much pride in the achievements of many of our members Nationally and Internationally. We have even managed to help severely disabled people to enjoy karate and experience the pleasure that karate brings. However, I am a great believer of balance in life www.karate-london.co.uk and believe that what we receive in pleasure and enjoyment has to always be paid for in some way, therefore the disappointments that we have all experienced at some time, balance our fulfilling lives and the Karate that we all enjoy and sometimes take for granted. www.shotokan-karate-england.co.uk I hope you enjoy reading and looking at this little book which contains all of the highs and lows, the successes and the disappointments, of the last 25 years. The strong roots of SKE as you can see here, have now been well and truly established and I hope that all of the SKE instructors will pass on their skills to the younger generation of Karate students so that they can carry on with the success and the work that has begun.

Lastly I would like to thank you all for helping with the success of SKE. Without the parents, children and adult members, we would not be able to be part of your lives and share your enjoyment of Shotokan Karate. Rod Butler – April 2010 In The Beginning The KUGB a fantastic reputation for being hard April 1st 1985 working and successful. Sensei Enoeda had been watching the The roots for SKE were started 25 years ago in . Sensei Rod started a small Chingford Club and had not missed class while he was recovering from an operation on his leg. It was never envisaged any of the activity and excitement that that the club would grow to the extent that is has or that it would develop into such a was happening. He decided to visit successful entity. This is where it all started; The Judo Bay at the Waltham Forest College the club on a regular basis and greatly Annex in Chingford, now demolished to make way for a housing estate. enjoyed his visits to the club now based at Rushcroft School. Later on when the The posed kneeling picture shows the class just a few months after starting, with founder club opened, he gave an member Sensei Chris Lafbury on the far left of the opening celebration course and also shot (with a moustache). Some members had made regular visits there as well. taken their first gradings and are actually wearing their orange or red belts. In the A bond had started. Club members too action shot you can see sensei Rod leading enjoyed these visits greatly. The courses the class in . The dojo was a small usually finished up in the local Indian matted area used for Martial Arts called the Restaurant with drinks and curry and with ‘Judo Bay’. There were no windows, no air everyone being a little ‘worse for wear’ vents and no heating. Everyone worked so Rod had to often drive Sensei Enoeda hard in that small matted area just to keep In 1988 it was decided to move to a home in the early hours of the morning. warm in the Winter. larger organisation. As a club, we were not allowed to take part in open courses Rod recalls with horror the time when In those early days Karate and Martial Arts in and competitions were not organized Sensei Enoeda arrived at the Chingford general were not allowed in schools and so particularly well. After checking a few club to give two one hour courses. He moving to a larger and more suitable premises of the larger Karate organisations we was injured and said Rod would have to was virtually impossible. However, Rod made decided to join the KUGB. This was not take both sessions. Rod nervously got friends with the councilors of Waltham Forest quite as easy as it sounds. Rod had been on with the job while sensei Enoeda and subsequently joined the Sports Council. a Black Belt for 8 years and a Nidan for sat for the whole two hours watching Rod encouraged some of the councilors to 3 years. The KUGB insisted that Rod go proceedings. Rod sweated for the whole come along and watch a Karate class, so that back to 1st Kyu and re-take his Shodan two hours but was later on enrolled by it could be seen that Karate was a respectable if the club was to become part of the Sensei Enoeda as a regular instructor at pursuit and suitable for schools. One of the KUGB! This was the price of joining but the Marshall St Dojo in London’s West councilors actually joined the Karate Club, and in typical Rod fashion he signed the End. the Mayor of Waltham Forest became involved and gave his support too. This was really club up to join the KUGB and re-took the start of Karate in Chingford and Waltham Forest and councilors eventually agreed to his Shodan under Sensei Enoeda. Rod allow Karate classes to take place in schools within Waltham Forest. was not interested in ‘chasing gradings’ so didn’t worry too much about moving down ‘the ladder’. It was a good move. The club had access to competitions, courses and events such as instructor and referee courses. Rod went on to retake his 2nd Dan and during the next fifteen years his 3rd and 4th Dan.

The club soon made an impact on the KUGB. Medals and trophies were won at the Southern area Championships and the Nationals. It was not long before the club had quite a few members on the National Squad too. Tony & David Ives, Tim Ahmet, Tony Aidoo, Billy Merrifield, Holly Sterling, Donna Kilroy and Jason & Samantha Plumb were all Black Belts recommended by Rod for the National Squad and all were accepted.

The club was always an avid fundraiser raising in excess of £80,000 for various charities. The KUGB followed this creating its own charity. Chingford again pulled out all the stops and raised £3,500, more than any other KUGB club in the UK.

Rod took instructor, judge and referee exams and soon the club had gained The First Black Belt Chingford Karate Club’s first black Belt was 10 year old Michael Gallop, the date; 22nd October 1989. Although the club had many Black Belt members, Michael was the first Chingford member to go from beginner to Shodan. He was aged just 10 years and it has to be said that he was a star pupil from the very beginning, passing each Kyu grade with a distinction. Michael was also the star of the ‘Karate Kid’ team and was always the first to volunteer for Karate displays, competitions and events. Michael passed his black belt – again with a distinction and unfortunately packed up Karate two weeks later! That’s children for you.

Since then over 200 students who started as beginners have gone on to reach Black Belt level and many more have gone on to reach Nidan, Sandan, and in 2009, Godan.

Michael Gallop made a social visit to the Chingford club in 2005. Now a six foot adult he lamented ‘I wish that I had carried on with my karate!’ Competitions

SKE is continuing to produce a high standard of competitors. The habit started in the early days of the Chingford Club, and now there are not just champions from Chingford and Wanstead, but some excellent talent coming from Harlow, Tring and the other SKE clubs.

Many Chingford members went on to achieve exceptional success in National and even International Championships. Tim Ahmet competed Nationally and Internationally, he was a member of the England Junior squad and became the Great Britain under 21 Champion. Tony and David Ives together with Billy Merrifield were all in the England senior squad and are still achieving some very good results. Holly Stirling started as a very young junior and now always places in the finals of the ladies kata and events. Brother and Sister Jason and Samantha Plumb also still achieve good National results. Daniel Jenkinson worked his way up gradually through the ranks and ended up the Great Britain under 21 Champion, representing England in the world Shotokan Championships in Japan. Grand champion of 2009 is new Shodan Deimante Jodokevicute from the Wanstead club. Look out also for Raman Seehra from Wanstead, Michele Vaccaro from Harlow and Niall O’Reilly from Tring. There are some great competitors coming through – too many to include all of the names.

For all C & S AUTOS car body repairs and garage services Special rates for all SKE members and families

52 Burnt Mill,Harlow CM20 2HU Contact Erik Thorpe 01279 432260 Charity Fundraising

Over the years the Clubs raised money for various charities. The fundraising events started in 1985 with The Mayors Appeal for Mentally Handicapped People. Subsequent events raised funds for the Emma Killingback Memorial Fund, Hospital Baby Unit, Age Concern, the Barbara Hunt Minibus Appeal, Dreams Come True, Action Research into Multiple Sclerosis, Great Ormond St Hospital, and many, many more. Over £80,000.00 has been raised to date for literally dozens of charities.

The fundraising activities became serious when Mr. and Mrs. John Killingback lost their young daughter to a children’s cancer called Neuroblastoma. The story brought to the club’s attention by Sensei Chris Lafbury, inspired everyone to try to do something to help. A Kata marathon was organized which later became a regular annual event. The Guinness Book of Records recorded the marathon and gave the club a ‘First’ in this new range of Guinness recorded activities. 7,715 katas were performed between 7.00 and 10.00pm raising £7,331 for charity. The Mayor attended and the ladies champion body builder Carolyn Cheshire performed a body building display and made presentations.

Sensei Chris Lafbury 4th Dan I started Karate on the 1st of April 1985. in the local park as our usual dojo had been I was doing Aikido (another martial art) at double-booked. It was lucky that it was in I enjoy teaching although it can be the time. Our Aikido dojo was in a school the summer and not cold, but unlucky that frustrating at times. I like to try and think at Barking and it had closed for a couple I got savaged by mosquitoes. of something a bit more interesting and of weeks. I had seen advertisements in the challenging for a lesson, although I also local paper for karate beginners’ classes. I passed part of my black belt grading at try to ensure I cover the syllabus for the My son said he wanted to start and as I Crystal Palace where we used to go every grades I am teaching. I enjoy going to had a couple of weeks spare (it turned out year for a Spring course. I had to go and gradings and watching the students that to be 25 years!), I said I would go along grade again for ‘Kumite only’ at a course I have helped teach when they pass their with him. in Slough in December 1991. I was so gradings. Sometimes I have to bury my ‘psyched up’ up by the time I got up to head in my hands and groan when they That first Dojo was in the old Territorial fight that I got warned by Sensei Enoeda still do things that I’ve told them a hundred Army barracks in Road who shouted at me: “more control!” times they are doing wrong! – It’s gone now and there are houses in its place. The room we used was formerly a In those days, once we reached brown store room. It had no windows and only belt, we were encouraged to help out in There have been many memorable a small door. It used to get very warm the lower grade classes by going around occasions over the years. For me these on some nights and I’m sure we used and correcting the students. One evening, include passing my black belt and, more to shrink a couple of dress sizes with all Sensei Rod asked me to do the warm-up recently, passing my 4th Dan. The 4th Dan of the sweating we did. There were big as he said he had to speak to someone grading seemed to go on forever and I holes in the mats on the floor that used to outside. The warm-up came and went thought I was going to die if I had to do catch our feet – training was a challenging and he still wasn’t back, so I thought I any more basics! experience! had better do something else. I took We used to do Karate ‘Marathons’ each them through some basics and katas. He year for different charities. They were good We moved dojos a few times and trained eventually came back about 10 minutes because, over the years, we raised a lot of in some strange ones. I can remember one before the lesson ended. That first time money for some very worthwhile causes, school hall where we had to get changed was a bit nerve-wracking – thrown in at the although we suffered after with blisters and on the stage. Another time we had to train deep end! aching legs. The Karate Kid

In 1989 the film ‘Karate Kid’ was A background music tape was put released. Chingford Karate Club was together and this went to the control requested to assist with the promotion booth in each cinema to build up the of the film in the London area. A team atmosphere and excitement. Karate of keen youngsters was organized and Kid Headbands were given by the film rehearsals were started in the open at company to make the children look Chingford Memorial Park. more authentically part of the film. The music started and the Karate The Karate Kid team had to visit all of display began. The audiences loved the cinemas in the area and perform their these displays and often the children Karate Kid display on stage and under got a standing ovation. Pop corn spotlights before the actual film began. and ice creams were liberally given Some of the moves had to mimic the to all who took part by each cinema techniques used in the film performed manager, and everyone generally by Daniel La Russo, particularly the one had a great time. legged flying (Mae Tobi Geri) which was seen at the very end and climax of After the film had finished its run, the the film. The main part of the display was team stayed together and performed choreographed by Rod to demonstrate their display at various school fetes a small young boy being attacked and open days. David Ives, Michael by a bunch of thugs. Also included Gallop and Arbind Gupta were was a special version of Tekki Shodan members of the team and all went performed in synchronization. on to later reach Black Belt level. David Ives in particular went on to achieve some spectacular National championship results. Karate Displays

Throughout the year the clubs would take part in various Karate Displays at Schools, Churches and Fetes. Many students enthusiastically took part in these displays and it was impossible to fulfill all of the requests from various organisations for Karate displays.

The highlight was often the ladies self defence section where ladies enthusiastically kicked, punched and threw the men around. Mike and Barbara Ives were always very enthusiastic with their demonstrations to the delight of the audiences. Liz Lafbury was also a star of the ladies self defence team together with Laura Aghassi and Lucy Traettino. The kiai of Laura would fear into the men who were taking part in the display and most of the spectators became pretty frightened too! The Ives Family • Extensions �������������������������� • Renovations ���������������� Mike and Barbara Ives together with their three sons, Steven, Tony and David, were all keen and integral members of the Chingford Club. Barbara • Plastering ��������������������� was the last one in the family to achieve her black belt and this meant �������������������� that the Ives family was the first family of five black belts in England. The • Landscaping event became a news item and was covered in all of the local papers and 27 Meadow Close, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 5BT on TV, the story created a lot of interest locally and nationally. • Patios & Driveways Tel: 01442 823095 Mobile: 07976 244 815

Courses & Visiting Instructors The Chingford, Wanstead and Enfield Clubs were gaining a reputation for producing good quality students and instructors and for organizing successful events with visiting instructors. Many of the top names in the world of Karate visited these clubs and enjoyed teaching on courses. Sensei , Soon Pretorius from South Africa, Jim Wood, Frank Brennan, Ronnie Christopher, Andy Sherry, Paul Herbert, Jim Mullin from the USA, Sean Roberts, Bob Poynton, Emma Reece, the late Charlie Naylor, Yoshinobu Ohta, Tetsuo Otake from Greece and Keiichi Kasajima from Luxembourg all visited and were excited by the attendance and the enthusiasm of the students.

More recently the legendary Ticky Donovan visited us for a special Kumite course. We organized the course at the Enfield Dojo and once again students travelled from miles around to take part. Willy Ortiz the Chief Instructor of Finland paid a visit to the Chingford dojo after Sensei Rod had taught on one of the National Finland courses. Sensei Dave Hazard has given two courses for SKE and both were a resounding success. For our 25th Anniversary we are very pleased to welcome Sensei Keiichi Kasajima for a special week end celebration course. In June 2003 the KUGB organized a memorial event at Crystal Palace with photos and memorabilia covering the years that Sensei Enoeda was based in England. Instructors came from all over the world to pay their respects and be part of the Tim Ahmet memorial. It was a tasteful and kind tribute but of course a very somber affair. Sensei Rod had to perform a very sad duty at the memorial course when he was After starting as a very young child Tim asked to provide a table with framed pictures of Sensei Enoeda and Sensei Tabata showed great ability at competitions. who had also recently passed away. There were memorial courses up and down There were of course disappointments, England and Karate students wore black armbands on their Gis whilst attending but he persevered and pushed himself courses and championships. A posthumous 9th Dan was awarded to Sensei hard. As a Kyu grade he put in 100% Enoeda by the JKA. Sensei Enoeda’s Marshall St team won the KUGB National effort and by the time he reached brown Championships as a giant picture of the late master looked down on them from and eventually black belt his years of the wall of the great Birmingham Indoor arena. Paul Herbert scored the point that perseverance paid off. Starting with secured the Marshall St triumph. reaching the finals, Tim went on to win many junior categories. Sensei Rod Rod was in shock and started compiling all of the book pages he had worked on for recommended him for the National many years covering the life of Sensei Enoeda. Originally the project was meant to squad and he was accepted. Shortly become a single book to be presented to Sensei Enoeda as a gift, but as more and after this Tim went on to become the more people became interested and involved, it became clear that it was going to National under 21 Great Britain Kumite be more than just a one off book. The book was professionally designed and went champion. Tim still officiates at the SKE into production. Mrs Enoeda sanctioned the publication of the book and wrote an Championships and assists with the squad introduction that appears in the front of the book. Rod remembers; ‘The book had to training. He has also become a proficient be good, I felt as if Sensei Enoeda was looking over my shoulder watching me work judge and referee. Tim now works for the and waiting for me to make a mistake.’ Audi car company. ’Keinosuke Enoeda ~ Tiger of Shotokan Karate’ was published in August 2004. A course and a book signing were organized and took place at The Peter May Sports Centre in . Mrs Reiko Enoeda attended the event and signed dozens of books with Sensei Tomita and Rod the author. Two of Sensei Enoeda’s assistant instructors Mr Tomita and Mr Ohta had been booked to provide a karate course for students who had travelled from all over the UK and abroad to get a copy of the book. A buffet and bar was Sensei Enoeda organised for everyone in attendance and karate videos featuring Sensei Enoeda were played Sensei Enoeda was booked to during the book signing and lunch. The attend the Chingford Club in whole event created quite a stir in the December 2002 for the annual international world of karate, but was Christmas course, something tinged with sadness and foreboding that he always loved doing. Sensei Enoeda’s secretary rang to explain that he about the future of Karate in England. had to return to Japan for some hospital treatment and Sensei Otake from Greece would be standing in to take the Annual Christmas Course. We were all upset but excited at the same time; of course none of us really understood just how ill Sensei Enoeda was.

The course went well but then in the New Year 2003 the bombshell hit us when the news broke that Sensei Enoeda had died in hospital in Japan. The whole karate world was in turmoil, nobody had expected to lose ‘The Tiger’ whose strength and power had inspired so many in the UK and all around the world. We were all in deep shock. general administration. All of and the Monaco club. These the senior Black Belts worked links have endured and club hard to get things going and members meet up each The Birth of SKE on Sunday 6th February 2005, year for enjoyable exchange SKE had its inaugural meeting courses and social activities Although SKE itself was head the new association. stayed out of the JKA and the name ‘Shotokan together. We are very happy formed in 2005 the roots of There was a bitter dispute subsequently taking a Karate England’ was adopted. to welcome and train with its formation started in 1985 which ended with the KUGB different path to that which Sensei Kasajima, the Chief when the first ever Shotokan resigning from the JKA. Most was now developing. This impersonated Rod Straightaway there were Instructor of Luxembourg Karate Club in the Chingford clubs were not sure of what time was the most upsetting on a popular Karate website enquiries from individual on our 25th Anniversary. area began. was happening and aligned and traumatic in the history forum, that was the final blow. students and clubs who wished themselves geographically to of the Chingford Karate Club Rod called a meeting with to join SKE. The first was The death of Sensei Enoeda either the North or the South and its associated clubs. all of the senior Black Belts Sensei Rosemary New and in 2003 brought out some of England. Most clubs in the Some long time friends, and Instructors and there the Tring Club. Negotiations unpleasant rivalry and Central and Norther n part of students, squad members and was a unanimous decision began and the Tring Club backbiting as the various England aligned themselves instructors were lost because to resign from the JKA. affiliated in 2005. One of political factions vied for to the KUGB. Most clubs in of this allegiance to either The tremendous losses that Rod’s early training partners power. The KUGB who were the South aligned themselves the JKA or the KUGB. The Chingford had endured by Sensei Steve W ilson made the natural successors to the to the JKA. unfortunate split in loyalties following Mr. Ohta and the contact, resigning from his lead that Sensei affected families and just JKA had been a complete organisation to bring the long Enoeda had In 2003, Karate-London about everyone. disaster and the sacrifices that standing Harlow Karate Club given, were comprising of the Chingford, had been made were in fact into SKE. The Portsmouth Club ousted Wanstead, Larkswood and It soon became evident regretted. under Sensei Tony Denham by the Enfield Clubs affiliated to that the affiliation to the enquired about affiliation after JKA who the new JKA group in the JKA was a disaster and Rod There were many losses on also experiencing the JKA wanted a South. There were naturally who was part of the JKA both sides at this time due to nastiness and bad treatment. Japanese strong links to the KUGB and organizing committee, was this fragmentation of Karate The Portsmouth Club affiliated instructor to some club members chose to bitterly disappointed with associations; the JKA losing in 2006. SKE ‘ticked all stay in the KUGB rather than the way things were going. the star of the nationals – Paul the boxes’ for many karate affiliate to the There was back biting and Herbert and his Dartford instructors and clubs, and has JKA. Some jealousy, nastiness and lies Club, Tony Denham, James steadily grown in numbers and long time spread by those who were Marshall, Tony Aidoo, in reputation at home here and friends, supposed to be leading and Ahcene Moussaoui and Craig throughout the rest of Europe. families carrying on with the legacy of Raye. The KUGB suffered There is not a week that goes and Sensei Enoeda. Rumours were similar losses losing Ronnie by without visitors to the clubs students spread about people who Christopher, Greg Heggarty from abroad or enquiries about were genuine in their karate and Cyril Cummins who had membership. pursuits and many of the around 45 years of dedicated senior Black Belts in London Karate service. Karate Throughout this traumatic time and the South subsequently fragmented and Sensei Rod SKE instructors built up their resigned from the JKA. had the unenviable position own thriving and successful of having to make the right clubs; Roger Rayner – the Things went from bad decisions with the right kind Highlands Club in , Senel to worse when Chingford of people. Dervish – the ‘Score’ Club in member 16 year old Daniel , and Tony Aidoo – the Jenkinson who was the It became very clear that ‘Ashi’ Club in . National Under 21 Champion, clubs and instructors had Two of Sensei Enoeda’s long was accused of manipulating become disillusioned with standing senior grade students a newspaper article about the big associations and and instructors Sensei Harry his jour ney to Japan to the way that karate was W ilson and Sensei Jim Kelly represent England in the going in the UK. They affiliated to SKE together with World Karate Championships. wanted a simple system of Sensei Olusegun Akinola who Daniel, who was innocent affiliation, insurance, access was a leading light for karate of any wrong doing, was to courses, gradings and in Nigeria. Olusegun was a suspended from all of his championships together with National team member, team squad activities by JKAE. At an open minded, honest and coach and assistant Chief the same time Sensei Rod professional attitude towards Instructor in Nigeria. Enquiries was also falsely accused of training in general. started coming from various hijacking a news paper article. other countries and now SKE Yoshinobu Ohta the new chief Rather than join another large has members in Norway, instructor of JKAE, who was karate group with all of the Holland and Africa. a regular visitor to the clubs, inherent problems that had supported and endorsed all been experienced, it was Chingford member and of these accusations and this decided to for m a Shotokan good friend Mike Woodward behaviour, and seemed to group with clubs and relocated to live in be encouraging it. Everyone instructors who had karate Luxembourg and close links was missing the leadership as their main motivation. developed with his club and skills of Sensei Enoeda. The A lot of work had to be Sensei Kasajima. After club clubs stayed on with the done; insurance, licensing, exchange visits to Monaco, JKA during 2003, but when registration, gradings, similar close links were a JKA committee member championships and lots of established with Sensei Sato New Clubs

The Wanstead club was originally opened as an extra venue Unfortunately the school decided to erect a large sports hall in for the Chingford Club which was closed throughout Summer the playground and do away with the dojo. It was sad to see Holidays and other educational breaks. It was important to all of the beautiful wooden floors and walls being ripped out have a dojo that students could come to when Chingford and lines of bookshelves and computers being installed. The was closed. However, Wanstead became a success in its own new and much larger sports hall built in the playground was right and Chingford subsequently moved to Rushcroft School no comparison; it was often used for exams and soon became where there was an excellent dojo available all year round. dirty and badly maintained. Another move was contemplated The move to Rushcroft took time and the club trained in just and an invitation was received from Forest School to use the THE PETER MAY SPORTS CENTRE about every school and available hall in Chingford before its Forest venue for a course. The course was successful and in Chingford karate club was involved with the Peter May Sports Centre well before residence at Rushcroft School began. Longshaw School, Chase 2008 the Chingford club left Rushcroft and restarted classes at the small embryonic club started in April 2009. ‘Active Angels’ a girl’s only karate Lane School, School, Sir James Hawkey Hall in Forest School. venture was started by the Waltham Forest Council and Rod was booked to take the Woodford and many other venues were used by the Chingford classes. The Sensei Enoeda Course and book signing took place in the main hall and club as a base. At one point the club moved out of Chingford The Wanstead Club is now managed by Sensei Tony Aidoo bar in 2004, and so when the sports centre made enquiries about starting Karate, and trained at Galliard School in Edmonton because all of the 4th Dan and Sensei Gary James 3rd Dan. Both instructors the club began efforts to get a new Karate club started. schools in Chingford closed for Summer holidays! The club had have taken the Wanstead Club to higher classes in corridors at Kelmscott Leisure Centre, a cloakroom and higher at Larkswood School and even in a park at Walthamstow. In achievements in those open air park sessions the students ran to the park and both National WALTHAM ABBEY KARATE CLUB ran back again after the class. The second class of the evening and International The Waltham Abbey Karate Club began in 2008. Although small, there is great would then repeat the exercise. Nothing ever stopped the Championships. enthusiasm and many of the members travel to different clubs for extra classes or Karate classes. Many venues were used until in 1987, the Sensei Tony squad training. No Black Belts have yet been produced but there is a good Brown residency at Rushcroft School began. Aidoo is also the Belt section. In 2009 the Waltham Abbey Sports centre was threatened with closure Chief Instructor and so the Saturday classes relocated to Waltham Abbey Pool. The problem of The new dojo at Rushcroft School was probably the best in at the Ashi closure has now been resolved and the club now uses two venues the London area. A wonderful genuine sprung wooden floor Shotokan Karate – one at the Waltham Abbey Sports Centre and one at Waltham which together with pine wooden cladding all around the Centre based Abbey Pool. Resident Instructors are Sensei Lucy and Rod Butler. walls gave the dojo a beautiful golden appearance, especially in Whitechapel, when in Summer, the doors were open and the sun shone in. .

LARKSWOOD KARATE CLUB Mr. Chris Cowling, the branch manager at Lexus Cars in Woodford had links with the management of a new sports centre being built in Chingford. Chris recommended the Chingford Karate Club to the management of the sports centre and subsequently a new venue had been found for the club. Although small, the club was managed well by Tony Ives who took classes there every Sunday. The Larkswood Club still thrives today and is managed now by Senel Dervish. Lexus also started to sponsor the clubs and organised team clothing, poster sites and information leaflets. The clubs attended Lexus events adding to the interest of the day by providing Karate displays.

POOL & TRACK – WALTHAMSTOW More training days and times were needed for the members of the Chingford club which had limited access to its own venue at Rushcroft School because of other sporting activities and school exams. The Pool and Track had been used in the past for various karate events and so it was a natural choice to use for further extra classes, particularly for children. The Pool & Track Karate Club started in 2004 and is thriving with its resident instructors Sensei Salem Tedj, Roger Rayner and Liz Denton.

Daniel Jenkinson Adaptatio n Special i s ts Fo r The Di s abled & Less Able

ADAPT ABLES WET ROOMS – LEVE L AC CE S S SH OWERS Daniel started karate as a fairly weak child but went on to get Changing the w ay people l ive DIS ABLE D KITCHE N S – ACCE S S RAMPS stronger and stronger. He competed in many Championships ADAADAADAHFK JHKJDGKJDFKGJDFKGJS AFE TY FLOORIN G – DAILY L IVIN G AIDS before he found success and worked his way up to win the S TANDARD BATHROOM AN D S H OWER I N S TALLATION S National Junior Kumite championships in the JKA. His skill WALL & FL OOR TILIN G at kata and Kumite was noticed and Daniel was selected to 01992 713675 – 07530 176350 compete in the World Shotokan championships held in Japan. KDFJG He did not reach the finals but had a very successful trip to www.ad ap t ab leso n l in e.co .u k Japan competing against some of the very best in the world. Daniel is now at University studying law. Enfield Edmonton Karate Club Karate Club The Club at Edmonton began as an overflow for the Enfield Club. The Southbury Leisure Centre had become bankrupt and went into liquidation. The The success of Chingford and Wanstead formed the nucleus for a club and Black Belt liquidators were trying to force a 100% increase in the fees charged to clubs clubs was noticed by the Sports performed a karate display on the Massoud Aghassi using the centre. Continuing at Southbury looked distinctly unlikely and the club development team on Enfield council opening day of the new sports centre assisted greatly in setting up had to find an alternative venue. After long negotiations, demonstrations at the and Rod was approached to assist in on 28th April 2002. The Mayor together and running the new club. Within one Enfield Civic Centre and a petition to Number 10 Downing St, the problems opening the new Southbury Leisure with Sharon Davies was also there to month, four other karate clubs had at Southbury gradually receded and the Edmonton Club, now established, Centre in Enfield. A group of club perform the opening ceremony. Enfield applied to start up at Southbury in Enfield continued as a sister club to Enfield which is still based at Southbury Leisure members living in the Enfield area Karate Club was born and Wanstead following the example of the small but Centre. Edmonton instructors Massoud Aghassi and Kristina Baraskeva now successful new Enfield Karate Club. manage the Edmonton club.

162 St Anne’s Road Seven Sisters London St Ann’s N15 5RP Congratulations on your 25th Anniversary Oriental Foodstore We wish SKE every success fo rthe future The Olympic The Tring Club Sensei Rosemary New was a student of Sensei Enoeda when she was living nearer to London. She was in the ladies Torch Relay team at Sensei Enoeda’s Marshall St Dojo and trained in the club on a regular basis. The Tring club in Hertfordshire had The Olympic Flame came to England thrived whilst affiliated with another karate organisation but as part of its round the world travels to when the chance came to affiliate with SKE Sensei Rosemary celebrate the start of the Olympic Games. jumped at it. The links back to Sensei Enoeda On June 26th 2004 Sensei Rod was chosen were important to Rosemary and she often to run with the torch in a section of the stresses how happy the club is to be part of London relay. His run was only for a couple SKE. The club has two venues and its members of miles in the South London area of Lords are enthusiastic and very wide ranging in terms Cricket ground but the roads were packed of age and grade. with spectators cheering and waving Union Jack flags. Crowds lined the route and The Tring club has hosted many successful SKE cheered as the torch cavalcade of police, courses during the last 4 years including Self ambulance, and TV crew in a helicopter Defence, Instructor Qualification, Health & Safety escorted the torch around the streets of and Child Protection courses which have all South London. benefited SKE members and instructors greatly. Sensei Rosemary New 5th Dan I was born and brought up in Rhodesia should investigate my Shotokan roots. students progress and gain in confidence (now known as Zimbabwe) and it was and that I loved teaching karate. I also Sensei Enoeda allowed me to there that I first started training in found that I had an interest in self-defense recommence my Shotokan career where it Shotokan Karate aged 16 in 1970. I had techniques and how these relate to Kata had left off – 5th Kyu. Feeling myself to be been encouraged by a family friend and and basic training. During the very fortunate I applied myself to training imagined myself to be similar to Emma fourteen years that I trained and taught as three times a week until in May 1979 I Peel in “The Avengers.” Sixteen-year-olds a member of TASK, I graded to 2nd, 3rd was once again rewarded for my efforts were a bit different then! and finally 4th Dan in 1999. Sadly by 2005 by achieving Shodan. During my time at relationships had become strained and Circumstance forced me to change my the Marshall Street Dojo, Sensei Enoeda political wrangling within TASK caused me karate style to Shukokai (also known as gave me the great honor of choosing me to part company from Sensei Van Weenen Shinkokai) in 1972 when our 1st Kyu to represent the club in the Ladies Kata and his Association. Shotokan instructor moved away. This team. I trained at Marshall Street until meant Black Belt instruction for the first 1981. Happily, this led me to Sensei Rod Butler time and I thrived on it. I was a 5th Kyu at and Shotokan Karate England. Finding A gap of ten years in my Karate career this point and by July 1974 had attained that we had many happy memories of then followed caused mostly by getting Shodan. Two weeks after this momentous Enoeda Sensei in common, Sensei Rod married and having children. In 1991 event I emigrated to the UK. and his Senior Instructors welcomed karate called me back and I began me and my students into SKE. In the I found a job in London and settled down training in a small club in Berkhamsted. ensuing 5 years, my club has gone from but finding no Shukokai organization The club was close to where I lived and strength to strength. I serve SKE as Child closer than Glasgow I decided to set up was part of an organization known as Protection Officer within the Management my own club. It took about a year but I TASK with Sensei John Van Weenen at its Committee and I am also on the Technical began to realise that training was more head. Sensei Van Weenen encouraged Committee. I am delighted to be a necessary than teaching at this point in my all of his Black Belts to set up their own member of an Association based on career, and that I still had a lot to learn. clubs, which I did in my hometown of the original principles and traditions of Faced with images of Enoeda Sensei Tring in 1994. Shotokan Karate. plastered all over the tube station on my journey to work each day, I decided that I I discovered the rewards of watching NOW FULL COLOUR THROUGHOUT! TRADITIONAL WAS ad 190x50:Layout 1 12/4/10 15:48 Page 1 Traditional Karate Magazine KARATE Vol. 19 No. 7 March 2006 After the untimely death of Sensei Enoeda had nothing to show for the thousands of £3.25 there were other repercussions in the karate pounds that they had contributed to both Kata Bunkai F world. The English Karate Governing body Karate England and the English Karate Form Analy WALTHAM ABBEY lysiis to which most clubs English clubs were Governing Body. Nutrition for Training A affiliated, went into liquidation. A new Are you fiit t to Fiight? STATIONERS LTD representative organisation was hastily put The magazine ‘Traditional Karate’ carried The Science of Striking P 17 Market Square, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 1DS together sponsored by the government regular news regarding the financial scandals Pre-emptiv tive power Telephone: 01992 652170 Fax: 01992 652171 supposedly representing all karate clubs that surrounded the karate governing Ippon Kumite Karate’s ’s Toolls of t email: [email protected] Main Distributors of and groups. The new organisation called bodies in England and contacted Rod for the Trade Hewlett Packard ‘Karate England’ went into debt, and within an interview. The interview in 2006 went Shotokan’s Epson, Cannon one year all the money that had been put ahead and the magazine included a and Lexmark cartridges in by the government via ‘Sport England’ picture of Rod on the front cover. “RodG Butler was gone. Karate clubs and students also ood Etiquette & 0 r 3 respect 9 7 t 7 c 09 c 5 o 5 o 9 s 5 2 st 07 ts 5 s PLUS: News, Letters, Calendar, Features, Tournament n Reportsothi andng much” more! The Wanstead Club The Harlow Club Sensei Enoeda was a regular visitor to In 2006 Sensei Rod was the Chingford Club and in 1992 when pleased to hear from an old the Wanstead Club opened it was Sensei karate friend from many years Enoeda who came along for the opening ago. Sensei Steve Wilson, celebration course at the club. The dojo who had been running the was packed and some of the students very successful Harlow Club, had never seen Sensei Enoeda before, contacted Rod with a view consequently it was a real surprise for to his club joining SKE. Rod many who were there. provided all of the necessary information and the rest There has been a karate club at is as they say, history. Rod Wanstead since the Sports Centre was remembers training with Steve built in 1973. The original Wanstead from those early days and Karate Club was formed by Phil Gautier remembers him as a formidable who was also an early Enoeda student. opponent with excellent karate Phil used to sometimes train at the technique. The Harlow club has Chingford Club but had to stop training been running for well over 30 and teaching due to an ongoing health years and has a strong black problem. It was at this point that Phil belt membership. Sensei Erik gave his blessing for Chingford to take Thorpe took over as Chief over the Wanstead Club and so Rod Instructor of the Club when tried to carry on and build the Wanstead Steve retired in 2007 and has Karate Club up once again. made a brilliant job of carrying on with the Harlow karate The Wanstead club went from strength to legacy and success. strength and won many trophies in Kata and Kumite at various championships. Sensei Tony Aidoo is now the main instructor at Wanstead together with Sensei Gary James. Both instructors have inspired and encouraged the Wanstead members to do well and succeed in their Sensei Erik Thorpe endeavors. In later years, the SKE Team Kumite trophy went to the Wanstead club on many occasions and Wanstead 3rd Dan members have also done well in National and International Championships. I first started training in 1984 at a small club linked to Harlow Shotokan Karate Club but, as this club didn’t carry out grading examinations, I joined Harlow Shotokan in 1985. I There were often Karate social events passed my black belt exam in September 1994 at Watford. This was the Honbu dojo of at the Wanstead club. The bar which my association, Seishinkai Shotokan Karate. has now gone, was popular with the students and was often used by the club I first got into teaching by assisting my Sensei, Steve Wilson, during the junior class at for birthday parties or celebrations. Sadly Harlow and things progressed from there. When he sadly retired from training in 2007, I the bar has now been converted into the then became the Chief Instructor to Harlow Club. upstairs gym and there is nowhere for social activities. Although I find teaching a great responsibility, I get great pleasure from seeing students grow in confidence as they progress with their training, and this transfers to their life outside of karate. I am also extremely proud when a student S H O T O K A N performs well in gradings and competitions, KARATE exceeding what they thought they could do. WANSTEAD KARATE CLUB JKA England Some memorable moments in my Saturdays – 12.00 to 1.00pm training include when I passed my Nidan Black and Brown Belts 1.00 to 2.00pm Beginners and exam, as I think that was thebest grading I Kyu Grades ever did. Some of my early competitions bring back great Mondays – 7.15 to 8.15pm Beginners and Kyu Grades memories and I was always proud to represent my club in all 8.15 to 9.15pm Black and Brown Belts events. A certain course always sticks in my mind website: www.karate-london.co.uk as well. This was held at Enfield by Sensei Butler in 2006 email: [email protected] TEL: 020 8364 3606 and I remember attending with my Sensei as guests. Classes also in Chingford and Enfield The training was fantastic and about ten minutes Sponsored by: into the course we glanced at each other with a big grin as we both knew we had found our new association. I am proud and

 honoured to be part of the SKE family now. Sensei Tony Aidoo 4th Dan Tony is the resident instructor at the Wanstead Club. He also runs his own successful The Portsmouth Club Ashi Shotokan Karate Centre in Whitechapel, East London. Sensei Tony Denham has taught students at the Portsmouth Club for Tony was a member of the England squad and competed successfully in all levels of competition. many years. Tony was a regular at the Crystal Palace courses hosted by A year after attaining his Sandan he started the instructor’s qualification program and after successfully Sensei Enoeda and was often in the Kumite team when Sensei Enoeda qualifying he decided to teach, as this was what he had wanted to do all along. Prior to attaining his full wanted to win an important match. Tony and the Portsmouth club have instructor’s certificate he was an assistant to his club instructor, Sensei Rod Butler at the Wanstead dojo. always done well in the Kumite events at various championships. The club, like Chingford, was affiliated to the KUGB and after the death of Tony works as a senior biomedical scientist in the haematology department of the Royal London Sensei Enoeda, the JKA. Hospital situated in Whitechapel. As things went from bad to worse in the JKA, Portsmouth like Chingford and many other clubs resigned, and that was the point when Tony Sensei Senel Dervish 3rd Dan affiliated the club to SKE. Many of the old KUGB and JKA members remained with Tony at Portsmouth and now the club is growing again after I started training with Sensei Butler together with my son Timmy 25 the upheaval of the last few years. years ago and haven’t really looked back since. I came into teaching by assisting Sensei on a regular basis at the Chingford club and with his encouragement I qualified as an Instructor and now run a number of Clubs for him in the Chingford and Leyton area. The most pleasurable things about teaching is watching my students gaining an understanding of what they are practising and watching them gain the confidence to try out what they have learnt on the mat. Also, the confidence and ability to think for themselves and try out new and fresh ideas. I have always been taught with passion by Sensei Butler and try to instil that same passion into my classes. I have so many fond memories and it is impossible to mention them all. The ones I will always treasure are the many training courses we attended every year at Crystal Palace with Sensei Enoeda. In 2001 my son Timmy became the under 21’s National Champion and that put the biggest smile I have ever seen on Sensei Butler’s face. Timmy stood on the podium and held up the 1st place National trophy which sits pride of place in my living room. Sensei Tony Denham 3rd Dan I started training When I reached 4th Kyu, I arranged with Sensei Enoeda came up to me and said, Sensei Gary James 3rd Dan by chance in the club I was training at to allow me to “You fight Friday!” You just didn’t say 1975, as my start a junior club twice a week. After no to Sensei Enoeda! He made myself I started Karate around 23 years ago, infamous Crystal Palace Course in front a brown belt when we used to perform Mum suggested starting the junior club in Portsmouth, and all of the other team members from the style I started in was freestyle sport of Sensei Enoeda and remember being the kata marathons to raise money for taking my young we ended up with six British champions Marshall St train everyday twice a day karate, it was very competition and self very nervous but fortunately everything charity, they seemed to go on for ever! brother along to under 16yrs. Darren Ward one of our up until the Friday and we paid for every defense orientated. The training was at went well and I’m proud to have his Also A highlight was training with Sensei karate lessons. juniors was presented with the Enoeda session on the course. We were battered, times very physically tough, I remember signature on my Shodan certificate. Dave Hazard he has to be one of the At the club I was Trophy for fighting spirit. I do believe bruised and tired after 5 days of heavy coming home with lots of bumps and best teachers in the world. I started my teaching at Wanstead when informed that that no other junior had ever won this training and travelling from Portsmouth bruises and at times questioned why Sensei Rod asked me if I would like to My goals for SKE are to keep the high they couldn’t take trophy before. I have always enjoyed to Crystal Palace every day. We won I was putting myself through this, but start helping him. I was very proud to be standards set by our teachers, to keep children under knowing that I have passed on the the competition and at the end of the I believe It gave me good foundation asked and also very nervous questioning training as hard as possible, and to 16. He was so knowledge to others that Sensei Championship Sensei Enoeda had a to move forwards and always train myself as to whether I would be good keep pushing the students to produce disappointed Enoeda gave to me. I gained my Black photo taken of us five team members hard. I originally started training to enough. I have since found out the best their best; life is too short not to train that I promised I would train, then come Belt in 1977 under Sensei Enoeda at together with himself standing in the encourage my children to keep training way to start teaching is to simply get out hard. Reaching your black belt is a good home and show him what we had been Basingstoke. middle holding the trophy. He then but eventually they gave up and I kept there and do it, you will make mistakes achievement but don’t think that’s it! I taught, believing that he would most turned to us and said “Thank you very going. (and I still do) but that’s the learning remember Sensei Rod saying; “Grading probably become bored after a couple I remember well training up at Crystal much” and walked of with the trophy!

My first competition was at Crystal curve. What I enjoy about teaching through the colour belt system is the of weeks. He didn’t - and I soon became Palace on the first Monday of one of the Priceless! We all shook hands and went Palace fighting under the WUKO rules, Karate is seeing a student come into a path to the mountain, when you get your hooked! Summer courses. During the session off empty handed. this meant you fought continuous for class who knows nothing about karate black belt then you have to start to try 3 minutes and the one with the most and then seeing them grow and develop. and climb the mountain.” Never has a points won the fight, I lost my first fight I now see these students in my squad truer word been spoken. 32 - 3 I had met the European champion training sessions going from goal to goal. in the first round! ����������� Some of my memorable occasions were

I have been involved with the SKE when Sensei Enoeda used to come around 21 years and have never looked to our dojo and take the training and back. As soon as I started training I could grading sessions, the atmosphere was ������������� see the standard was very high and I electric. Also I remember the Crystal ���������� ������������ knew then that this was the organization Palace courses which were spread over for me. I have enjoyed great success 5 days, training in the morning and ��������� ���������� both in competition and personally with afternoon with some of the legendary ��������� ����������� the SKE. I took my Black Belt at the Japanese teachers. I also remember as Visits to Clubs Abroad

Since its inception, SKE has made many friends at home and abroad. Especially notable are the strong links to the European Investment Bank Karate Club in Luxembourg, the Brussels club of Sensei Kasajima, the Monaco club of Sensei Sato and the ISKF clubs of sensei Okazaki in the USA. Each year there have been visits abroad and the links already strong, have been renewed and reinforced. SKE is particularly proud to have been invited to the personal dojo of Sensei Kasajima in Belgium and Sensei Sato in Monaco. It is extremely pleasing to see such strong and friendly links that emphasize the karate and not the political posturing that we saw during the last decade.

Sensei Sato made a wonderful presentation to Sensei Rod when a large number of SKE students travelled to the Monaco dojo in 2009. He presented Rod with a beautiful piece of Japanese calligraphy created for the event especially by his wife. The calligraphy now hangs proudly in the office of SKE.

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