British karate-ka honoured in New York

Left-Right: Charles Gidley, John Mullin, George Carruthers and Lorenzo Tosado

Two senior British Shotokan instructors, Charles Gidley, 7^th Dan JSKA and George Carruthers, 7^th Dan JSKA, are in membership of a very small number of karateka to have attained the rights of ’A’ class examiner from the Japan Shotokan Karate Association and its Chief Instructor, Keigo Abe sensei. This historic occasion occurred during the JSKA World Karate Championships in Manhattan, New York on the 23^rd of July 2006.

The ‘A’ class examiners certification is the highest qualification of this type in the association and it allows both Charles and George to grade up to and including Godan (5^th dan) on behalf of the JSKA. All dan gradings therefore carried out by these two senior instructors will be registered at the JSKA Honbu in Japan. “We were both honoured and pleased to be given this important right and hope that it reflects not only our own standards, but more importantly the type of organisation we belong to, where westerners are given such a high level of responsibility within a Japanese led association” said George Carruthers sensei, JSKA-GB Chairman.” Of course, with the hard work completed, our association is open to all British Shotokan karate-ka who wish to train in traditional Shotokan karate, with top Japanese and western Instructors where any grades awarded are attaining Japanese recognition and registration”.

These dedicated karate-ka are now counted amongst a handful of Shotokan instructors ever to have attained such rights on behalf of a Japanese organisation and most certainly unique in the level of the grading rights they hold. They are also certified as ‘A’ class referee and judge’s within the JSKA and are registered as Nanadan (7^th Dan ) with the Honbu in Japan. The latter making them two of only a handful of senior British instructors who have attained Japanese registered 7^th Dans.

 “We are proud to be the JSKA senior instructors in the United Kingdom and we hope that our association, JSKA (Great Britain) reflects the high standards of both the Japan Shotokan Karate Association and our Chief Instructor, Keigo Abe sensei”. “We take our role and responsibilities very seriously and welcome the trust that Abe sensei has placed in us” said Charles Gidley sensei, JSKA-GB Technical Director.  He went on to say “We are also very happy to announce that the JSKA –GB did not come away empty handed from the tournament in New York, where we returned home to Britain with 10 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 3 bronze medals”. “Overall the JSKA World Championships were a great success for everyone concerned, the students who attended, the association in general and of course George and myself”. “The JSKA-Great Britain hopes to increase this number of medals in 2008 where the event will be held in the UK, venue and date to be announced”. Congratulations to the following students; Alison Grundy, Albert Timothy, Ken Tzai, Richard Pavsic, Ferrari Arshad, Daniel Every, Amanda Gregory and Waddah Saleh

On a side note, George and Charles would like to thank John Mullin sensei (Executive Chairman of the World Traditional Karate Organisation ) and his student Lorenzo Tosado, a man who travels 2 ½ hours across New York each day to train before going to work, for their hospitality”. Said George Carruthers “They were kind enough to look after us very well and it was great training in the dojo with them, albeit at 8.00 in the morning, but it definitely beats coffee to wake you up”. 

“During the course of the week new friends were made and old friendships cemented.” said Charles Gidley “ It was great for George and I to meet up again with both old friends and even more so to make some new ones. Those present included such senior players in the world of Shotokan Karate as: Soon Pretorius (South Africa), Hans Muller (Switzerland), JSKA European Assistant Technical Director, Dieter Flindt, (Germany) JSKA European Technical Director, who must be congratulated on an excellent grading, Salvatore Lopresti (US), John McClary (US), Paul Allen (Ireland), Harry Cook (UK), Lisa Henderson (New Zealand), moderator on the KU forum and last but not least Richard Amos (WTKO Chief Instructor and JSKA senior instructor) who one cannot commend high enough for running a tight ship as World Championships’ Chief Referee, to name but a few”.

“Interestingly there were 7 fellows of the International Shotokan-Ryu Karate-do Shihankai and 4 recomendees for fellowship, at the Championships”, said George Carruthers “ This is another group which is growing from strength to strength and it is great knowing from those outside the group, that the ISKS and its membership are held in very high regard within the international Shotokan community.” “Of course the event and everything that went with it would not have occured without the hard work and effort from Tommy Casale of JSKA USA, who organised the World Championships in New York this year. We look forward to the next World Championships in Manchester, England, August 22nd-24th 2008 at the Velodrome and look forward to seeing you all there"

Editor’s note: Currently only four westerners have been graded to 7^th Dan by Abe Sensei and the JSKA. These are in order: JSKA European Technical Director; Dieter Flindt sensei from Germany, JSKA-GB Technical Director; Charles Gidley sensei, JSKA-GB Chairman;George Carruthers sensei and Vilaça Pinto sensei, JSKA- Portugal, Technical Director.