Article

Memories of Australia 1984
By Kazuhiro Fujita

Back: L to R. Bev Cook, Asai, Fujita, Nagao, Omer Cukovic. Front: Kami, W. Stark, Shinozaki, G. Sais

Since the foundation of the Japan Karate Association over 50 years ago, JKA Karate has been taught right throughout the education system in Japan. Most of the prominent Karate masters in the world today started at school or university, and thousands of graduates enter the workforce with the benefit of four years of daily university training to their credit

Twenty years ago, a team of students from Aoyama Gakuin University under the leadership of JKAA Chief Instructor Takahashi Sensei, visited Australia and New Zealand for a “Karate Tour”. The purpose of the visit was primarily to share training but to also develop closer cultural ties between the countries. During that visit, Australia was reminded of just how intense Japanese collegiate Karate can be, but more importantly how the sweat and bruises of shared training can establish a common bond and enduring friendships.

One of the 1984 visitors, Kazuhiro Fujita who majored in International Economics, spoke very good English and became particularly close to the Aussies, as well as being the translator for both sides. Fujita Sempai is now 41 years old, married with 2 children and works for an affiliate of the huge Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in Tokyo. As a Uni OB, he is still involved in Karate and occasionally visits the Aoyama dojo to train with the current students. He still stays in touch with Takahashi Sensei, but these days he plays basketball, coach’s baseball and enjoys skiing. Just recently in Japan, he caught up with the Australian team and supporters and renewed friendships with those who remembered him.

Fujita-san kindly agreed to put together some memories of the ’84 trip for the JKA Victoria website.

G'day and Oss!
My name is Kazuhiro Fujita. I am an alumni of Aoyama Gakuin University Karate-Do Club, so to say Aoyama OB (Old Boy) Class of 1986.

Fujita Mita Asai 2004

Takahashi Sensei has been Chief Instructor of Aoyama for many decades and the first Gasshuku tour to Australia was conducted in March 1984 during the spring vacation when I had just obtained black belt and was going into 3rd year at University. All fifteen team members participated in the two week tour under Takahashi Sensei. We visited several places in both New Zealand and Australia in the following order; Auckland and Lake Taupo in New Zealand and Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney in Australia.

Our training started from Day one, soon after we arrived at Auckland International Airport! Takahashi Sensei shouted, “all right boys, quickly leave the bags and get changed. We will start training”. The team members looked at each other as if we were talking to ourselves, “Yes, we are here for training, not for shopping or sightseeing….”

After a few trainings in Auckland, we visited Lake Taupo where we met Mark Willis Sempai. We were all impressed by the beautiful scenery of Lake Taupo. Another thing which struck us was the welcome Hakka which was performed for us by Mark and his students. Arigato Kiwi. Hello OZ, here we come.

Aoyama Gakuin 1984 Team

4th year

Shinozaki (captain)

Kami (Vice Captain)

3rd year

Asai

Nagao

Takahashi Kiyoshi

Shirahata

Hori

Mita

Fujita

2nd year

Yamaguchi

Yamashita

Yamazaki

Kikuchida

Suzuki

Asakawa (girl)

We landed in Melbourne, our first visiting place in Australia. Walter (Stark), Omar (Cukovic) and Beverley (Cook) picked us up at the airport. There was training at one of the indoor facilities of either a school or church. It was a tough training but peaceful one. After the training, we were invited to BBQ party at one of the student’s homes. While people were preparing for the BBQ, all of a sudden a drinking competition had started. Yes, “Bottom’s Up”. I personally wished to sit back and relax and sip a glass of beautiful Aussie wine but the bond of our karate team did not allowed me to do so. After several intense match ups, I lost memory that night. (I still have a photo of Walter with his glass, already up side down on his head and one of the Aoyama boys still drinking half way).

In Adelaide, it was a three days Gasshuku style training seminar which was conducted by Takahashi Sensei and Nishimura Sensei. People from all over Australia had gathered and there were roughly a hundred participants in a big gymnasium. It was nice to see people once again like Greg Simmons, Gavin Gross, Allan (Wharton) and Danny (Brown) who had all joined us for the 1982 Aoyama University summer Gasshuku in Oshima, Japan which was remembered as one of the toughest, bloodiest trainings, which we all managed to survive. During the Adelaide training seminar, we met Jeff Green and other Australian senior instructors for first time who also joined Matsuyama summer Gasshuku the following year in 1985.

One of the tough trainings was the continuous gohon kumite (five steps sparring). Thanks to so many participants, I felt like the changing of opponents would never end. I remember when I sparred with Jeff, he did beautiful ashibarai to me and I easily fell down. I knew it was almost impossible for me to “pay back” Jeff, so I paid back to somebody else.

On the last day of the training seminar when physical tiredness was at its peak and in the middle of continuous numbers of gyaku zuki which we were all punching like zombies, the Aoyama team shouted, “kiai da!” (more kiai!) and the Aussie participants responded with a big shout of “more spirit!“. It was like all of us had integrated into one big unit and whose spirit was big enough to explode the gym!

One good thing about Gasshuku is that you can overcome something that you are not able to achieve if alone. We had a kumite and kata tournament on the last day of the seminar. In the final of men’s kumite, Hiroki Asai, one of the Aoyama boys (and later Captain), sparred with Jake Leslie from Sydney. Asai whose sparring style is not fancy but has got a timely and fast tsuki, sparred well but Jake came 1st and Asai got 2nd place. As a final special event, there was a team kumite between Aoyama (Shinozaki, Kami, Asai, Nagao and Fujita) and the Australian National team (Walter, Omar, Greg, Jake and Allan). Well, the Australian National team won but it was a good sparring to close the fruitful seminar.

At the farewell dinner party, after some beer and a meal, there was a singing performance from various dojo members on stage. I still remember Kimbo, sorry but I could not recall his real name (Fujita is referring to Kim Hainsworth, a genuine Karate “fruit loop” who NEVER gave up) from Bundaberg suddenly went out of the restaurant and came back with a toilet seat around his neck singing some funny song. Next day, the Aoyama team and some of Aussie members participated in a vineyard excursion trip outside of Adelaide. It was a very relaxed moment and I could totally enjoy sipping nice wines at the tasting sites. After Adelaide, the Aoyama team stayed in Sydney for two days and then went back to Japan.

Dad & Daughter 2004

I would like to take this opportunity to say hello and again, express my appreciation to everyone who took good care of us during our stay in Australia and New Zealand. At every place where we visited, people welcomed us warmly and provided us with hospitality. We were impressed by their enthusiastic attitude toward karate training. The Aoyama team gained unforgettable friendships through not only training, but also communicating and drinking! I myself have kept in good contact with a few friends ever since.

Lastly, I thank Walter Sempai for pushing my back to write this article. It was good to see the Aussie Sempais and friends after many years at the recent Shoto Cup tournament in Tokyo. Also, Noela Green and her daughter Tracey, thank you for coming over to my home. My wife and kids also enjoyed having our Aussie mom and friend there.

All the best to JKA of Australia

Oss
Kazuhiro Fujita

Note: If you remember Fujita Sempai or you were around in 1984, please drop a line to Talkback. We could put you in touch, or you may want to settle some outstanding drinks bills !!!

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