Interviews

Brad Hoffman – June 2006

Brad Hoffman - Sumoto Japan 1996 - Sochin

Queenslander Brad Hoffman is considered by some the bad-boy of JKAA. He is bold, opinionated and self-assured but there is no questioning his ability. With International, National and State titles to his credit, he has competed at every level representing Australia at seven World Championships. Whether it’s in the Dojo, in a competition arena or anywhere else, his is a predatorial fighting style. He takes a do-or-die approach to every encounter, always going in with one purpose; to utterly defeat his opponent, and if that means getting hit or losing a match in the process, too bad! For people with a sports Karate mindset this is difficult to handle, but for Brad this is Karate.

His Kata like his Kumite is spirited and realistic, but also technically excellent. He would take it as a compliment that he is not known as “better” at one or the other, an indication that his training is not one-sided but even and thorough. He has a good knowledge and a genuine interest in the art of fighting; whether it is stylised combat such as Karate or chaotic street fighting, he will always be able to demonstrate moves, talk about the pros and cons and stretch a debate (and an arm) to the full.

There is also a funny side to Brad. He spins a good yarn, tells some great jokes and keeps everyone in stitches with his daring practical jokes. He sometimes ‘walks’ into bus stops, windows or street signs in public and collapses in a screaming heap drawing sympathy and offers of first-aid from anyone around.

We asked this all-round Karateka, thinker and comedian to answer some of our questions - and that he did!

Thanks for your time Brad. When were you born and where?
Gympie Qld - 17th November 1964.

Where do you live now?
Capalaba, Brisbane Qld.

Are you Married, any Children?
Yes, four children.

What do you do for a living?
I've worked in so many industries in my life. Right now I'm in the Building industry.

What is your own family background?
My father was a Business owner, Nutritionist and Author. My mother came from England; she was an actress and model in London before coming to Australia where she met my father.

Do you have any brothers or sisters?
One older Brother and Sister.

Did anyone in your family have an interest in sport or Martial Arts?
My Brother was interested in Martial Arts.

Were you very active as a kid?
Very active, along with sporting commitments, I would also spend extensive amounts of time when I came home from school, hunting in the bush lands near my home with my bow & arrows. I would go hunt by myself at the age of 12-17 until well after dark, walking six to ten kilometres at times.

What sports did you play at school?
Athletics, Basketball, Cricket.

When and how did you first hear about Karate?
Local newspaper, there was a write up on the local club.

What year did you start training?
1984

Was it a JKA Dojo?
Kingaroy JKA Club.

Who was your first Instructor?
Sensei Doug Young.

Do you remember your first lesson? What was it like?
Yes quite well, it was hot and I was sweating like hell!

What about some early memories of training - what sticks out in your mind?
Three things stuck out, and to explain here would take too long. However, let me say, they were hard, very, very hard. Takahashi Shihan was unyielding, relentless and tough as hell. He would wrap the stick around my head or back whenever he saw fit, and I liked it.

You liked it, why?
Because any opportunity to prove my spirit against the next person was always very exciting for me.

Do you have any mates left from your early Karate days?
From my original Dojo, none.

Who are your training partners now?
Scott Richardson and Erwan Goasoque (a Frenchman).

What is your personal training routine?
The way my life is now, it is more mental training.

What in particular are you focusing on in your personal training right now?
To tell you the truth, it is just to get to training as often as possible.

What about other kinds of training, gym work, running etc, do you do these?
I'm training at a gym 2-3 times a week.

Do you teach?
My focus is mainly on teaching, so yes.

How do you approach teaching?
Budo minded. I teach that it is not what we know, but what we can apply under real pressure is most important. When it comes down to it, it's the only thing that matters. Can you do it for real? In a real life battle it's what you can take that is also important, because any one can give it.

Would you be happy if your own kids did JKA Karate?
Yes and No.

Would you like to teach them personally or let someone else do it?
Myself.

Are there any people in Karate whose style or technique you have tried to emulate?
Not style or technique but spirit and attitude. With correct spirit and attitude I trust my own creative being to develop its own style or way of expressing technique.

What about spirit and attitude, who have been your models?
Spirit and attitude are everything. With spirit, attitude and belief in yourself, your style and technique will come. And when it comes it's yours - unique! As for models, mine have come from outside of Karate, e.g. my Father. Also from the age of 10, I have read and studied the Sioux (Lakota) Indians of the North American plains, this has had a profound influence on my life.

Do you pay any attention to nutrition?
Having a father who is a qualified Nutritionist, makes it hard not to be aware of this very important part of physical prowess and longevity.

How do you relax, what do you do in your spare time?
I have no spare time at the moment, going to bed and reading would be my answer.

Do you think breathing is important in Karate?
I've at times tried to do Karate without breathing, but found it extremely difficult. Seriously, we start this life with a breath and go out with a breath, the breath controls a lot in between these two first and last breaths. There are a lot of good books on the subject, you should study this area well.

What would you say are your strong points in Karate?
My inner dialogue.

What are your not so strong points, have you struggled with anything in particular?
My mind set is for real combat not competition. This is not the best for competition. To have a Budo mind and to compete, you have to compromise your strategy. My pride won't permit that, I would always rather lose a match and have my opponent think 'Thank God this was only competition'. Most points in competition would not decide the outcome in real combat.

Do you carry any permanent injuries or scars, aches and pains?
Eighteen facial stitches, six broken fingers and toes, broken knuckle, broken shin, broken nose twice, badly torn groin, torn glute causing back pain and bruising. (Brad would complain if a fly landed on him. Ed)

Has your training changed much in the last say, 5 years?
I've always thought we (JKAA) should train more in kumite skills and since training and working with Sensei Mike Connolly, I'm now very confident of this belief. If you or one of your students are not so sure of this, then next time you're standing in front of some of the top JKAA players in a kumite match, just ask yourself one question…'Could I have done with just a little bit more practice in this area?' Because they probably have!

What do you like best - Kata or Kumite and why?
In Kata you can hide, in Kumite it's hard to hide - Real Life Kumite can't hide! I don't like hiding, I am what I am, good or bad.

What is your favourite Kata and why?
I enjoy all Kata, but I'm fond of Unsu, Sochin, Gojushiho-sho.

What do you think is the connection between Kata and Kumite, does one complement the other?
Since the popularity of competition has pitted style against style some have changed. Goju styles have changed in their fighting style. Their Kumite doesn't reflect their Kata, whereas Shotokan styles have a truer Kumite-Kata relationship. Then there are Karate styles that don't practise kata at all, yet these styles are very competitive and successful. However, in the JKA we are more traditional, therefore producing better focus power and combat determination. Is this because we focus on our Kata and Kihon more then any other style? What would happen if we did an experiment, two instructors of equal ability - one teaches Kata, Kihon and Kumite equally the other teaches Kihon & Kumite only. Two years later they have a full contact competition, who would win? Two years, three nights a week, two hours a night = 624 hours of Kihon and Kumite. The other Kata, Kihon and Kumite instructor = 416 hours of Kihon, Kumite. 208 hours less. Do you think that 208 hours of Kata would make up the difference and produce the same result? Better or worse? These days even the Japanese team has specialist kumite fighters, who leading up to the world championships concentrate on kumite only. Boxers leading up to a match do more and more rounds in the ring just sparring. If you yourself knew that you had to fight for your life in 1 month time what would you be practising more of Kata or Kumite? It depends on whether you're after the truth (budo) or not. If you are after the truth then Kata is not so important, it is just a way to store your styles vast technical array. If you were to read Musashi's book on his style there was no mention of Kata. Bruce Lee also had no use for Kata. Most of the real life fighters practiced real life specific techniques. Competition has made Kata more important than it really is.

How long have you been competing?
21 years, 19 years as a black belt.

That’s a long time. For you, what’s changed? What’s different now?
Less contact, better skills, more relaxed. But the results at world level are no better, why is that?

How do you prepare for competitions now compared to when you were younger?
Mentally I don't, it's all natural and automatic now. Physically it is very difficult to prepare as I would like.

What is the most memorable Kumite match you have taken part in?
Kyushu Island Championship 1996 final. I fought the then current Japanese champion of this competition in the final and we came to a draw twice, third time lucky! What was memorable was to see the proud look on all my teammates faces. An Australian winning in Japan is a very rare thing. (This was indeed a great match. Brad and the team had been through a tough pre-world championships Gasshuku and tour in southern Japan during the height of summer. The guys had no idea that this event was being held until late in the trip. At the host city of Minamata, the senior Japanese observers were nodding in approval as Brad progressed through the rounds and won a never-ending final with nothing but sheer grit. Ed)

What is the most outstanding match you have ever seen?
Elwyn Hall of Great Britain “Ipponing” a Japanese karateka twice his size at the Sunderland England Shoto Cup in 1990.

Have you ever been stunned by a Kumite or a Kata performance? When, who?
Imura at the 1994 Philadelphia Shoto Cup Kata Final. Bold, dominant, he won before he entered the ring, you had to be there. Also, Shiina at the 1987 All Japan Championships, on his way to the kumite final. Reverse Hook kick, Ashi-Bari, Gyaku Zuki - Ippon.

Who are some of the best JKA fighters you have seen and why?
Shiina, Naka, Kagawa, Yahara, Yokomichi, Kawawada, Imura, Frank Brennan, Yamamoto, Tanaka. Why? Because they can kill in the blink of an eye.

Who are some of the best JKA Kata players you have seen and why?
Osaka, Kawawada, Kagawa, Imura. Their kumite backs up their Kata.

Overall who in your opinion are some of the great Karateka of the world?
The above are some of the greats, but I think the truly great ones are those who can pass their greatness to others.

What do you think of the standard of JKA Karate in Australia compared to overseas?
Our top people are great, but they all can be much better and they know it. For twelve years I was on the Australian Team, and in that time we were being told from Takahashi Shihan that we were next to Japan in our level except there was something missing but he did not know what that was. Why is it, if we are next to Japan we never came second to them? Other countries, which are not as good as we are technically, came second or even first. If Takahashi Shihan doesn't have the answer, then he may think that his students (Australian) probably wouldn't know either. Why would Takahashi Shihan pick a non Australian to coach our team? So simple - get someone from a country that has won the Shoto Cup - because he may have the answer. This to me is a lack of belief. If there is a lack of belief in us then this will filter down. Belief is the answer. Belief only comes from a person who has prepared totally. When you're totally prepared, you believe in yourself and your team - period.

At the 1996 World Shoto cup, team coach Sensei Walter Stark looked me straight in my eyes and said, "Brad Hoffman you CAN win the world championship you bastard". At this time I was in the final 16 in Kata and about to go on court. Sensei Walter knew I had a badly torn groin muscle for more then a week. Because of his belief in me my spirit remained strong. He said "what are you going to do?" I replied with "I'm going to rip this groin apart trying". I went on court and performed the best Kata I've done in my life with no problem from my groin. Sensei Osaka (JKA’s best Kata man ever) scored me the same as he did the then current World Kata champion Aihara. This is what belief in someone can do. Sensei Walter did more for my Karate with those few words than any one has done before.

There’s a new generation of Karateka coming up in JKAA, do you think they’re an improvement?
Yes, I think that each generation has been an improvement. Each generation lifts the game, or they should - we would hope.

Who do you think are the best in JKAA now?
I think it is obvious - I believe in Adam Pearce. When he came to the Paris Shoto Cup (in 1998) as a junior I thought he was a great team player and had brilliant written all over him. If he gets the support and the best preparation then I believe he can be our first World Champion. Personally I Love Him! (steady on mate, Adam’s a married man)

What interests you most - Judging or Coaching? Why?
Coaching is the creative end.

What about Judging, isn't that creative?
No, I don't think so. A judge does not need to be creative, creativity is open to ones interpretation. Interpretation is grey, rules are black & white. What a judge needs is integrity, and to apply the rules given them in a fair way. Let the competitors be the creative ones.

You have trained at Aoyama and Komazawa Uni’s in Japan, what was it like?
Aoyama was ok, hard training etc. Now Komazawa, that was more! Nine days of fast pace kumite, bruises on bruises, loose teeth, fat lips, bleeding cheeks, blister on blister. At the end of the first day of training I took a photo of my body, fifteen blood welts from being hit. That was the first day - with eight to go.

Did you change your outlook after that?
Yes, I was in the big time now, no hiding.

Do you think your Karate improved by going to Japan?
When you see the big time for the first time, it has a big impact on you.

What differences did you notice after Japan?
Mobility and always look for a second shot.

Can you elaborate on this please?
The first 2 days at Komazawa we were very flat footed, we were sitting ducks for the mobile Komazawa Karateka. They were hitting us at will, hence the 15 blood welts I wore on day one. By day 3 we just had to move or just cop more of the same. Our current Australian team wouldn't have such problems, I believe. As for the second shot thing, we as with mobility, suffered from offence mobility. That is, we would get attacked and just counter with one technique then go to sleep mentally. As a result we would be countered upon unexpectedly causing injuries. The Japanese boys did not make this mistake and would often go for a second or even a third counter on us. They did not miss an opportunity. Your mind must not stop, but continually flowing towards your objectives.

Overall, what do you think are the strengths of JKA Karate?
Our commitment to the attack.

And what would you say are the weaknesses?
Being taken to the ground.

Have you ever had an interest in other Martial Arts?
Yes, a real fighter should take an interest in all-serious martial arts or fighting systems.

Have you ever trained in another style?
I've trained in Boxing, Thai-Boxing, Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido. But most importantly in real life combat, both professionally and other.

Have you ever been involved in serious confrontations?
This question can make a person appear to be a thug. The truth is I've had many street combat experiences.

Can you give an example, what happened and what did you do?
Let me just say Karate works if you work. Period. No need for an example.

Do you think there’s room for JKA Karate to develop better technically?
Of course but there is greater room for improvement elsewhere.

If you could change any aspect of JKA Karate, what would it be and why?
When we were kids we have all played the game "I'm the King of the castle and you’re the dirty rascal". Well sometimes people like to keep playing all the way up until we're adults. With this game there's only room for one King, and is not always fun for the others. Then there is another way that has proven to be best for all. It’s called Democracy. But of course that's not going to happen-is it? Who is the most important person in JKAA? The Dojo Head! Without Dojo heads students don't exist, without students - Takahashi Shihan does not exist in Australia. The rest of my answer to this question I'll keep it within me for now.

Are you a big advocate of etiquette; the Dojo Kun, Kneeling, Bowing etc?
I believe strongly in all these things, some people may doubt this. I say, look to our examples. But maybe the example shown to them lacked a little and so on all the way to the top. Sometimes the example we have come to accept as the way does not mean it is right.

What for you is the most important thing about Karate training?
Finding the truth and standing by that truth.

What inspires you these days?
Someone said to me once that there is a saying in Ireland that goes "Our time will come". My time is still to come.

Can you elaborate on that Brad? What do you mean that your time will come? Do you mean that knowing your time will come is an inspiration?
Yes. We all need to believe in a better tomorrow for JKAA and most would agree. I would like to be a part of it. This is my inspiration.

Would you call yourself Traditional or Progressive, and why?
I think I'm traditionally progressive. Whether you're traditional or not, everything should progress. But that doesn't necessarily mean change. When you find the truth, your truth, that doesn't change. But the way you apply this truth is always progressing. Set your Goals in concrete and your plans in sand.

What do you think the future holds for JKA in Australia?
That is the question, isn't it! Everyone would like to know that. At the moment that's not in my hands but it can only go three ways; down, up or stagnate. In nature good growth comes after a burn off, or you could use a good fertiliser. JKAA has not grown for 20 years, I'd call that stagnate. This has been due to many things; Dojos leaving, in-fighting, no common goals and plan of attack. But the biggest problem in any relationship (and we are in a relationship here together) is communication, effective communication. We all know it; Takahashi Shihan is not a good communicator. So therefore we should grow up and communicate with each other on important issues that affect us - Australia! Not go off with one side of a story to trouble and stress Takahashi Shihan who does not always take these things (our problems) well. This can sometimes cause the stress to be passed on.

For you, is Karate a lifestyle or just an activity?
It started as an activity, but of course it has become a lifestyle and sometimes it's a pain in the arse.

What do you personally want to do in the future in Karate?
Many things. But most things may not happen because people who are outspoken don't always get what they want. One thing would be to coach the Australian Team in the true sense of the word.

Finally Brad, what has training in JKA Karate given you?
Self empowerment and a hole in my pocket.

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Published with the kind permission of Brad Hoffman.
Copyright © Japan Karate Association of Australia (Victoria) Limited 2006