JKA Vic Interviews - Mark Willis

Mark Willis

Mark Willis MNZM - Godan JKA

Kiwi, Mark Rayne Willis MNZM is a JKA “lifer” who over many years has made a fantastic contribution to Karate in Australasia. As a competitor he was a very strong Kumite specialist, and in Kata, he was a finalist at the first Shoto World Karate Cup event in Tokyo in 1985. As a coach he has led the JKANZ national team many times. He is an accomplished competition official, judge and senior administrator.

Sensei Willis is a man in his fifties with more enthusiasm and energy than most half his age. His vitality inside the Dojo is matched by his attitude to Karate work outside of the Dojo where, amongst other things, he holds office as Head of the Japan Karate Association of New Zealand. Mark is person with a big heart and a genuine passion for JKA. He is the great friend of many in JKA Australia and a big supporter of JKA activities on this side of the Tasman. Mark has gone out of his way many times to support JKA Victoria with his attendance at Championships and Seminars over the years.

We are grateful for his efforts and we appreciate his input. Mark lives in Turangi on the North Island of New Zealand with his ever-supportive wife Juanita and family. He kindly agreed to answer some questions for jkavic.com.au

Sensei Mark, thank you for accepting our request to ask some questions and seek your opinion on some matters for the JKA Vic website. Firstly, how did you get started in Karate?
My brother Richard, who now lives in Melbourne, first got me interested in Karate when I came out of the RNZN, Royal New Zealand Navy.

Who was your first Instructor?
It was Sempai Paul Burke from England a student of Kanazawa and Sempai Joe Rowan from England a student of Enoeda Sensei.

What are your earliest memories of training?
As I recall there were only about 6 of us, Alan Lawton who still trains was one of them, (all Prison Officers). What I remember was that training was conducted outside in all types of weather, with a lot of training in the river. Also the Instructor would break dowelling (thin round bits of wood) of approximately half an inch thick over various parts of our body ie. arms, legs, stomach. neck and back. Also, he would test our stances with the usual Zuki and Geri Waza to the stomach. He also did lots of Kumite with us.

What sticks out in your mind most about those days?
The length of the training, ie 4-hour sessions with 2 hours of stretching, strength and flexibility exercises followed by 2 hours of Karate and ending with breaking practice. We trained twice a week back in 1973

Are you still in contact with old friends and original members from your early days in Karate?
Yes, especially Sempai Joe Rowan who still lives in my hometown of Turangi, I see him every week.

When did you first meet Takahashi Sensei? (JKA Chief Instructor to Australia and New Zealand)
It was 1977 or 1978

What were your first impressions of Sensei and his training?
Having recently come out of the Navy I found the man and his training sessions to be very hard. I just loved it especially as there were only around eight students in the classes.

Do any particular sessions with Sensei stick out in your memory?
Yes, several in Auckland during the 70's and in Japan in 1982 (this included the much talked about weeks visit to Komazawa University, one of the major hotspots of Japanese collegiate Karate). The blood and guts ones, and when he would pick us out to do Jiyu Kumite with him before or after class.

In the Navy you visited a lot of countries, what were the best places to visit and did any of your overseas experiences make a lasting impression?
I had travelled of course, to the seaports around Australia, NZ, Pacific Islands and Asia. Each had an experience in some ways negative as well as positive. But the lasting impression was how good our own society was, what my family meant to me and how easy our lives are compared to most countries.

The relationship between JKA Australia and JKA New Zealand is very warm, apart from the fact we have the same Chief Instructor, why do you think the relationship is so good?
Firstly because of the Chief Instructor Takahashi Shihan, I cannot stress this point enough. As well as this, the Senior Dojo heads who have had similar experiences throughout their Karate life and the fact we have gotten to know and respect each other through some very tough times in the Dojo. This has come about over very many years, not overnight.

What is your opinion of JKA karate in Australia and New Zealand in general?
Overall I think Technically it's on the right track, having said that, we still have room for improvement in all areas that's why we train, it's ongoing really.

JKANZ has just hosted the best ever JKA Australasian championships at Lake Taupo, with organisational skills like that, would you consider hosting a World Championship?
Of course, we must! This is progress. But maybe a Regional Championships first.

Sensei, your Karate training now spans across 4 decades. In that time much has changed within the JKA and in Martial Arts in general. From this point of view, I’d like to ask you…

How has your own personal training changed over the years?
For many years I have had the good fortune to be one of many who just trained in the class and took Instruction from seniors. These days I find that I am instructing, so now I do a lot of training by myself in the out doors in all types of weather. I have also found myself doing a lot of thinking on technical issues.

If you could go back and change any aspect of your training to date, what would it be?
Nothing really, it all has been an accumulation of knowledge, which has been building progressively. It's my lot and I am thankful for the experiences.

Has anything become less important or more important to you?
I like to think that as a whole, things are equal. I try and not put too much emphasis on students just doing Karate to win Championships, that's not what it's about.

You are well known for your love of long, hard and demanding practice. Do you believe that everyone should do the same or is it OK for students go a bit easier?
That's up to them. There is no problem with things being a bit easier, ie hard and soft you must get the balance right, that's all.

How important do you think the Sempai-Kohai relationship is in today’s JKA?
Very important, but in today's world of things at peoples' fingertips everything is; instant this instant that, quick and fast. Its harder to get that special relationship nowadays, not many have it.

How do you see the future of Karate in terms of Competition and Dojo training?
That's going to be up to us. We have to hold the line, maintain a standard. Personally I tend to be harder on the women in my Dojo than the men, this stems from me being a Prison Officer and looking after people who don't respect women.

JKA has been said to be “obsessed” by correct technique, any comment?
Because I have been doing JKA for thirty years, I think it's a good thing, nothing wrong with it. You only need to look at the Shihans who are older than us, watch them move, if their Teachers had not been obsessed with technique they would not be as good as they are today.

Do you think that JKA Karate has any weaknesses and what would you say they are?
That's a matter of opinion and as I am still studying JKA and not that knowledgeable on the world scene, I can't give any view.

The various splits and break-ups in the JKA world are always spoken of as ‘inevitable’, do you agree? And do you think any good can come of such splits?
Yes and no. I think it's wrong to split if it comes out of some powerplay. If a split does happen for that reason I think the main group does benefit from the other leaving anyway.

Do you think a re-unification of Shotokan groups in the world should be attempted?
I feel it's too late for that. If some people want to try, that's ok, they will be doing what they want.

The general public seems to be far more familiar than ever before with fighting arts, how would you like the average person to regard JKA?
As a way of life and as a means of building better people to live in our world. The Dojo-Kun says it all.

Martial Arts magazines and the Internet are sources of much information and have become open forums for frank and heavily opinionated material. Inevitably, Karate is often closely scrutinised. What do you think about this kind of scrutiny?
It's going over board. We need to just keep on kicking and punching and do a lot of thinking on why.

The JKANZ national Gasshuku is an infamous event. How long has it been going and how does it work?
Our National one has been going 10 years this October (2003). The people who do the Gasshuku have the automatic right to do the next years one. New participants must apply to join depending on vacancies. (Mark understated this. This event is the peak training activity in JKANZ. It has become a sub-culture in itself and places to train are much sought after on both sides of the Tasman. There will be more about this in future jkavic.com.au articles)

Which past and present students in your association stand out and why?
With out a doubt, Paul Edwards. Has trained with me since he was 11 years old. He is now 36, that's 25 yrs of training. As yet I have not heard Paul whinge or complain. He has an enquiring mind and he is a thinker. Not many people have seen this side of Paul.

You are very busy with JKANZ but what other Martial Arts are you interested in?
Aikido, I would love to try it but I'm too busy.

If you had time to prepare for a life-threatening physical challenge (no weapons involved) what would you do?
Nature training. Just basic waza, speed and endurance training, breathing drills and meditation. (As a prison officer Mark is exposed to physical and mental violence every day. His advice is worth listening to!)

What are your thoughts on particular breathing methods in Karate?
We must do more of this type of training, It's good for Kumite, especially Dojo Kumite with multiple opponents.

Have you found (and do you apply) any spiritual aspects to your training?
Yes, through breathing. (Mark didn't elaborate but we surmise he puts as much into this as everything else he does.)

What you do in your spare time?
I don't have much of that. At the moment I am into a 14-month course which is doing a NZ Coaching Diploma with Sport at Waikato. Also I am Vice-President of our local Tokaanu Turangi and Districts Returned Servicemen Association.

Sensei Mark, you are a bit of a comedian and practical joker as we have often seen in Australia, could you please keep a straight face and answer these few questions seriously…

You have recently been awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit. Do you ever secretly pin the medal on your Dogi and prance around the house admiring yourself in the mirror?
I do! But with two mirrors, you idiot!

You once said that as a young lad you were forced to sip a teaspoonful of Navy Rum and that since then you have had no desire to touch alcohol. Is this true and has the experience had a lasting affect on you?
Yes its true, how did you find this out? Now I just gulp the horrible stuff

Apart from you, who is the funniest guy in JKA New Zealand?
Steve McKee.

Is it true that you are secretly doing intensive training in preparation for next years Ladies over 60’s Team Kata with Wayne Edmonds, Steve McKee and Alan Lawton as reserve?
No, wrong. We are not keeping it a secret, we have come out of the closet.

You’re a bit of a reader. Are you getting your teeth into any good books at the moment?
Yes that's right, but only the top plate

Sensei Mark, thank you very much for your time, one final question, what has Karate training given you?
A great sense of personal satisfaction, a great amount of good friendships and heaps of headaches.

Sensei Mark can be contacted on jkanznz1@xtra.co.nz

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Reproduced with the kind permission of Mark Willis MNZM.
Copyright © Japan Karate Association of Australia (Victoria) Limited 2003