Talkback Archive 2003

27/12/03 - Terrific site. It is very different from anything else I've found. You clearly have no barrow to push in your articles and interviews, nor are you trying to sell anything (please don't start putting Karate books and videos up for sale, they're boring and self-indulgent). Most importantly for me you appeal to the 'thinking' Karateka. Well done and good luck in the future. Ross Cosgrove, Peebles Scotland.
Thanks Ross. Yes, the JKA is an association of people who train together, not a platform for individuals or groups to market themselves. We appreciate your comments.

23/12/03 - I read your editorial about "Change" with interest and I couldn't agree more. I must say though, that in my opinion I think some instructors have been guilty of putting their name to certain changes or ways of doing things just to be seen to be different. There maybe an element of mischeif here as well, you know, let's change something to stir things up.. What do you think? Tom Reeves, Sunderland UK.
Karate Instructors are human beings Tom, so you are probably right. However, the point of the eDitorial was not about Instructors' methods, it was about whether slight differences in the performance of a Kata makes it superior or inferior to another.

20/12/03 - Hey Vic JKA - What a site! I remember competing against JKA Melbourne people back in the 1980's in Australian All Styles. You left a great impression on me then and this site is doing the same thing. Would it be OK to think about coming back? I have a Goju background but I'm ready to try Shotokan. Name and Email provided, Melbourne VIC.
Talk to your old Instructor before anyone else. You are quite welcome to train at a JKA Dojo but it would be a pity to discard the time you (and he) have invested in Karate. If that is not an option, call us.

18/12/03 - Greetings from England - I was recommended your excellent website by a couple of my former students who are now training with you (Laura & Mick). May I request a link to my JKA dojo from your website? I will of course return a link straight to yours. Make sure Laura and Mick are training hard and keep an eye on that Gary Stewart if you see him training over there in the near future (He's trouble...he he he) Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year - Paul Herbert (4th Dan JKA)
Thanks Paul, your site is now on our links page.

15/12/03 - I read your tribute to Sensei Hiroshi Shoji. You say he scored a perfect 10 in JKA Kata competition. I didn't know this, is there a video of this anywhere? And congratulations on a very informative web site. Tony Devlin, Leeds UK
Thanks Tony. As our tribute stated, Shoji Sensei scored a full 10 points for his Kata Unsu in the very early All Japan Championships. This was before the days of video and as far as we know, there is no film recording of the event. The Japan Karate Association does however keep very good records and the achievment is still talked about in JKA circles.

15/12/03 - OSS. My name is Gary Stewart I train in England. I was Enoeda Sensei's student for 20 years until his sad death. I am now Ohta Sensei's Student, who is chief instructor to JKA ENGLAND. I have been JKA 4th Dan since 1996. I will be visiting my sister in Melbourne and would like to at least have the oppertunity to train with you. I will be in Melbourne from 29th Dec until 11TH January. Please may I have your kind permission to visit your Dojo (and training times) Kind regards Gary Stewart Oss.
Thanks Gary, your visit is smack in the middle of our holiday time, but some of our seniors will be training. Look out for an email from one of our instructors. We hope you enjoy your time in Melbourne, it's a fantastic city.

9/12/03 - Stopped by your site for a while today. What a relief to read stuff that makes sense for a change. I've been involved in karate on and off for 3 decades and I train at a JKA Dojo in Southern California. I did not take grading tests when I should have because I was too busy with work and I'm kinda regretting it now. Your articles and interviews are inspiring me to get serious again, thank you JKA of Victoria. Eddie Ralph, San Diego USA
That's great Eddie, keep training.

2/12/03 - Oss, I found your site via a link on our JKA England website. Lot's of information which I found very interesting! If possible, please could you add a link to our own club site (www.billericay-karate.co.uk) as we are JKA England members and are a club based in Essex UK. I will also add a link to your site if that is ok with you. Kind Regards Dave Paulus, Billericay JKA Essex UK
No problem Sensei Dave, your site is terrific. Best regards to you and your members from JKA Victoria

30/11/03 - Hello, I did Goju Kai karate a long time ago for about 6 years in Sydney. I now live in Melbourne and I'm thinking of starting again. Could I join JKA? Darren Fischer, Scoresby VIC
No problem Darren, but you could check out the group you trained with previously before you look at JKA, there are plenty of Goju Kai dojos in this state.

30/11/03 - Oss to all JKA members in Australia. I have just spent an hour looking over your splendid site and there's still more to look at, well done. I was over there for the rugby world cup but didn't have time to train, maybe next time. Tim Davies, Cardiff Wales
We don't want to hear anything about rugby right now Tim, but we're glad you like the site.

27/11/03 - So sad to read about Hiroshi Shoji sensei. He was not a high profile person but a very talented man. Do you know if he ever taught outside of Japan? Mark Scicluna, Brisbane Qld.
Shoji Sensei didn't teach overseas for any extended time Mark. He did visit Australia on several occassions and we had a chance to take instruction from him in Melbourne on his last trip. In Japan he taught many JKA Instructors including our own and he was held in very high regard in our association.

24/11/03 - I'm an ex member of the KUGB now working in the construction industry in the UAE. I have read your tributes to the deceased JKA people and the guest Articles, keep it up I can't find a site anything like this, well done JKA Victoria. Malcolm McCann, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Thanks Malcolm.

24/11/03 - My name is Cesare from Italy. How good youre site is. I have many friends and relativs in Australia and Melbourne. I'm fist kyu of karatedo and I want to go black belt, you have to many big words in your site, but my English and karate is now improved because i visit. C. Romano, Milan Italy
Thanks Cesare. Your English is better than our Italian.

24/11/03 - Hello from Canada. Your site has a lot of detail and interesting stuff. Have you thought about adding some kata instructions? Kellie, Edmonton Alberta
Thanks Kellie. There are already too many Karate sites with Kata instructions. We try to write about JKA Karate rather than show or teach it in any detail, that's for the Dojo. Good Luck

21/11/03 - Just visiting this site and so far I can see how dinamic it is, very excellent instructors, will keep on visiting. About SOSHI SENSEI, never had the oportunity to train with him but I saw some videos of him and they are very very good. How can I get his book? is there a english version? Thank you for your help. Edmundo, Portugal
Thanks Edmundo. The English language version of Shoji Sensei's book(s) were published by Kodansha in the mid 1970's. We are not sure if they are still available outside of Japan. You might like to try an online seller like Amazon as a starting point.

13/11/03 - I have looked at your site and found it impressive. Since Yoshinobu OHTA Sensei left the KUGB a new Association was formed. I would be grateful if you would add a link to your web (details supplied) we will of course reciprocate the honour. Thanking you in anticipation. Lester Wellington, TSKC Sensei, Buckinghamshire UK
Thanks Lester, we are happy to oblige. Your link is now up.

06/11/03 - I was wondering if it would be at all possible to train at the Melbourne Hombu. I have recently arrived from England and will be staying in Australia for 12 months. My previous instructors were Enoeda Sensei and Ohta Sensei. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Laura
Thanks Laura. Just call one of our Melbourne Instructors to make arrangements.

05/11/03 - Hello there. I just found your site, too much to take in with one visit so I'll be back. I'm inspired to start karate training again, so I'll let you you how I go. Skin Johnston, Blantyre UK
Thanks Skin

02/11/03 - To Australian Karateka who had the opportunity of training with Shoji Sensei, Oss. I received from Japan the sad news this evening that Shoji Sensei passed away early this morning (1 November). Shoji Sensei won the 1st and the 4th All Japan Championships in kata. He had a stroke two weeks ago from which he recovered, however, he died from pneumonia in the hospital. He was 72. I visited him at his home in early July this year when I was there for my father's funeral. Oss and regards, Taka Nishimura.
Thank you Sensei. This is terrible news, another great loss for our organisation. Please accept the condolences of the Instructors and members of JKA Victoria on the passing of your teacher. With your permission, we will publish a tribute to Shoji Sensei very soon. Oss.

02/11/03 - OSSU. This site is terrific guys, it's fantastic to read interviews of and articles by karateka that you know, and it's cheaper, since all these things are normally discussed over a beer or ten at the bar after training. Very poignant to read Sensei Green's tribute as he held a special place with my family. Kia ratou kua mene ki te po, haere, haere, haere (To those who have been called to the night, farewell, farewell, farewell). A big thank you to Nishimura Shihan, Stark Sensei (E Koro!) and Baggott Sensei for all your assistance over the years. Even though Shihan does seem to have a fondness for the number "one thousand" during Gasshuku and Stark Sensei made me play all of "The Hurricane" in Taupo, and Baggott Sensei has trouble reading time (what time's your flight, Lloyd?). Kia Kaha, kia Toa, kia Manawanui, no te mea hoki atu matou kia koutou. (Be Strong, be Brave, be Steadfast, because we're coming after you). Keep fighting the good fight! Wayne Edmonds - Auckland NZ
Oss to you our big Kiwi friend, and go well All Blacks, you'll need it against the mighty Wallabies!!!

30/10/03 - I have just read the Tribute to Jeff, it was fabulous. Leanne Everlyn (nee Taylor) formally Childers JKA Qld. Australia
Thanks Leanne

23/10/03 - Great website, very very good. The tribute to Sensei Enoeda was great. When will the Tabata Sensei tribute be ready? Gayle Thackaray, Norwich UK
Our tribute to Mr Tabata is about half done Gayle. We are waiting for some correspondence and we need to check some details with Takahashi Sensei who was his close friend, so it's not too far away.

28/10/03 - Is this a new website? wow, it's outstanding...what about some pix or videos on JKA katas-only make it the advanced ones, the haeins are already well known. Paul Crittenden, Sydney NSW
Thanks Paul. Yes, we've been on air for about 5 weeks. Nearly every Karate site you will visit has Kata tutorials and most of them are "borrowed" so we don't bother because there is enough out there. Apart from Technical Tips, this is not an instructional website. JKA Karate can only properly be learned in the Dojo, but good luck anyway.

17/10/03 - I like your site very much. Who is the Chief Instructor in Perth Western Australia? I'll be moving back there to live in February 2004 and I want to take up JKA. Andrew Reed, Cardiff Wales
The Chief Instructor of JKA Australia is Takahashi Sensei, there are no official state Chief Instructors. The administrative head in WA is Mr Pasco Costantino. We will send you his contact details, good luck.

14/10/03 - Oss Aussies, You have a great site there. The Articles and Interviews make it very personal. A real change from the regular cut-and-paste stuff I see at most other karate websites. I'll be calling again. Joseph De Franco, New Jersey USA
Glad you like it Joseph, come back again.

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