Enfield, Southgate, Cockfosters, Arnos Grove, Edmonton and North London Shotokan Karate Clubs

Sensei David sends his apologies to everyone at SJK for not being able to teach at the club for a while as Sensei Lilian has had a serious operation and he needs to support her during this difficult time.

Since the above Sensei Lilian has been informed that she will need another operation and radiotherapy this will mean a lot of travelling to and from the hospital at different times 5 days a week so Sensei David wishes to confirm that he is unable to teach at the club for some time. He also would like to thank everyone who is helping with the running of the club, particularly Ray and Carol Sensei and Loui Sensei who are putting in so much extra time out of the kindness of their hearts. Not to forget Christine Sensei who is supporting Sensei David both personally and with the running of the club.

Sensei David and Lilian would be very grateful if all SJK students would support the club and the instructors by regularly attending classes as much as possible. It has been noticed that some classes have not been well attended and if these classes do not at least cover the running costs they may have to be closed. This would be a pity after more than 30 years of successfully teaching in our various venues.

Any one wishing to contact David or Lilian Sensei please do so by email: info@sjkkarate.co.uk

David and Lilian Sensei would like to congratulate all who Graded on the 27th April 2008.

The turn out and the quality of Karate on the day was, once again, what we have come to expect at our Club.

Congratulations to all and a big thank you to the SJK Instructors who helped promote the high standard shown on the day.

Some photos taken by Chris Chessum taken on the day

Email received from one of SJK's happy parents

Dear David, Christine and Loui Sensei,

Here are a few photos which I took during today’s grading. Stephen is thrilled to have got his brown belt and we would like to thank all the sensei’s for their hard work and perseverance in getting him up to the required standard.

Sensei David it was really superb to see you again today and great to see Christine too. Please also pass on our best wishes to Sensei Lilian.

Regards.

Chris Chessum 27-4-2008.

Once again we are pleased to say a very big "well done" to all the students who took their grading on Sunday 25th November 2007.

Sensei David and Lilian were very pleased with the standard and wish to congratulate everyone,

including the SJK Instructors who helped to promote the high quality of karate shown on the day.

It was thrilling and exciting to watch the advanced Katas ( spectacular Unsu by Fabio !) and especially the Kumite ( with flashes of Kyokushin- might I add !)

I think that all your students that were present have been given a clear message of encouragement and motivation in order to reach their ultimate goal in obtaining their Black Belt status and beyond !

School of Japanese Karate (Shotokan International)
PRE-GRADING COURSE
SUNDAY 24TH JUNE 2007
At Chace Community School Gym
Churchbury Lane, Enfield EN1
Time: 10.00am - 1.00pm
Suitable for Beginners
Coloured Belts and Black

Group 3 Beginners to Red Belt
Group 2 Yellow to Purple/White Belt
Group 1 Brown and Black Belts

Each group receive approximately one hour of tuition
from three different SJK Senior Instructors - providing a
three hour training course - it was invaluable for
everyone, particularly for students grading on 15th July.

SUNDAY 4TH MARCH 2007 - 10.00 am to 1.00pm at Chace Community School (Gym) Churchbury Lane Enfield EN1

David Alleyn Sensei 6th Dan - Semma Hampton Sensei 3rd Dan - Ray Minley Sensei 3rd Dan

It was great to see Semma Sensei again and everyone benefited from her superb technique.

Needless to say David Sensei and Ray Sensei gave their usual expert tuition to all on the course.

All aspects of karate were covered and each instructor took three different groups for approx. one hour - meaning that each student had about three hours of tuition.

The course was open to everyone, beginners to black belts and the training groups were:

Beginners to red belts - Yellow belts to Purple/White belts - Brown and Black belts.

1st Kyu students and Black belt students who intend to attempt grading in 2007 attended the course which helped Sensei David and senior SJK instructors to make an assessment prior to their proposed grading. All high grades must bear in mind that in order to grade for Dan gradings they must have attended at least two SJK Courses.

Lower grades were able to "brush-up" on their grading requirements to make sure they are "ready to grade" at the next kyu grading on Sunday 25th March 2007.

Well done to the following on their successful black belt grading on Sunday 3rd December 2006

We can help your child settle into his or her new school now!

Have you done everything you can to prepare your children for school this year? You’ve probably bought the items on the list of supplies, bought some new school clothes and taken them to the school’s open day to meet the teachers and find their ways. There is still one more thing you can do to help you children have a successful year, however. Enrol your children in a School of Japanese Karate martial arts class.

SJK martial arts training is so much more than kicking, screaming and breaking boards. Training in SJK martial arts teaches emotional control, sportsmanship, focus and discipline. As we all know as parents, there are so many influences out there that go against these characteristics we need to do everything we can to teach them to our own children.

Class Structure. When you enrol your children in to a SJK martial arts class, they will enter a disciplined class that will require them to respect their instructor, their fellow students and themselves. The respect demanded at a School of Japanese Karate martial arts training will teach your children to respect their teachers, classmates and even school property even when they are not in their martial arts class because it naturally carries over into other aspects of their lives such as school work, team sports and classroom behaviour. Instructors at the SJK school will teach your children that all people, especially adults, deserve respect. You’ll probably even find your children’s teachers telling you that their classroom demeanour is improving as a result of our training.

Focus. Training at the School of Japanese Karate is not a mindless activity. To keep themselves safe from injuries, participants need to have complete concentration and focus at all times during training. This ability to concentrate will carry over to other parts of your children’s lives, even school. They will become more aware of their surroundings and will be less likely to “zone out” during the school day. They’ll have improved focus and concentration that will help them during school lessons, while doing homework and even when studying and taking exams.

Confidence. Another characteristic that all children need to succeed in school is confidence. Our classes can help increase your children’s confidence by giving them the knowledge they need to defend themselves not only physically, but mentally as well. They will be strong enough to not become victims of bullying from schoolmates and will have the ability to stay calm in stressful and potentially harmful situations by teaching them how to handle stress without losing their temper or simply becoming flustered.

Stress Reduction. You know that life can be stressful and you probably already know that physical exercise is a great stress reliever. Your children, even in the younger primary grades, may also be experiencing daily stress. It’s no wonder with the rigors of school requiring them to do a many hours of homework each week. Giving them an outlet for physical activity, such as SJK martial arts, can help them reduce their stress levels. While you might just encourage them to join different sports teams throughout the year,SJK martial arts takes stress relief one step further by giving them a well-rounded type of relief. When they are at SJK martial arts classes, your children will be concentrating on their training, not dwelling on their problems and the things they need to do. They won’t be worrying and stressing out about an upcoming test or about their friends. They will be focusing their mind on something productive (both mentally and physically) and will feel better all-around when they are done with their class.

Preparing your child for a successful school year requires so much more than school shopping and getting them out the door that first day. Help them learn how to help themselves by giving them the tools they need to respect others, focus on school, exude confidence and reduce their stress levels. Enroll them in a School of

Although it was a very hot day all students enjoyed the the "warm up" session before the kyu grading - as can be seen in the above pictures.

Sensei David and Lilian would like to thank all the SJK Instructors who so ably assisted with the grading and congratulations to all the students who took part

SUNDAY 12TH MARCH 2006 - 10.00 am to 1.00pm at Chace Community School (Gym) Churchbury Lane Enfield EN1

David Alleyn Sensei 6th Dan - Semma Hampton Sensei 3rd Dan - Ray Minley Sensei 2nd Dan

(All instructors enjoyed teaching the very receptive and appreciative students)

All aspects of karate were covered and each instructor took three different groups for approx. one hour - meaning that each student received about three hours of tuition.

This course was open to everyone, beginners to black belts and the training groups were:

Beginners to red belts - Yellow belts to Purple/White belts - Brown and Black belts.

1st Kyu students and Black belt students who intend to attempt grading in the near future attended the course which helped Sensei David and senior SJK instructors to make an assessment on their proposed future gradings. All high grades must bear in mind that in order to grade for Dan gradings they must have attended at least two SJK Courses.

Lower grades were able to "brush-up" on their grading requirements to make sure they are "ready to grade" at the next grading on Sunday 2nd April 2006.

Should Competitions be part of Karate-Do? article by SJK Chief Instructor David Alleyn 6th Dan

I decided to submit this article because I feel that we, the members of the School of Japanese Karate and the instructors, have the responsibility to continually develop in the right direction. Since 1978, the SJK has grown for almost 30 years and has expanded in Enfield and North London. With the expansion has come tournaments and competitions which has slowly moved away from Master Funakoshi's principles. Is it time to come back to basics? - Sho Shin Ni Kaeru - which means to come full circle.

When Master Funakoshi took modern karate to Japan, of course there were no tournaments. Exactly the same techniques were practiced as we do now but they only competed against themselves, not against others. Martial arts was a way to develop themselves and they constantly trained under the principle of "seek perfection of character".

Sometimes they had a shiai (meeting) with other dojos to test their techniques, but they had no formal tournaments. Master Nakayama felt that a tournament would be a good way to introduce karate to the public. At first Master Funakoshi said no because it would move karate in the wrong direction. Master Nakayama kept asking and Master Funakoshi finally relented and said yes, but he issued Master Nakayama a warning that there must be strict rules and guidelines.

In 1957 Master Nakayama got together with other senior members and devised standards that used rules from kendo, judo and boxing. They held the first All-Japan Tournament and it was successful because the competitors had not been training for competition, they just competed. The techniques were the same, but the movement and thought was different. No one thought about scoring a point, they thought about training and making themselves better.

Unfortunately, in the following years, as tournaments spread throughout the world, contestants thought too much about scoring points, not training. Every time Master Nakayama travelled around the world and saw the developing "sport" karate he constantly apologised to Master Funakoshi and said it is time to come back to basics.

Think deeply about why you are training. Training to score points may make champions, but not necessarily good karateka or good human beings. Karate is a martial art that must be used to develop yourself so that you will be successful, not just in the dojo, but also in the rest of your life. Within karate movements is a philosophy to live by. Don't think only about techniques. You must try to understand how each movement and constant training can affect your life.

In the dojo, when a black belt bows to a white belt, there is no competition, so why bow? You bow because you are both human and show respect for each other. This makes balance and peace and this is what separates a dojo from a gymnasium - mutual respect and humility. Some people forget that entering a tournament is entering a dojo, not a gymnasium. Don't confuse the two.

Higher ranks usually succeed in society. Most of the top Japanese business men are also expert martial artists and their companies have dojos on the premises. The discipline and focus martial arts provides can be used in your career and family life, otherwise you are only practicing a sport, not a way of life.

You should understand that you only have one mind. Some people have a tournament mind, a training mind and a testing mind. All three minds must come together if you are going to develop yourself as a human being. Once you do this, then you will truly be on the way to becoming both a good martial artist and a good human being.

If our style of Karate-do is practised regularly by a person regardless of age, sex or disability it is possible to enjoy life with a new vital energy and happiness. If you are interested please contact us, either on the above phone number or via the above E-mail address.

The article below appeared in the December 2005 issue of Mens Fitness Magazine in the Martial Arts Special Feature

Diary of Events	*News*	Venue News
*Courses*		*Gradings*