|
Ishinryu Karate (meaning “All of One Heart”) finds
its roots in a small sub-urban town of Dagenham on the outskirts
of London. It was there that, David “Ticky” Donovan,
8th Dan OBE (pictured on the right of the screen), started
his first club, combining his acquired knowledge from Kyokushinkai,
Wado-ryu and Shotokan. Taught by Japanese masters of different
styles, Ticky soon progressed through the ranks to achieve
the coveted grade Sho-dan (black belt). An accomplished competitor
he soon became a regular member of the English national squad,
winning the British Championships in 1973/74/75.
After a very successful fighting career he soon became the
English and British national coach. He took Britain to the
pinnacle of world karate as Britain won the world championships
five times in succession:- Taipei 1982; Holland 1984; Australia
1986; Cairo 1988 and Mexico 1990.
Due to these accomplishments, in 1991 Ticky was awarded the
OBE.
Ishinryu has dominated the British and English championships
since the early eighties both in Kumite (fighting) and Kata
(pre-arranged moves to imaginary attack and defence), producing
many male and female, British, English, European and World
champions.
These same successful students have now spread out to open
their own clubs in the same name. The style has now spread
as far a field as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Ishinryu Karate Association is affiliated to the English
Karate Governing Body (EKGB). The (EKGB) is the only governing
body for Karate recognised in England by Sport England.
The word “Karate” means empty hand and is a form
of martial art. Karate is widely practiced the entire world
by a wide variety of people of all shapes, size, age, sex
and ability. In Britain alone, well over 150,000 people practice
karate and this figure grows daily.
Often in the media Karate is portrayed as a destructive activity
and dangerous activity; no doubt it has that potential. Usually
as part of a public display, a karate expert will sometimes
break a plank of wood or smash a pile of roofing tiles with
a vicious hand strike or kick; this has given the general
public the wrong impression of the essence of karate. Anyone
can learn to perform such tricks with a little practice and
some faith. Karate is by far much more sophisticated, it requires
detailed knowledge, it demands long and patient practice to
develop accuracy and speed of attack, and it calls for high
moral and spiritual development.
Karate is not only an effective form of self-defence but
is also an exciting combat sport. However, becoming skilful
at Karate requires two things, dedication from the student
and effective coaching.
A basic and very essential part of Karate training is that
the Karate-ka must never attack first mentally or physically.
To understand this years of hard and correct training are
needed. As the Karate-ka matures with grade, so also will
his/her good manners and etiquette, outwardly and even more
importantly, inwardly.
Correct etiquette is essential in the Dojo. Karate begins
and ends with respect.
|
