Kancho Robert Sullivan recently travelled to New Zealand to host 4 seminars for GKR Karate students and instructors in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton.

Over 800 students in total attended the seminars, enjoying the opportunity to train with Kancho and gain insight and wisdom from the founder of our club.

While Kancho was in New Zealand he had the honour of being presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award, by Hanshi Dennis May, President of the International Goju Ryu Karate Association, at the conclusion of the Auckland seminar.

“I’ve known of Dennis May for many years as a top Karate person in New Zealand who is so very highly regarded, and it was an honour to be presented with the award in front of around 377 students in Auckland.

“There’s a sense of pride or appreciation on a personal level that comes with the (Lifetime Achievement) award,” Kancho Robert Sullivan said.

The award recognises Kancho’s outstanding contribution to Karate in Australia and worldwide over the past 60 years while also acknowledging his vision, leadership and teaching that has inspired countless people over the years. To remember the days as a 17-year-old kid, just starting off training, where to get a green belt was like ‘wow’. You then keep training and learning year after year, and before you know it, you’re a 1st Dan. When I think about this and then compare it to where GKR is today, it is quite surreal.” Kancho said.

“GKR has always been totally independent and has never been afraid to break down barriers and chart it’s own course. I also know that an organisation is nothing more than an extension of people and the attitude of people within that organisation. Every person is one brick in the building and adds strength to the building – including our students. Everybody gets to build this club which is in the spirit of what GKR is.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award highlights Kancho Sullivan’s commitment to Karate and his dream of ‘Karate for everyone’ which continues, to this day, to be a driving force behind the success of GKR Karate.

“Two sayings which I like and that I remember from early on are, ‘For things to change, you have to change’ and ‘You can give more than you’ve got because you could become more than you are’. I think these are good to remember and strive towards” Kancho said.

The post Kancho Lifetime Achievement Award appeared first on GKR Karate.

With our next Stop Domestic and Family Violence Campaign about to launch, Nationals Dates announced and our upcoming Okinawa Experience less than 2 months away, we wanted to share some important dates and announcements with you.

STOP DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN

GKR Karate is proud to announce that we will once again be raising funds in support of our chosen domestic violence charities this year.

As a community over the past 12 months, GKR has raised more than $80,000 for RizeUp Australia, almost $21,000 for Shine NZ and around £8,000 for Refuge in the UK to assist with the vital work these charities do on a regular basis.

This year, students and families will have the opportunity to purchase special GKR ‘Stop Domestic and Family Violence’ merchandise with the profits from the sale of the items being donated directly to our chosen charities. All items will be available as pre-order only – keep an eye out for more information via email and on our socials.
For more information on our Stop Domestic and Family Violence campaign, click here.

NATIONAL TITLES DATES

We are excited to announce the following dates and venues for the GKR Karate National Champs 2025. Keep training hard and you could be the 2025 National Champion – entries open online soon.

NEW ZEALAND: Sunday 19th October 2025
Cowles Stadium – 170 Pages Road, Aranui, Christchurch 8062
8:30am

AUSTRALIA: Saturday 22nd November 2025
Westgate Indoor Sports – 61 Dohertys Road, Altona North VIC 3025
8.30am

UNITED KINGDOM: Saturday, 29th November 2025
Ponds Forge, International Sports Centre – Sheaf St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2BP
7:00am

OKINAWA 2025 EXPERIENCE

Get ready for a Karate experience like no other. We have a record number of people signed up for the GKR Okinawa 2025 Experience.

Taking place from August 18th – 22nd, we have 3 full days of specialist karate seminars to be conducted by some of the best Karate Masters in Okinawa. Aside from this, there are organized day trips and an afterparty planned for the non-training days. The great news is, it’s not too late to join the fun!

Click here to find out more, or our online store to purchase seminar training passes and Okinawa 2025 merch.

NEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES – AUSTRALIA

GKR Karate is introducing a new sponsorship program that has the potential to create significant advertising opportunities for small or large businesses in their local area and beyond.
People’s willingness to do business with others who share a common affiliation is well known, and our new sponsorship programs give those within our club the opportunity to access potential customers from our vast and like-minded membership network.
With Regional, State and National packages available, please contact Mark McConnell mmcconnell@gkrkarate.com or speak directly with your Branch Instructor about how your business could benefit from our sponsorship options.

GKR STORIES

As we look forward to sharing more of our GKR Stories with you this year, we’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to this initiative so far. We are really enjoying being able to share some amazing stories, which, if you haven’t already seen can be found here.
If you have a personal story of inspiration, transformation, or courage, about how joining GKR Karate has positively impacted your life, we’d love to hear from you. Tell your story here.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

On Thursday the 15th May at our National Leadership conference, we conducted a special 5 hour karate seminar for our most senior instructors. With more than 40 of these key people in attendance, we are proud to announce the progression of several longstanding instructors to special grade levels.

In amongst these gradings were 2 extra special recipients: Jason Knight from Victoria and Kelvin Trembath from Queensland. Both of these exceptional karate-ka graded to 6th Dan Black Belt and were bestowed the title of Renshi Shihan by Kancho.

Our other special grades were awarded to Jacob Horne (5th Dan) and Edde Nio (3rd Dan).
Congratulations to all!

The post GKR News – June 2025 appeared first on GKR Karate.

Asmat Nadiry, Regional Manager – Region 38 United Kingdom

For the past 14 years, my life has been deeply intertwined with the art of karate and the values it embodies. As a dedicated member of GKR Karate, I have not only grown as a martial artist but also as an individual, learning the importance of discipline, resilience, and community. My journey has been shaped by the unwavering support of my instructors, the inclusivity of the GKR family, and the unique challenges and rewards of training and teaching during the holy month of Ramadan.

When I first stepped into a GKR dojo, I was welcomed into a community that valued respect, perseverance, and personal growth. Over the years, I progressed from a student to an instructor, a journey that has been both humbling and empowering. The instructors who guided me were more than teachers—they were mentors who understood my goals, celebrated my achievements, and supported me through challenges. Their encouragement and belief in my potential gave me the confidence to push my limits and strive for excellence.

One of the most defining aspects of my journey has been balancing my karate training with the spiritual practices of Ramadan. Fasting from dawn to sunset during this holy month requires immense physical and mental discipline, but it has also deepened my connection to karate. The self-control and focus I developed through fasting complemented the principles of martial arts, creating a harmonious blend of physical and spiritual growth. Training and teaching during Ramadan became a testament to my commitment to both my faith and my passion for karate.

The support I received from GKR during this time was phenomenal. The instructors and management showed incredible understanding and care, ensuring that I could train and teach at a pace that respected my fasting schedule. Their inclusivity and willingness to accommodate my needs reinforced the sense of belonging I felt within the GKR community. Whether it was adjusting class timings, offering words of encouragement, or simply checking in to see how I was feeling, their kindness made all the difference.

Teaching during Ramadan has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my journey. Sharing my knowledge with students while observing the spiritual practices of the month has allowed me to inspire others and lead by example. It has also strengthened my belief in the power of community and the importance of supporting one another, regardless of our individual challenges.
Looking back, my 14 years with GKR Karate have been a testament to the transformative power of martial arts. Through the highs and lows, the dojo has been a place of growth, connection, and unwavering support. I am grateful for the lessons I’ve learned, the friendships I’ve built, and the opportunity to be part of a community that values inclusivity, respect, and personal development.
My story is a reminder that with faith, perseverance, and the support of a caring community, we can achieve greatness in all aspects of life.

The post Discipline, Faith, and Community: Asmat Nadiry appeared first on GKR Karate.

We trust you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year period and are ready to make 2025 your best year yet, both in and out of the dojo.
We are certainly excited for what 2025 holds.

STOP DOMESTIC & FAMILY VIOLENCE – PURPLE BELT CAMPAIGN – FEBRUARY 2025

After an extremely successful first Purple Belt Campaign, we reopened purple belt orders in October last year so that more people could get involved and raise further funds for our chosen charities. We want to sincerely thank so many of our GKR members and their families for supporting our Stop Domestic and Family Violence Campaign. Read more about campaign and chosen charities HERE.
Anyone who ordered in October will be receiving their purple belts by post in the next couple of weeks. Our next Stop Domestic and Family Violence Purple Belt awareness month is this February, so grab your purple belts and wear them to class for the month of February!

KICKSTART YOUR YEAR WITH PURPOSEFUL GOALS

With many events planned for 2025, there’s plenty to help keep your karate journey mentally stimulating, but nothing makes karate more exciting than seeing your own measurable progress! So, how would you like to develop your karate technique in 2025?
The fastest way to progress is to set out a clear plan of what you want. If you haven’t already set some goals for yourself for the year, now is as good a time as any to do so. Goals help us stay on track when our motivation wanes or we encounter obstacles on our path. Kyoshi Anthony Ryan has written a great article on goals and their benefits which you can read by clicking HERE.

GKR KARATE ON TEAM APP

If you haven’t done so already, make sure you download your Region’s Stack Team App. With a simple check of your smart phone, you are able to keep up to date with all of the upcoming events in your area.

1. Download Team App from the Apple or Google Play store
2. Register & sign up to Team App (You’ll be sent an email to confirm your registration)
3. Log into the App and Search for your Region – EG: “GKR Karate Australia Region 1″ (If you are unsure of your region number, please ask your Instructor for these details)
4. Choose your applicable Dojo Access Group(s)

ONLINE ACADEMY

More and more of our student base are joining our Online community with GKR’s very own Online Karate and Fitness Academy. Running many LIVE streaming classes every week allows students to train with some of our best instructors in the comfort of their own home.
There’s also an On-Demand library located in the Online Academy with hundreds of videos geared to all grade levels. Students can click on a belt grade of their choice and choose from classes ranging from Kata, Kumite, Kihon, Fitness, Combat and self-defence. We have also recently added over 100 Pilates classes to the platform ensuring there is something for everyone. Adding the Online Academy to your dojo training is an incredible opportunity to upskill your technique, knowledge and physicality at a time that suits you. Simply CLICK HERE to check it out!

2025 OKINAWA EXPERIENCE

In August 2025, we will be making our biennial training expedition to Okinawa, Japan. This brings students from around the GKR World together to explore and train in the birthplace of karate.
We will be training at Okinawa’s prestigious Karate Kaikan dojo in Naha and will have three solid days of training, taking place on Monday 18th, Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st August 2025. Not only will many of GKR’s senior instructors be in attendance, but we will also have the opportunity to train with some of Okinawa’s most esteemed karate masters.
There will also be some day trips organised and a closing party to finish up what promises to be an unforgettable experience. Head to the 2025 GKR Okinawa Facebook page to stay up to date with all the latest news.

The post GKR News – January 2025 appeared first on GKR Karate.

It’s been a big year for GKR Karate and we’d like to thank everyone who continues to make the club what it is today, students, families, instructors and management…everyone plays an integral role in the success of our amazing club.

The year started off strong and the last few months of 2024 has been no different with plenty of events, milestones and cause for celebration.

Stop Domestic and Family Violence Campaign

After a very successful Stop Domestic and Family Violence Campaign, we re-opened purple belt orders for the month of October in preparation for our second awareness month in February 2025. Thanks to everyone’s support we were able to donate $72,040 to RizeUp, $19,490 to Shine and £6,242 to Refuge. All Purple Belt orders placed in October will be mailed out mid-January 2025 in time for the next awareness month in February 2025.

National and State Champs

New Zealand and the United Kingdom recently held their National Championships with Australian State Championships also being held last month. It was a great way to wrap up what has been a big year on the tournament circuit. Congratulations to everyone who competed and thank you to the officials who ensured the tournaments ran smoothly. Now is a great time to speak with your instructor and start setting goals for 2025 and beyond!

Black Belt Camps

Black Belt Camps have wrapped up for the year with many higher grades enjoying a weekend of specialised karate training with GKR’s top instructors. These weekends are a valuable addition to regular weekly training and provide higher grades the opportunity to train with people they might not get the chance to otherwise. Keep an eye out next year for a Black Belt Camp near you.

Major Achievements

This year, GKR had the honour of assessing and progressing four longstanding and dedicated instructors to very special grade levels. Most recently, Bob McCracken from the United Kingdom and Mark Case from Australia were both graded to their 6th Dan and bestowed the title of Renshi Shihan by Kancho. They join Brett Vanderwiel and David Gugich, who were recognised in our September newsletter, as grading to 6th Dan and Renshi Shihan too. A very big congratulations to all of our Renshi’s on their outstanding achievement.

We also had a number of students grade to 4th Dan and 5th Dan during our end of year black belt grading. Click here to see GKR’s most recent Yondan’s and Godan’s. Congratulations to everyone on their new rank!

Christmas Message

By now, you will have received a Christmas email from Kancho- if you haven’t read this, please take the time to do so as it contains some noteworthy information. If you haven’t seen this email in your inbox, please check your spam folder or click here to read online. Best wishes to our GKR family for a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

The post GKR News – December 2024 appeared first on GKR Karate.

Celebrating 40 years of GKR Karate

When Kancho Robert Sullivan said to his son Matthew “We’re going to be looking at this in years to come….” in a home video in 1983, could he have imagined that tens of thousands of people would one day see this footage, celebrating 40 years of GKR Karate.

A man with a vision, and a belief in that vision, Kancho began his Karate journey in 1964, obtaining the rank of black belt in Goju and Shotokan styles before starting GKR Karate in Adelaide in 1984. The first official dojo opened at Beefacres Hall, Windsor Gardens in February 1984, with Kancho’s son Matthew being the club’s first official student. Going from strength to strength, building from that first student to more than 38,000 students in 2024, GKR Karate has stood the test of time.

Initially called ‘Bob’s Karate School, Kancho changed the name to Go-Kan-Ryu Karate Do in June 1984 which roughly translates to ‘hard and complete system in the way of the empty hand’. With the skills and knowledge gained from Goju and Shotokan, Kancho created the GKR syllabus combining features from both styles. The first badge was designed by Kancho in July of 1984, and some 35 years later in July 2019, it was updated to the current design we see today.

At first, Kancho’s aim was to build a small club, sufficient in size to feed his family and ‘pay the bills’. Eight years later, GKR expanded into NSW, and to other states across Australia shortly after. New Zealand opened its first dojo in 1994 with the United Kingdom following suit in 1996. Classes in Houston, Texas then started in 2004. In the space of 12 years, a club that started in Kancho’s garage had successfully branched out on a truly international level.

The fundamentals of GKR have not changed since its inception, with the emphasis on discipline, good character and inclusivity being as strong as ever. Whether you are at a local class, regional tournament or a World Cup, you will find the same camaraderie, respect, humility and a sense of belonging. GKR truly is karate for everyone.

Pivoting during lockdowns to on-line zoom classes and seminars enabled students to continue training during this difficult period, which eventually paved the way for the launch of the GKR Online Karate and Fitness Academy in 2024.

As a family club that is renowned for not just its high standard of karate but also for the community it continues to build on a global scale through its Online Academy, people from all over the world are able to experience and enjoy all that GKR has to offer.

From the humble beginnings of our first small tournament in a school demountable classroom in 1985 to the recently held 11th World Cup in 2024 that hosted more than 1400 competitors and 4000 + spectators over 3 days….. GKR Karate has come a long way. Thank you to all students and instructors for being a part of this incredible story!

The post Celebrating 40 years of GKR Karate appeared first on GKR Karate.

Dear Students, Parents and Caregivers,

2024 has certainly been a big year for GKR Karate with some remarkable milestones achieved and plenty to celebrate. For starters, this year represented our club’s 40th anniversary! We’ve come a long way since our humble beginnings in 1984 and I am sincerely grateful to everyone who has contributed to the club’s success and growth over these years.

World Cup 2024

Aside from our 40th Anniversary, we also hosted our biggest ever World Cup in Sydney. It was amazing to watch more than 1400 students competing in the true spirit of karate-do over the 3-day event, and with 4000+ spectators in full voice over the weekend, the atmosphere was truly electric.

GKR Stories

The launch of our ‘GKR Stories’ platform has provided the opportunity for us to share some inspiring stories from within our karate community. From overcoming adversity, achieving personal goals, having the courage to leave unsafe situations and more, we are appreciative of everyone who has already shared their story and look forward to sharing more GKR Stories in 2025. You can view our GKR stories by clicking here.

Stop Domestic and Family Violence Campaign

This year also saw us initiate a partnership with 3 charities and debut our ‘Stop Domestic and Family Violence – Purple Belt Campaign’ raising much needed funds and awareness for an issue that affects countless Australians. The support received for this campaign has helped us donate more than:
$72,000 to RizeUp Australia
$19,000 to Shine New Zealand
£6,000 to Refuge United Kingdom
On behalf of everyone involved, I would like to thank you for your support. You can read about our Purple Belt Campaign and associated charities by clicking here.

Online Academy

If you haven’t already activated your 1-month free trial for the Online Academy, now is the time to do so. With a comprehensive library of tailored Karate and Pilates classes the Online Academy is the perfect supplement to your training – especially if you are going away and not able to attend classes in-person over the holiday period. Click here to start your one month free access (unless you’ve done so already).

December/January Class Timetables

Whilst our last regular public classes for 2024 will be on Friday 20th December, it is likely that we will still be running a reduced class timetable in your area over the Christmas/New Year period. Please speak with your Branch Instructor in December about this reduced class timetable. If you’re not going away over this period, we encourage you to keep up your karate routine during this time to maintain the training momentum you have built. Our regular public class timetables will resume in 2025 from Monday 6th January.

Training Fees

Your direct debit training fee rates are based on an annual fee divided by 52 equal weekly payments (or 26 or 12 depending on your payment frequency). As the formal Christmas break period forms part of this 52 week calculation, please note that your normal payments will continue during this time. Again, we encourage students to not only take advantage of our reduced Christmas/New Year timetable, but to also attend as many extra classes as they can during the January school holiday period.

THANK YOU!

I’d like to express my gratitude to all the students who have maintained a consistent approach to their karate training throughout 2024, as well as thank our dedicated branch and senior instructors. The incredible work they do each week is essential to making our wide range of locations and training days possible across the country. Their commitment to delivering high-quality classes this year has, as always, been exceptional.

Merry Christmas

On behalf of the entire senior instructor group, I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and we look forward to seeing you again in the New Year!

Best wishes,

Kancho Robert Sullivan
Founder & Chief Instructor

The post Thank You from Kancho 2024 appeared first on GKR Karate.

Wow!  What a month it’s been.  We have just held our biggest ever World Cup, including our 40^th Anniversary Celebration and Merch release; saw special new grades awarded to some of our most senior instructors; and completed our very first RizeUp ‘Homes’ project.  Here’s a quick recap for you.

World Cup

With our biggest ever World Cup taking place at Netball Central in the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct – it was great to see everyone competing in the true spirit of Karate-do.  With more than 1440 competitors, the stage was set for some epic showdowns.

We crowned new World Champions, broke competitor records and had an amazing time doing it. Click the button below for a full list of results from the weekend. We also had a fantastic crew of volunteer photographers taking photos at the event and suggest, if you haven’t already, check out the action shots from the World Cup by clicking the button below.

World Cup RESULTS  World Cup photography

Once again, we would like to thank all our officials and management team, and our sponsors; Dependable Strata; 5^th Avenue Jewellers; Sir Properties; Aviso Broking; and Conroy Removals, for their support in helping us make the 2024 World Cup the huge success that it was.

40^th Anniversary

More than 650 people danced the night away with the Party Anthem Band at our 40^th Anniversary Celebration and World Cup After Party.  There was plenty of entertainment for the kids (big and small) with arcade games from Arcade Machines Australia and a photobooth that was kept busy all night. In fact, we’re told that our celebration had the most amount of photos taken on that machine at an event ever…GKR folk are definitely not camera shy!  Complete with a birthday cake and sing-a-long, it was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the end of a very successful World Cup and 40 years of our amazing club.

Our 40^th Anniversary commemorative merchandise previewed at the World Cup and was the talk of the town.  With a sleek design that celebrates our 40 year history, we’re excited to let you know that we have opened orders for our 40^th Anniversary merchandise for a limited time only.  So, if you thought you’d missed out, fear not, we have your back, front and head (and wrist) covered with our limited edition 40^th Anniversary hoodies, tees, caps, beanies and watches! Orders close Sunday 6th October in Australia;  Sunday 13^th October in New Zealand and the United Kingdom and will be available to collect at class in November.  

Order Yours…

Australia click here ; New Zealand click here; United Kingdom click here.

Stop Domestic & Family Violence Campaign

In late July, Kyoshi Gavin and a small team of volunteers met with RizeUp CEO Nicolle Edwards and Business Lead Debbie Kennedy, to participate in a ‘Homes’ set-up.  It was a great insight into the valuable work that RizeUp does and an opportunity for GKR to offer practical support to our charity partner.  Click here to read about the set-up and see some photos from the day. If you are in Australia and would like to volunteer as part of our GKR team in any future Homes projects, then please email us at charities@gkrkarate.com

Purple Belt orders have closed for now and will be delivered to you mid-late September, in time for you to wear to class at the start of October.  We can’t wait to see photos of you in your purple belt shared on social media with the hashtag #GKRPurpleBeltCampaign #GKRCommunity

Okinawa Karate-Do Seminars In Australia & New Zealand

Kancho James Pankiewicz from Okinawa is visiting Australia (QLD, NSW and VIC) and New Zealand (Auckland and Wellington) in September/October to conduct seminars on Okinawan ‘Tomari-Tei’ techniques, kata self defence applications, principles of combat and much more.  For more information on seminar locations and dates, please click here.

Major Achievements

On Wednesday 14th August we conducted a special 5 hour seminar for our senior instructors and their karate leadership teams.  With more than 120 of these key people in attendance, we are proud to announce the progression of a number of these longstanding instructors to special grade levels.

In amongst these gradings were 2 very special recipients, both of whom graded to 6th Dan and were bestowed the title of Renshi Shihan by Kancho.

Special congratulations to our new Renshi’s – Brett Vanderwiel from Victoria and David Gugich from Christchurch (NZ).

Our other special grades were awarded to Daniel Zivanov (5th Dan); Sharon McGregor (5th Dan); Jenna Sinclair (4th Dan); Andrew Howell (4th Dan); Josh Saunders (4th Dan); Neil Boddington (4th Dan); Ray Bettridge (4th Dan). Congratulations to all!

The post GKR News – September 2024 appeared first on GKR Karate.

Have you heard….?

There’s certainly a lot happening in the GKR world this year as we celebrate our 40^th Birthday as a club and prepare for the fast approaching GKR Karate World Cup. In the last month alone, there’s also been a number of new initiatives launched, announcements made and achievements recognised, so we thought we’d take a minute to catch you up in case you missed some of it.

World Cup Entries

With the World Cup 2024 only five weeks away, the excitement is building in dojos across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.  We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Netball Central in the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct in August, but don’t forget…entries and merch orders close this Sunday 7^th July.

World Cup After Party and GKR 40^th Anniversary Event

At the end of the World Cup on Sunday evening, we will be holding a celebratory after party open to all GKR students and families. The event runs from 5pm to 10pm and will be held at the World Cup venue. Due to catering requirements, all tickets must be pre-booked and the deadline for RSVP is Sunday 28^th July.

World Cup Photographers – Expressions of Interest

Are you passionate about karate and photography, and have access to a digital SLR camera? Will you be attending the GKR World Cup in Sydney in August?

We are seeking expressions of interest from photography enthusiasts attending the World Cup this year who would like to use their skills to photograph competitors and upload them to our event image platform. We have a limited number of positions available for event photographers with income opportunities available for those photographers selected.

If this sounds like something for you, or, someone you know, please click the link below.

World Cup photography information

Stop Domestic Violence Campaign

In June, we launched our ‘Stop Domestic & Family Violence – Purple Belt Campaign’ and announced our support for the following domestic violence charities; RizeUp in Australia, Shine in New Zealand and Refuge in the United Kingdom.  The support from the GKR community towards this very worthwhile cause has been heartwarming and we look forward to seeing a sea of purple belts in all classes in October.  To read more about our chosen charities and how to order your purple belt, click the button below

Stop Domestic Violence Campaign Information

GKR Stories

We also premiered our first chapter of ‘GKR Stories’ hearing from Josh Nixon and then soon after from Jenni.  Josh and Jenni’s courageous stories have inspired countless people in and out of the dojo, and we are grateful for their willingness to share with us.  If you haven’t seen ‘GKR Stories’ yet, or, if you have your own story you would like to tell, click here.

GKR Stories

TikTok

GKR is now on TikTok!  You may not see your favourite instructor taking on the latest ‘TikTok challenge’ but you will see all the latest GKR content @gkrkarateofficial

GKR Karate on TikTok

Acknowledgements

Lastly, we would like to acknowledge and thank the following sponsors who are supporting the GKR Karate World Cup 2024:

GOLD SPONSORS

The post GKR News – July 2024 appeared first on GKR Karate.

To all students of GKR Karate,

The catalyst for writing this letter was the recent grading of two of GKR’s senior most instructors:

• Gavin Samin – GKR Karate’s Assistant Chief Instructor
• Anthony Ryan – GKR Karate’s International Director of Coaching

In November 2023 I had the pleasure of grading both to 7th Dan (Shichi-dan) Black belt. Beyond this great achievement I also bestowed on each the title of Kyoshi.

As this title had never existed in GKR Karate previously, I’ve had many students and instructors enquire as to what this title means. Beyond that, in recent times I have been contemplating using some new terms (titles) when referring to a number of our senior-most instructors; hence this letter.

As I am writing to all students, including those who may have only just started their journey with GKR Karate, (welcome!) I feel I should start from the beginning, with myself.

Kancho (pronounced Karn-cho)

The way I would introduce myself in a dojo would be “Hi, I’m Robert”. Most instructors will introduce themselves simply by name. Ultimately because we see ourselves first and foremost as students of karate. We still train with the aim to grow and improve in our own journey.

Beyond being a student, I’m also a teacher (Sensei). So, while I rarely hear it, it’s not incorrect to suggest I am Sensei Robert, or even Robert Sensei. It might be worth noting the Japanese put titles after a person’s name while we in the West will place a title before.

As I founded GKR Karate and am the head of the style, the title you will regularly hear accompanying my name is Kancho. In simple terms, Kancho means ‘Head of style’. It’s also regularly translated as ‘Founder’, although a more accurate word for founder is Kaiso.

Sen-sei (pronounced Sen-say)

The term Sensei, or teacher, is a not unique to martial arts. In Japan, any teacher is generally referred to as sensei, whether it’s a school-teacher, karate teacher, tennis coach etc. It’s comprised of two Japanese characters (known as kanji) which suggest ‘Before’ and ‘Born’.

This doesn’t mean one has to have literally been born before. Many teachers are younger than their students. It merely suggests one is passing on knowledge because they have more experience, wisdom and/or knowledge in that particular field and are qualified to teach.

So, while your instructors may introduce themselves to you with their first name, it is a courtesy to refer to them with the title of Sensei. Many of our classes will have more than one instructor and while one may be the main instructor for the class, it’s a courtesy to refer to all instructors as Sensei.

Sen-pai (pronounced Sem-pie)

The first Japanese kanji, ‘Sen’ is the same for both Sen-pai and Sen-sei. However, we pronounce Sen-pai as Sem-pai. This occurs when we have the letter ‘N’ preceding the letter ‘P’.

Perhaps you enjoy Japanese food and have eaten Tempura? It’s actually Ten-pura. Or maybe you enjoy the karate kata, Empi? It’s actually En-pi.

This is due to the way our mouths form sounds. When we sound the letter ‘N’, our lips remain apart. Yet when we sound the letters ‘M’ and ‘P’ our lips come together. You’re likely making these sounds right now to check if that’s true.

As such, when an ‘N’ precedes a ‘P’ we must close our lips to form the ‘P’ sound. In doing so, the letter ‘N’ starts to sound like an ‘M’.

To keep things easier, when Sen-pai is written in English its often spelled as Sempai to avoid confusion. The same way most Japanese restaurants will use the spelling Tempura. I will continue to use it as Sempai from here on in to help remind you of its pronunciation (even though saying it as Senpai is certainly correct).

GKR Instructors will often ask a student in the class who has exemplary technique to assist. Perhaps they will simply stand out the front to demonstrate the techniques while the instructor moves around to correct students. Or perhaps they may be asked to supervise and assist a group of students in the class. If a student is assisting the instructor in your class, it is a courtesy to refer to these students as Sempai instead of simply using their name.

Shihan (pronounced She-harn)

This is a title many of you will be familiar with as GKR Karate has used this term for over 20years now.

Shi-han is comprised of two Kanji. The first, ‘Shi’ means a ‘Head-teacher or Master’. The second, ‘Han’ could be translated as ‘Model’ (like a role model or example). Its frequently translated as ‘Expert teacher’.

Shihan (like the term, Sensei) is also commonly used in Japanese culture outside of the martial arts. The title suggests you are a master teacher who can assist other teachers. It also suggestive of initiative and the ability to lead.

Japanese martial arts have no specific criteria for the qualification of a Shihan title. Some styles introduce it to top instructors at 4th Dan Black belt while others wait till 5th or 6th Dan. Some even require a certain age-criteria to be met before bestowing such a title. In GKR Karate, I have not created any specific criteria but the majority of those who hold the title are 6th dan black belts, and all are responsible for leading other instructors.

At present in GKR I have given the Shihan title to:

• Gavin Samin, GKR’s Assistant Chief Instructor
• Anthony Ryan, GKR’s International Director of Coaching
• Daniel Tregenza, Senior instructor of Adelaide Region 9
• Alex Pereda, Zone Instructor of NSW
• Bob McCracken, Senior Instructor of the United Kingdom
• Antonie De Bruin, Senior Instructor of New Zealand
• Peter Durrant, Zone Instructor of NSW
• Jan Lopez, International Senior Instructor for GKR’s Online Academy

Introducing the entire Shogo system of Japanese Martial Arts into GKR Karate

When karate solely existed in Okinawa it was vastly different to karate as we know it today. There were no Gi’s (uniforms), or belt grades or even organised curriculums.

It wasn’t until karate reached mainland Japan that the governing body of Japanese Martial Arts (the Dai Nippon Butokukai) insisted it introduce aspects of other Japanese martial arts (like Judo and Kendo).

This meant those Okinawa instructors who wanted to teach in mainland Japan had to introduce Gi’s and the Shogo system.

The Shogo (titles and ranks) System was a system to measure progress and development, and it was predicated on three main areas:

1. Measuring a martial artist’s technical proficiency and experience
2. Measuring a martial artist’s teaching proficiency and experience
3. Measuring a martial artist’s character development, philosophy and conduct

1. The system for measuring a martial artist’s technical proficiency and experience involved introducing the Shogo of Kyu and Dan grades (the belt system)

2. The system for measuring a martial artist’s teaching proficiency and experience involved introducing the Shogo of Sempai, Sensei and Shihan. There are actually others, but I have decided not to implement these.

3. The system for measuring a martial artist’s character development, philosophy and conduct involved introducing the Shogo of Renshi (pronounced Ren-she), Kyoshi (pronounced Key-oshe) and Hanshi (pronounced Hun-she)

I only decided to introduce the third Shogo system around 7 years ago. Despite that, these terms have been seldom heard in our dojos. That however is about to change; another reason for writing this letter.

A general rule throughout the martial arts world was Renshi shogo could be (but did not have to be) awarded to someone who had achieved Roku-dan (6th dan). The Kyoshi shogo could be awarded to someone who had achieved Shichi-dan (7th dan) and Hanshi (the highest shogo) could be awarded to anyone 8th dan or above.

You will notice that Ren-shi, Kyo-shi and Han-shi all end with the same Kanji, ‘Shi’. This Kanji could be translated as ‘Gentleman’ (although it obviously does not have to be a male), or warrior (in terms of mental fortitude) or even scholar.

The Kanji for Ren-shi could be translated as: ‘Ren’ (Polished) ‘Shi’ (Gentleman, Warrior or scholar).

The Kanji for Kyo-shi could be translated as: ‘Kyo’ (Professor) ‘Shi’ (Gentleman, Warrior or scholar).

The Kanji for Han-shi could be translated as: ‘Han’ (Model or example) ‘Shi’ (Gentleman, Warrior or scholar).

You may be wondering if the terms Shi-han and Han-shi are simply the same two Kanji but placed in reverse order? This is not the case. While the Kanji, ‘Han’ is identical in both (meaning model or example), the Kanji for ‘Shi’ in Shihan is different to the other three shogo. It translates more accurately as teacher (as opposed to gentleman, warrior or scholar).

I feel it’s important to note that being a high-dan black belt does not guarantee someone has exemplary character. In actuality, there a many people on this earth who’ve never trained in karate and still have impeccable character. In martial arts, the shogo of Renshi, Kyoshi and Hanshi are discussing the character that one develops over decades of concerted training.

Up until last month, GKR had several people who were identified as Shihan. While they were referred to as Shihan, the 6th dans had also been awarded with the character based shogo. Let me use New Zealand’s Senior instructor, Antonie de Bruin as an example:

• Roku-dan (6th dan black belt): This shogo is an illustration of Antonie’s technical proficiency, knowledge, dedication and experience as a student. This is indicative of his personal journey in the dojo.
• Shihan: This shogo is an illustration of Antonie’s expert teaching ability and his great leadership as a teacher of teachers. This is indicative of how helps others with their journey in the dojo.
• Renshi: This is an illustration of Antonie’s character, philosophy and conduct as not only a student and instructor, but also a human being. This is indicative of his personal journey beyond the dojo and indicative of how he helps others with their journey beyond the dojo.

While Antonie was has been referred to as Shihan (his teaching shogo) many were unaware he had also been awarded a certificate for Renshi. Despite GKR housing a number of Renshi-Shihans, we simply used the term Shihan to keep things short.

As I stated earlier, I have been pondering changing the way our top leaders are referred to and as from now, I would prefer the following:

When in a formal setting, such as bowing into or out of class, if an instructor has more than one title that has been bestowed upon them, then both are mentioned. For example, “Kyoshi-Shihan” or “Renshi-Shihan”.

Outside of a formal setting, such as addressing them during class, students need not mention both (the same as we have been doing for many years). However, from now on I would prefer that students no longer use the Shihan shogo and instead use the Renshi or Kyoshi shogo.

Why these changes?

Knowing that these titles are more related to character and conduct I think it sets a strong reminder for every student that developing ourselves as human beings (karate-DO) is equally important (if not more) than just developing our physical body or self-defence skills (karate-JUTSU). * ‘Do’ translating as ‘Path’ or ‘The way of’ and Jutsu (not to be confused with Jitsu) translating as ‘Technique’ or ‘Method’.

To quote the father of modern karate, Gichen Funakoshi, “The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of the character of its participants”.

I am aware that most of you do not train with our senior most instructors, but you may find yourself attending a seminar they conduct and its good information to know.

And for those who do currently train with them, this may take a period of acclimation but no doubt it will become habit before long.

Moving forward

As GKR surpasses 40 years of age and heads strongly to our 50th Anniversary, no doubt many more of our most dedicated karate-ka will be looking at their Roku-dan grades (6th dan). This will also qualify them for a Renshi shogo, a title to illustrate their decades of character growth and to serve as a constant reminder to always endeavour to be a great role model for others, both in and out of the dojo.

Some of those who achieve 6th dan will also be leaders and teachers of teachers, and as such will also qualify for a Shihan shogo. This means as the years pass you will be hearing titles of Renshi or Shihan, or Kyoshi or even Hanshi more-and-more. This truly excites me as it only illustrates that what we have all created is so special that people are sticking around for many decades.

I will finish by saying that one does not need such distinguished titles to become an expert instructor or student of great character. Nor does one need a title to become a role model for others. These are things we should all aim for to not only make our own lives better but also the lives of everyone around us.

Yours in the spirit of GKR Karate
Robert Sullivan

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