NOTES FOR INSTRUCTORS THINKING OF JOINING ENSHIN

In 1971, at the age of fifteen I started training at the Leicester Karate Kyokushinkai, and have trained continuously ever since. We worked hard and in my case it took a few years and a lot of disappointments, but I eventually reached 4th Dan and became a British Knockdown Champion. But things changed, I grew stale and after the BKK left the International Kyokushin Organisation I lost my commitment so had to do the right thing and leave.

After leaving Kyokushin, I and the students that came with me didn’t join anything else straight away, to start with we trained independently. I looked around at various groups, some of which were very famous and long-established, but nothing I saw inspired me. I felt a bit like someone who has finally walked away from a boring job or a bad marriage, and is in no rush to jump straight back into another. After a while I came across Kancho Ninomiya’s book, Sabaki Method. I was enthralled! The movements in Enshin are more flowing and natural, working with the body not against it. I knew that this was just the type of practical karate I wanted to learn and in time, to teach.

I next wrote to Kancho. He thanked me for my interest, but said that before he could even consider my application to join I would first have to train with him at the Honbu (headquarters) dojo in Denver. On arrival I was given an Orange belt and placed at the bottom of the line. I immediately knew then that not only did I like what I saw in the book – powerful and effective techniques – but also that Kancho is a man with traditional values and standards. I suppose you have to be of a certain age to appreciate such things, but by making it harder to join and showing me I must clear my mind and start afresh Kancho immediately showed me the value of the style.

Kancho told me when I first joined. “Don’t just train hard, everyone does that. Train smart!” It says it all. If you just train hard there’s always someone who trains harder. Thinking more is the key. Finding angles and positions to surprise and unbalance the opponent is a vital part of the Sabaki method, so just getting super-fit and leaving your brain in the changing room locker will never be enough, especially as you get older! We still train hard, but working on Sabaki strategy and thinking correctly under pressure complements skill and fitness to make more complete fighters.

I know from experience that after time even highly committed and skilled Instructors can get stuck in a rut, and feel that things aren’t right, that something is missing. They might dearly like to change styles but get hung up and stressed over the ‘”What if’s?” – If that’s you, remember that like me, you can change at any time and the sooner the better. I have never regretted joining Enshin for one moment. Kancho Ninomiya is a very motivating and supportive Instructor. He expects you to study hard and not just swap the badge on your Gi, but is there to help and support you along the way.

The older you get, the harder it is to put people on a pedestal, but Kancho has my utmost respect for his ability, his work ethic and his character. He is a total fighter, the real thing, but a gentleman at the same time. It is rare to find such an Instructor so I am proud to represent his style here in the UK. We are here to help anyone genuinely interested in Enshin training.

If any of this strikes a chord with you then as a first step, you are welcome to train with us at any time. I can also visit your dojo by arrangement to give a taster session and talk about Enshin karate. Next, attend a course with Kancho and feel free to discuss your interest. Life’s too short to stick with something you no longer believe in, just because it’s comfortable!

GC