Japanese liked our karate-men

Press, 2 June 1982, Page 30

Japanese liked our karate-men

By

TIM DUNBAR

A New Zealand contingent of Ryu-yo-kan Karate exponents made a big hit with the Japanese during a four-week goodwill tour there recently. The group of five black belts, headed by their Christchurch Polytechnic-based coach. John Bonniface, trained and fought at dojos in Tokyo. Hamamatsu, Osaka, and Kyoto. So big was the impression made in Osaka that the men were all offered jobs and accommodation in Japan if they wanted to live there. Families were included in the offer. “That was quite an invitation." Bonniface said on the group’s return. Another invitation was extended to Bonniface to return to Japan next year with a junior team. The fourth dan black belt, who has now visited Japan three times, is keen to take up that invitation and bring a group of 16 to 20-year-olds, both male and female. But none of the 1982 team members are likely to opt for living in Japan as their Ryu : yo : kan Okinawan Gojuryu (the full title) style of karate is non-competitive. “Our boys don't want to change to competition,” said Bonniface.

Included in the contingent were black belts from the Christchurch Polytechnic, Aranui. and Ashburton clubs which follow this particular style of karate. Bonniface, Peter Bennett and Peter Hasson (all Christchurch Polytechnic), Alastair Mclntosh (Ashburton) and Pat McGregor (Aranui) were also accompanied by an exponent of the fascinating martial art of (Tomiko) aikido. David Hood, who spent the entire time in Tokyo under a Professor Oba. a ninth dan at Kokushikan University. According to Bonniface, the team members not only extended their knowledge of karate, but learned a lot about the Japanese themselves. He added: “The hospitality was unbelievable and an outstanding virtue of this trip. We were given full use of the university facilities in both Tokyo and Osaka and were able to live in a Japanese environment and experience the Japanese lifestyle. It was terrific.”

During 10 days in Tokyo the group lived' in dormitories at Kokushikan University and trained daily at karate. “We were up at the crack of dawn for road work and calisthenics and in the afternoon joined the university karate club for training." Exponents of a non-com-petitive style were thus given the opportunity to train alongside competitive, full-contact karate exponents, and even kick boxers. After travelling south and taking in Hamamatsu, the New Zealand men stayed at the Osaka College of Physical Education, the old college where Bonniface graduated back in the 19705. “There the students joined the physical education class for kendo (Japanese fencing) and judo, and trained at private and university clubs for karate.” Both the university and the physical education college "opened their doors" to the group which was able to stay in the homes of professors of the college and also those of various karate teachers.

“A typical day might involve training at a teacher's dojo, staying the night, and coming back to the college the next morning." Bonniface said. Incidentally, Bonniface said that he had seen a lot of Demi Sakata, the dashing Canterbury wing of 1969, during the time at Kokushikan University. Sakata, a friend of Bonniface. lectures at the university. “He hopes to be back here next year with a rugby team." Bonniface said. Osaka apparently has some dynamic "training methods and is an up-and-coming force in Japanese rugby. Unfortunately,- or perhaps fortunately,the New Zealanders were two members short of the required number for a seven-a-side team. Bonniface said that without exception, all the private clubs and universities the group visited offered them chances to train with their own martial arts exponents. Mclntosh and Hasson were the top players in the team and proved outstanding karate opponents. However, McGregor had a severe knee injury and was unable to fight. “Physically and karate-

wise, the team ranked with the very best in Japan," Bonniface said. “It was in superb physical condition; we trained very, very hard for this." The team won a full contact tournament in Hamamatsu, defeating ' a Central Japan selection of Kempo exponents, 4-1. “They were impressed." “Our guys were never beaten in a dojo in contact, semi-contact: or non-contact situations." Bonniface : had some interesting observations about the changing scene in Japan — the big move to bring all styles of karate together ("more than I noticed on the last trip”) and the great explosion in sport karate. “The other 5 to 10 per cent continue with tradition and some of those are now going full contact." And all sports in Japan — including karate, ■ judo, basketball, and volleyball — were now doing a lot of gymnastic floor work as part of limbering up. to improve flexibility. The New Zealand group intended to add the gymnastic exercises to their training sessions in future. “As far as conditioning goes. we’re tops." Bonniface said.