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    Default Koshiki history in australia & its pioneers.

    Further facts and comments regarding KOSHIKI HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA, ITS PIONEERS, NOTEWORTHY CHAMPIONS, ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AND COMPETITORS are welcomed in this sub forum. The following are the last two posts carried forward to this new sub forum…..

    6/10/2016

    Thank you for the update. Yes totally agree on your comment re correct facts. There seems to be some misinterpretation/confusion regarding Nigel Sensei's 8th Dan grading.

    He stated on Social Media on the 7th July ...... Sic "During my recent grading examination under Hanshi Patrick McKean 10th Dan, the kata I performed was Kudakano Seisan". "Buki-ho from my recent grading test (Gorin no Jo - clavical, jaw, forearm, bicep, sternum, bladder, pereneal, femeral, tibial and superficial pereneal strikes, or high middle and low attacks from defensive tactics)".

    11/10/2016

    Congratulations to both Jim Griffin and Tony Fletcher of the Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karate Australia in representing Australia at the 30th Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai Karate tournament in New York recently.

    Jim Griffin 7th Dan Kyoshi, and Max Estens 7th Dan Kyoshi are the Chief Instructors of the Shorinjiryu Koshinkai in Australia. Both Jim and Max were students of Hanshi Phil Hooper 9th Dan (IRKRS), and Hanshi Scott Brown 9th Dan (IRKRS) respectively. Both Phil and Scott were notable National and International WKKF Koshiki Champions & Pioneers of Koshiki.

    Jim Griffin Kyoshi was a consistent WKKF Koshiki fighter in Australia during his younger days, and it’s wonderful to hear him still competing in these events, his first in 25 years placing 2nd in kata (Kusanku Dai) and 1st in Weapons. The tournament was hosted by Hanshi Myron Lubitsch 9th Dan in New York.

    Tony performed splendidly also, placing 4th in Kata and 2nd in Weapons. Particularly, Tony demonstrated his adaptation of the Shishiryu no Bo kata, using the eku (oar) that he has worked on for the past year.

    Other notable Karateka at the tournament included Kaicho Watanabe Shunji 9th Dan Hanshi, a direct student of Hisataka Kori. Watanabe sensei is the head of the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe-Ha Federation.

    Again, thank you for the information & congratulations Jim and Tony.
    Matt White

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    Thank you Matt, it was a wonderful experience to cometer again after such a long time.

    I was heavily involved in Koshiki in Australia from the early 80's as a fighter , official and executive member, a member of the Australian Koshiki Association which is still the only incorporated association although I don't think it is still active today. I was awarded life membership around 1997. I believe many tournaments under Koshiki rules are still run in Australia but none under the original association (I could be corrected on this).

    I remember then Shihan Pat McKean being involved in the Australian Koshiki Asscoiation and had a brief tenure as National President in the 90's. After the split from Hanshi Hisataka by Australian Shorinjiryu Karate and the Australian Koshiki Association in 1995, Shihan Pat McKean was expelled from the Australian Koshiki Association unanimously by an AGM as he had been appointed by Hanshi Hisataka to head up a new Koshiki in Australia. The new regime wasn't very effective as most Schools still supported the Australian Koshiki Association lead by then President Warwick O'Brien. I remember Hanshi Hisataka promoted Shihan McKean to 7th Dan Koshiki in 1994 in Tokyo. There are still Koshiki rules tournaments in Australia, mostly in north west NSW and SE Qld. run by Kyoshi Clint Chaffey etc. in NSW plus Shihans Rene Roggeveen and Mike Jordan in SE Qld.
    I first saw Nigel Mcreaddie at a Koshiki tournament in Brisbane in the early 2000's (I think) not as a competitor or official but as a spectator. I have no Prior knowledge of his participation in any Australian Koshiki tournament in any capacity prior to that first meeting. (although i didn't attend every tournament held in Australia during the period of my involvement between the early 80's and the mid 2000's). I met him again at the Oceania tournament in 2012 where he received a promotion the 5th Dan Koshiki (I think) by Hanshi Hisataka.

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    A breath of fresh air and inside information comes the sub forum’s way via Jim Griffin regarding Koshiki in Australia.

    Jim Griffin, now a karate Kyoshi 7th Dan has been involved from the inception of WKKF Australia Koshiki, and a direct student of Phil Hooper Hanshi 9th Dan.

    Thank you for information regarding previous posts. We welcome any further information you’d like to provide.

    Matt White.
    Matt White

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    AUSTRALIAN KOSHIKI ASSOCIATION - It's history & Pioneers.

    As stated by Australian Koshiki pioneer Kyoshi Jim Griffin, AKA is still the only incorporated Koshiki association in Australia. Agreed there are many karate groups in Australia using anzen bogu and koshiki rules in their competition system, however these groups are not members of the Australian Koshiki Association.

    Shihan Scott Brown 6th Dan heads the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan in Australia from it's headquarters in Tokyo Japan, and Jim Griffin 7th Dan Kyoshi (Qld), with Max Estens 7th Dan Kyoshi (NSW) are the Chief Instructors of the Shorinjiryu Koshinkai in Australia. Both these groups utilise the anzen bogu within their respective shorinjiryu styles during their training, as well as their koshiki tournaments, and are pioneers of Koshiki in Australia (AKA).

    Please note that this Sub Forum relates only to the mainline Australian Koshiki Association history in Australia, it's pioneers, noteworthy champions, administration officials & competitors. Those outside the AKA considering to rejoin can forward their expression of interest via this sub forum for consideration by those former executive members in authority.

    Looking forward to your next post.
    Matt White

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    As a Karate Instructor and former Koshiki competitor, I'm wondering what affiliation AKA has with WKKF, Hanshi Hisataka, etc. I was lead to believe that Hanshi Hisataka cut all ties with AKA when Pat McKean left. We are looking to rejoin a competition system.

    Thank you

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    Hi Jim

    With regards to your comments above, the new Koshiki regime under Hanshi Pat McKean was very effective. We kept supporting his tournaments until the early 2000s. There were always 150+ competitors at the tournaments coming from Dubbo, Orange, Newcastle, Tamworth, Inverell and Bowral. Other places I'm sure but my memory fails me.

    We were avid supports of Koshiki during the 1990s and 2000s but I cannot recall ever meeting you or hearing of you. I do recall Scott Brown, Nigel McReaddie, Ian Pollet and Jeff Triash during these times

    I was also at the 2012 Oceania Tournament where Nigel received his 7th Dan from Hanshi Hisataka. There were a few Shorinjiryu guys wandering around in red & white belts but I don't think they had any students competing
    Last edited by Chris Green; 1st November 2017 at 10:46. Reason: greeting was incorrect

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    Yes, a good question. The AKA and WKKF affiliation commenced about 1978 via Masayuki Hisataka in Japan and Laurie Vanniekerk in Australia. It was mostly the Queensland Branch of the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan under Shihan Phil Hooper which resigned in 1995 from Shorinjiryu Kenkokan in Japan to persue another direction in Shorinjiryu.

    The AKA was not affected by this, as Shihan Scott Brown was appointed Australian Chief Instructor of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan following Phil’s resignation, and continued promoting WKKF via the AKA. As Jim stated in a previous post Pat was expelled (reasons unknown) by the AKA committee.
    There are several karate organisations out there utilising Koshiki competition system today. Contact one of them for further inquiries regarding joining their organisation.

    After some time Pat again became involved with Australian Koshiki. He helped referee at the World Championships in the Blue Mountains, Sydney in 2000 and he also performed an uncommon ritual suicide/sword demonstration at the event with his student to the amazement of the audience. Pat was National President for a term or so, but please be aware many others were elected President over the years.

    Following the 2000 WKKF event, Pat drifted away from the (AKA) Koshiki scene in Australia following an incident.
    It is not uncommon for individuals to hold Koshiki Tournaments outside the AKA to promote their own club, but these tournaments are not sanctioned by AKA. So there is no dispute about Pats 150+ competitors/tournaments leading up to the early 2000’s. They were his own private club tournaments. You would not have met the main leaders (including Jim) and committee members of AKA, nor would you have heard of them at these tournaments, as they were not there, nor were the tournaments sanctioned by AKA.

    Going through the DVD and photographs of the 2012 Oceania and Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Reunion in the Gold Coast many of these leaders of AKA/WKKF were at the reunion, seminar and tournament including Masayuki Hisataka, Scott Brown, Hiroshi Hisataka, Masamitsu Hisataka Graeme Bowden, Jim Griffin, Max Estens, Steve Fekete, Roland Gill, Des Paroz, Clint Chaffey*, Nigel McReaddie*, Nick King*.

    Many other former AKA committee members had long since retired from AKA and obviously were not there. Photographs and DVD show there were many Shorinjiryu fighters and officials (36) at the tournament. There were 3 Shorinjiryu teachers at the tournament wearing red and white belts. Yes, looking at the photographs Nigel did received WKKF Dan recognition from Masayuki Hisataka for his service to WKKF (a lovely photo of Nigel with Hisataka sensei and Brown sensei).

    Perhaps Jim can provide any further information directly, as the information I have stated has been provided to me by other officials. Further facts and comments regarding AKA KOSHIKI HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA, ITS PIONEERS, NOTEWORTHY CHAMPIONS, ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AND COMPETITORS are welcomed in this sub forum. With respect, let’s give Pat a break for a while so we can discuss other worthy individuals.
    Matt White

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    “Thank you for compiling a very interesting discussion regarding Koshiki in Australia. I see you have listed Scott Brown as a "Champion" of Koshiki. When I was competing in Koshiki in the 80s and 90s, I remember Scott Brown being at quite a few tournaments as a referee or official. I was curious as to his actual Koshiki tournament experience.

    Also, I remember a lot of turmoil from Australia Koshiki Association. Then Hanshi Hisataka and WKKF deregistering or cutting all ties with this organisation. Is it correct that Hanshi Hisataka then transferred all support to Pat McKean, Scott Brown and the new organisation? And then the old AKA group, no longer had international recognition, so what happened to them?”


    Perhaps Grant Brechney who is a personal student of Scott Brown can update you/us in some detail regarding Scott Brown’s Koshiki tournament experience. It is well known though that Scott was a Koshiki champion may times, having won 1st, 2nd or 3rd placings at national and international tournaments since the late 1970’s.

    As stated in a previous post, the notable Australian National and International Koshiki Champions Graeme Bowden, Phil Hooper, Scott Brown, Chris Kleise, Gordon Kleise, Richard Bryant, Dave Holmberg, Paul O’Donnell and Geoff Harrison, Anne Bowden and Marnie Franklin stands, as they were consistent individual champions over several years, having fought many times winning Gold, Silver & Bronze awards as well as being declared champion.

    During 1995 WKKF did not cut ties or deregister AKA as this affiliation continued between Hisataka Masayuki and his direct student Scott Brown. As Jim previously detailed in another post, the Australian Koshiki Association is still the only incorporated association. There was no transfer. Scott continued to support his teacher (Masayuki Hisataka) and to this day remains a loyal/financial member of the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan honbu in Japan.

    For further information regarding AKA maybe Jim Griffin can be of some assistance to your inquiry regarding any international affiliation.

    This perhaps will be the last post for the year 2017. On behalf of everyone involved wishing you all Season’s Greetings. We look forward to your post during 2018.
    Matt White

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    Hi Matt

    Following your post above, I have since been given a copy of a letter from 1995 which stated that WKKF no longer recognised AKA and removed any affiliation and / or authority for AKA to act as the Australian representative of WKKF. This letter is personally signed and dated by Hanshi Hisataka. Hisataka also requested that a new association be created by Scott Brown and Pat McKean. So whilst I agree that the connection between Scott Brown and Hisataka continued, it must have been via a new organisation.

    With regards to the numbers competing at the Koshiki tournaments run by Mr Pat McKean, I was directly referring to Jim Griffin's comments that they were not effective. They were very effective and were attended by Scott Brown, Ian Pollet, Nigel Mcreaddie, Jeff Triash, Nick King, Kim McCrae and the connection to Hanshi Hisataka continued as you mentioned. These were not private club tournaments as you stated above, but a well-organised calendar featuring State and National Titles organised by a committee of the abovenmentioned individuals. Each year the venues were rotated and we used to travel and compete in all these events.

    With respect, I am happy to give the subject of Pat McKean a rest. However, if people wish to make false statements and innuendos as I have read in previous posts on this site, they must be made accountable.

    AKA was the original association and we should all respect that. Now that I have the proof that WKKF did sever ties with AKA back in 1995, I hope that brings an end to the issue. I think the new association was called NSW Koshiki Inc or WKKF (New South Wales Branch) Inc. but again my memory fails me.

    I tried to look up the original AKA but they have since been deregistered and no longer exist. Maybe Jim Griffin can clarify this ??

    Thank you

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