Australian Koshiki Karate Details ?

[Paul Steadman]

Hello All,

Does anyone know who is running Koshiki Karate-do in Australia i.e. the karate comp format utilising the Anzen Bogu (head and torso protector - based on kendo bogu/dogu) as developed and promulgated by Hisataka Kori-sensei and Hisataka Masayuki-sensei.

I used to judge, referee and compete back in the 80s and was looking at getting my junior students involved.

There are currently sveral groups using the term "Koshiki," but I am seeking the group that operates under the auspices of Hisataka Masayuki-sensei.

Thank you for your time and consideration guys.

Cheers,

[mw17]

WKKF (Koshiki Karate) is lead by Shihan Scott Brown 6th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo here in Australia. He is also the Vice Chairman of the WKKF under the Chairman Masayuki Hisataka 9th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo and a personal student of the headmaster.

Shihan Brown is also assisted by Nigel McReddie 4th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenkokan in Queensland, and some other senior Shorinjiryu Kenkokan members from his Kenseikai in NSW. WKKF (Koshiki) used to be quite big and popular here in Australia back in the 80's and 90's, but has declined over the years. Would you agree on that comment? From what we see here in Australia there seems to be more focus these days on the art of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate rather than the competition system of Koshiki.

It's probably a fairly good system (Koshiki) for the kids to grow up on as well as being quite safe with the head and body protection. I think the kids would like it.

Can't say I agree with the so called Dan grading recognition they have in WKKF (Koshiki). I guess it attracts those wanting or asking for recognition. When it comes down to it, it's just a sport, not a tradition. Go for it....get the kids involved. They'll have fun. Let me know how you go, as I've been thinking of doing the same.

Matt White

[Paul Steadman]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the update. I remember Scott Brown-sensei from Shorinj-ryu, always looked forward to attending seminars where he taught. It was through Scott Brown-sensei that I was able to attend a Koshiki seminar run by Michel Laurin-sensei (mid 90s international middle-weight Koshiki champion - if memory serves).

I also remember Nigel-san, he was doing Rhee Taekwondo back in 1987 when I met him. I was the karate guy that taught him Taikyoku-shodan (karate's first kata) ... Good to hear that he went on to get his 4th Dan in karate ... but I have read on various internet sites that place him at 5th, 6th and 7th dan with shogo titles of kengo, renshi and kyoshi! Are these sites dated or are the grades/titles honorary? Perhaps issued by the WKKF as distinct from Shorinji-ryu Kenkokan?

Regards,

[mw17]

Thanks for your response. I remember reading about Michel Laurin sensei coming to Australia back then. He was a champion koshiki fighter from Canada.

I have also read quite a lot of information and chatter about Nigel McReddie on the internet (Facebook) about his WKKF Kenryukan Karate-jutsu dojo in Brisbane. Don’t know anything about his history/grading background, but it would be interesting to find out more about this karateka seeing he’s been around for a long time.

I hear WKKF (Koshiki) give out those higher dan grade recognitions to their officials, but like I said in my previous post, these grades are not recognised or formally endorsed in traditional karate, they are just an honorary token of appreciation. We’re not interested in these dan recognitions, but we’re thinking seriously about our kids competing in the koshiki events provided they are associating within a safe and honest environment with persons of good character (Working with Children Check).

We’ll follow this up, and I’d appreciate it if you could let me know more about WKKF Koshiki and the Officials before we commit.

Matt White

[Paul Steadman]

Hello,

I found the WKKF website at: http://koshiki.org/index.htm

I see Scott Brown-sensei is listed as a 7th Dan Kyoshi while Nigel McReddie is listed as a 5th Dan Kengo. The maths doesn't add up as I remember Nigel was a yellow belt in mid 1987.

Anyway I will contact Scott Brown-sensei re: Koshiki competition in Australia. It has been some time since I was involved in Koshiki in central west NSW back in the mid to late 80s but I remember the Koshiki rules were inclusive of jujutsu style techniques; throws, sweeps and techniques etc.

Cheers,

[mw17]

Thanks for the information on the WKKF website. I ended up following this up and got onto some people involved in the WKKF Koshiki in Australia. The WKKF website is not quite up to date either. I stand corrected re my comment of these WKKF Dan grades being honorary. I see on the WKKF website they have actual examination criteria the candidate must meet, but I was told many of these WKKF Dan grades have been issued gratuitously to attract outside officials. It’s apparently good for business.

They also said WKKF should not be confused with Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate, even though both are under the control of Masayuki Hisataka sensei in Japan. They are separate entities.

As of 2014, Nigel McReddie’s actual grading in traditional Japanese Karate (Shorinjiryu Kenkokan) is 4th Dan, not 7th Dan Kyoshi as he advertises. His background is mainly Taekwondo (Rhee) and UKB Karate/Taekwondo (United Karate Brotherhood) and he named his dojo Kenryukan (after the Australian reptile – the frilled neck lizard/bearded dragon). When he joined the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan in 2012 he was given the 4th Dan. I’m guessing it’s probably a provisional grade at this stage until he learns the entire syllabus.

Is your club going to compete in the International Four Seasons Oceania Cup at Southport, Gold Coast on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th October 2015?

Matt

[mw17]

'Karate is for life' heading into my mid sixties and coming up to 50 years of training, the last 30 years of it in the WKKF (1985 start with kumite hard man Hanshi Patrick McKean) and still doing bogu kumite drills with the 'master of masters' Hanshi Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, the Founder of the WKKF and an undefeated kumite champion in his prime; whom whilst in his mid 70's still works the bogu (every day)...

The above quote is from Nigel McReddie’s Facebook. I’m a little confused as I have since been given a copy of the budo biography of Nigel from a senior member of WKKF and Shorinjiryu Kenkokan. I was informed he has only been formally on the WKKF scene as an official since about the year 2000. In his biography Nigel stated he joined UKB Karate (United Karate Brotherhood) in 1991 not 1985, training under a 5th Dan instructor by the name of Pat McKean. This style (UKB) is an eclectic style of karate mixing elements of Shotokan, Goju and Shorinjiryu Kenkokan. During this time 1991 to 1999 he has made a remarkable achievement in reaching beginner to 6th Dan UKB Karate in only 8 years, but I don’t see how this is possible! Any comments regarding this?

His qualifications are
1st Dan Rhee Taekwondo (Chong Chul Rhee and Kim Macrae).
2nd Dan not known.
3rd Dan not known.
4th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate (Masayuki Hisataka in 2012).
5th Dan UKB Taekwondo (Pat McKean in 1999).
6th Dan UKB Karate 1999 (Pat McKean in 1999).

We’re still interested in competing in WKKF Koshiki, but now a little reluctant due to the conflicting comments regarding qualifications of officials. Has anyone heard of Pat McKean in the Australia karate/taekwondo scene and his background?

Matt

[Grant]

Dear Matt & Paul,

My name is Grant Brechney, I am one of Scott Brown's senior students ranking 2nd dan in Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo & Koshiki Karatedo. I have been reading your conversation and would like to pitch in if I may?

Re the WKKF - Koshiki Karatedo is a interesting and physically challenging competition system which as both of you have recognised is founded by Masayuki Hisataka Hanshi of Japan. I have a 4 year career as a Koshiki Karatedo competitor now and in this time I feel I have gained quite a bit of insider knowledge to the politics, especially those here in Australia. Last year my wife Kody-Leigh and I held the WKKF NSW Winter Championships. We hosted many Australian teams and a Japanese team including Masamitsu Kudaka Shihan (Masayuki Hisataka Hanshi's son). The tournament was a great success and all had fun including a large team lead by Nigel McReaddie.

Nigel McReaddie had made several initiatives recently in support of the WKKF in the form of event hosting. Recently he hosted Masamitsu Shihan in Brisbane QLD. He also intends to host an Oceania tournament in October of 2015. The agenda behind these initiatives however calls into great question the character of this person. Earlier you both mentioned the Koshiki grading recognition system... Nigel has flawlessly maneuvered this system to position himself into a leader within the WKKF and some would even go as far as to say he has set up to position himself into a takeover of the titles for chairman of the Australian Koshiki Karatedo Federation and possibly even Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo (not even knowing the syllabus). There is no doubt that the Koshiki dan grading recognition system has brought serious issues about into the internal management of the AKKF which will have lasting effects on the sport here in Australia. Good or bad who can say?

Nigel holds a 7th Dan in Koshiki Karatedo awarded to him by Masayuki Hisataka Hanshi. As you both know, Nigels grading history within an actual system of Karate or other martial art is sketchy at best, recognising that Koshiki Karatedo is purely a sport brought about by the heavy influence of western society to institutionalise traditional Japanese/Okinawan martial arts. This is questionable also as Nigel has no competition career within Koshiki Karate himself, not discounting his ability as a referee/judge...

I have personally made a decision to disassociate with the WKKF as a result of these events and others I have not mentioned here. This has come as a shame to me as I do believe the idea behind the contact system is good one. I am afraid though that I believe it has no future here in Australia and if it does, it is not one that I would be able to associate with as a practitioner (as best I can be) of the budo philosophy.

I encourage those interested however to seek their own experience with these organisations and individuals and make their own judgement. Thanks for letting me chuck in my 2 cents guys =)

[mw17]

I also remember Nigel-san, he was doing Rhee Taekwondo back in 1987 when I met him. I was the karate guy that taught him Taikyoku-shodan (karate's first kata) ... Good to hear that he went on to get his 4th Dan in karate ... but I have read on various internet sites that place him at 5th, 6th and 7th dan with shogo titles of kengo, renshi and kyoshi! Are these sites dated or are the grades/titles honorary? Perhaps issued by the WKKF as distinct from Shorinji-ryu Kenkokan?

Regards,

That's interesting, and also to hear you were a direct student of Pat McKean for a long time. Any background information regarding this?

[Kerrie Mee]

Hi Matt

Just wondering what background information you are looking for re: Hanshi Pat McKean

[mw17]

Thanks everyone for your input into the Koshiki discussion. Scott Brown (8th Dan Koshiki) and Howard Sanders (6th Dan Koshiki) resigned from the WKKF after many years of service in that federation due to personal reasons. It is assumed Australia Koshiki at this stage is no longer a written body of principles governed by a committee in a legal form. However there a few people who still support WKKF in Australia and are taking Koshiki in another direction. This group is now lead by Nigel McReddie (7th Dan Koshiki).

Laurie Vanniekerk, Scott Brown (NSW) and Phil Hooper (QLD) are considered the pioneers of Koshiki in Australia. Other notable pioneer karateka in Australia included Merv Oakley, Paul Starling, John Taylor, Frank Novak, but were not involved with the Koshiki system except for Paul Starling who acted as an advisor for the NSW branch in the early 1980’s.

Scott Brown 6th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo who heads the tradition in Australia, and Nigel McReddie 4th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenkokan remain members of the Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo Honbu in Japan under Masayuki Hisataka.

Again thanks everyone for filling in the blanks.

Matt White

[Kerrie Mee]

Hi Matt
As previously asked... what background information were you looking for regarding Hanshi Pat McKean???
I notice you failed to mention him as a pioneer of Koshiki Karate. He was a true pioneer & advocate of the Koshiki system. Without Hanshi Pat McKean it would not have succeeded in Australia

[mw17]

QUOTE: "Laurie Vanniekerk, Scott Brown (NSW) and Phil Hooper (QLD) are considered the pioneers of Koshiki in Australia. Other notable pioneer karateka in Australia included Merv Oakley, Paul Starling, John Taylor, Frank Novak, but were not involved with the Koshiki system except for Paul Starling who acted as an advisor for the NSW branch in the early 1980’s."

Regarding Koshiki in the 1980’s and 1990’s it was further confirmed that Lori Vanniekerk, Graeme Bullpit, Chris Kleise, Gordon Kleise, Richard Bryant, Phil Hooper (all from QLD) and Scott Brown (NSW) are the actual pioneers of Koshiki in Australia. Lori Vanniekerk headed the organisation in Australia with his student Phil Hooper leading the Queensland Branch and Scott Brown leading the NSW Branch.

There were many karateka in NSW and Queensland who supported Koshiki with their respective dojo’s attending tournaments in NSW, Queensland, Japan and USA.

It was established the following Instructors/people/dojo’s to name a few supported Koshiki in the past.
Graeme Bowden, Max Estens, Jim Griffin, Douglas Hawkins, Steven Fekete, Shaun O’Leary, Mark Manion, Allan Park, Home Phanoraj, Pam Brown, Julie Hooper and Ros Jenkins all from Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo (the founding school of Koshiki), Phil Hinshelwood and Paul O’Donnell from the Shudokan, Chris and Jeff Traish from Arjuken Karate, Rick Jones from Onesown Karate, Pat Brennan from Zen Do kai Karate, Howard Sanders from Australian Kenkokan Karate, Pat McKean from United Karate Brotherhood, Ian Pollet from Shito ryu to name a few, and more recently Nigel McReddie from Kenryukan. Many of these people were Judges, Referees and administration assistants who had a passion for the promotion of Koshiki competition. Agreed, all were advocates with many doing some great team work which helped Koshiki achieve in Australia.

Noteworthy International and National Koshiki Champions included Graeme Bowden, Chris Kleise, Phil Hooper, Scott Brown, Gordon Kleise, Dave Holmberg, Paul O’Donnell, and Geoff Harrison.

As stated in a prior post, the notable Australian pioneer karateka (FAKO) during these decades included Merv Oakley, Paul Starling, John Taylor, Frank Nowak and a few others who headed their respective traditional karate branch in Australia under their headmaster in Japan. It should be noted the late John Newman MP, President of Federation of Australian Karate Organisations (FAKO) was an advocate and supporter of early koshiki.

[Kerrie Mee]

Hi Matt
You have again failed to answer my question as to why you were asking for Hanshi Pat McKean's history.
As to the pioneers of Koshiki, Pat McKean was the National President for over 20 years. Scott Brown & PHIL Hooper were the State Presidents. You seem to be confusing Koshiki with Shorinjiryu.
You have mentioned quite a few names there so can I assume that you are also a Koshiki competitor.
With regards to notable International Competitors, I noticed you again forgot Hanshi Pat McKean. He won the World a Title in 1987 in USA, biggest Koshiki tournament ever. Unfortunately Phil Hooper & Scott Brown were both defeated.
Pat McKean was also the original karate teacher of Scott Brown & also teacher of Howard Sanders.
Perhaps your efforts to be deliberately misleading have an underlying objective ???
Regarding FAKO the Koshiki demo in Sydney was performed by Pat McKean & Scott Brown.
Regarding WKKF, Pat McKean was awarded his 8th Dan by Hanshi Hisataka in 1999. I think Scott Brown is still waiting for his grading

[mw17]

In an effort to show this Koshiki subject not to be deliberately misleading with an underlying objective, the following comments are submitted for your information and perusal.

This subject takes an interest in all matters of fact regarding Koshiki History in Australia, its Pioneers, Noteworthy Champions, Administration Officials and Competitors. Pat McKean is also included in this subject, along with many others. In the interest of readers, information regarding Pat McKean has not been forthcoming in previous posts, but is now kindly provided.

Please note the following background, along with information provided by Kerri Mee on Pat McKean and his notable historical association within Koshiki Australia.

1. Pat McKean was the National President for over 20 years (Koshiki).
2. Pat McKean was an International Competitor (Koshiki 1987).
3. Pat McKean 1987 World Title winner (Biggest Koshiki tournament ever).
4. Original karate teacher of Scott Brown.
5. Karate teacher of Howard Sanders.
6. Pat McKean with Scott Brown did a Koshiki demonstration in Sydney for FAKO.
7. Awarded 8th Dan Koshiki in 1999 by Masayuki Hisataka.
8. Original karate teacher of Nigel McReddie.

Further facts and comments regarding Koshiki history in Australia, its Pioneers, Noteworthy Champions, Administrations Officials and Competitors are welcomed in this forum.