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Shukokai - Eric Tomlinson |
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Written by Robert Lile
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Wednesday, 27 December 2006 |
SHUKOKAI - The Way For Perfection
Eric Tomlinson, 6th Dan, (Chief instructor, SSU-USA)(2004)
I started Shukokai karate under Sensei Roy Stanhope, Eddie Daniels and Terry Pottage in Manchester, England in 1971. Since then I have been training in Shukokai throughout my karate-do life. I trained under Kimura sensei until he passed away in 1995. Kimura sensei was one of the most exceptionally powerful men I have ever known. In terms of techniques, I regard Kimura sensei as the most outstanding person in the past 20-30 years of karate. His Gyaku-zuki and Mae-geri were next to none. He was the type of person who stood out because of his charisma. I benefited from knowing him and from the opportunity to train with him. Because of the teacher/student relationship we had, we became very close.
Looking back on my early days in karate in the mid 70s, I worked very hard to perfect my style to compete in tournaments. I was just a hungry fighter. All my pains, bruises and sweat were rewarding as they gave me a great drive for perfection in life. Although my mind is still willing and continues to push me, my body finds it physically difficult to attain success. It is difficult for a man in his mid-50s, with aching arms and hips from years of training, to continue at peak performance, no matter how much his mind pushes. As time passes, I must admit that my punches and kicks are not as fast as they used to be, however I can still pass these moves on to all of my students because this is one of my responsibilities. I earned the recognition that I received through hard work, and now my goal is to help the next generation have the opportunity to reap the same rewards that I had. I also wish to keep the high standards and the spotless reputation held by karate-do professionals for the sake of the future of traditional karate-do in United States.
In 1996, I moved to the United States. I opened a Shukokai dojo in Missouri, hoping it would be a small step to promote Shukokai in United States. In 2002, I joined Shito-ryu Shukokai Union under Yamada sensei. The same year in October 2002, I met Yamada sensei for the first time at the European Championships in Manchester, England. Although Yamada sensei is one of the highest ranking instructors in JKF( Hanshi, 8th Dan), he is a very humble and open-minded person. He granted me the freedom to organize the association within the United States as one of the Union's branches. In March, 2003, I attended Yamada sensei's seminar and Gishinkan Championships in Amagasaki, Japan. Yamada sensei and other instructors welcomed us and showed us the warmest of hospitality, which made me feel that to be a member of Shito-ryu Shukokai World Union was a great honor. Yamada sensei's students (even small children) were well discipline and showed great respect for their sensei and senpai, which made me realize that this is the essence of learning traditional karate-do. This is what we often fail to teach in our dojos, and I believe this is something we need to improve upon. Discipline and respect should be evident in our instructors so that this important element is taught to our students.
Yamada sensei is a traditional type of karate-ka and has a different approach to karate-do from Kimura sensei. They were both Tani sensei's students, although they applied the fundamental basics of Shukokai karate with their own interpretations. Throughout his life, one sought a specific perfection of technique that is focused on speed and power through the perfect application of body mechanics. The other saw karate as a lifetime process that leads a person to become a mature human being. Performing karate for one's whole life without tearing muscles, excessively pressuring body parts and causing physical problems later in life is the goal. To study Shukokai is to study body mechanics in order to generate maximum power and speed. This is also the point where my karate-do started and the core of my karate training. I do not want to loose this basic principle whatsoever.
My goal is for Shito-ryu Shukokai Union USA to take the Shukokai techniques I earned from Kimura sensei such as kick shock, recoil, dropping the body weight and so on, and merge them with Yamada sensei's knowledge and experiences in developing a mature human being by following the traditional karate-do philosophy. In other words, I want to see SSU-USA benefit from both sensei and develop karate-do of exceptional quality.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Yamada sensei and Kamohara sensei (Chief Instructor, SSU-Europe) for their encouragement and generous contributions. I also wish to thank the members of SSU-USA for their support in striving to establish a new and highly respected association in United States of America.
Fighters World 1980, UK
Summary
Eric Tomlinson of Bolton S.K.F. looked in impeccable form as he worked his way through the eliminations, with his unique way of maintaining concentration this avid counter puncher looked set to take the Middleweight section. In a fierce two fight bout with Kobi's David Quinn, the first fight ended in a two Waza-ari draw; the second fight Tomlinson won after an unfortunate face punch from Quinn was deemed excessive.
In the fourth fight, S.K.F. star Eric Tomlinson met young Neil McFadgen whose tenacity earned him a Waza-ari, though Tomlinson won the fight two-one. [At Digbeth Civic Hall, Birmingham]
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 December 2006 )
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