I first came across karate in 1972 in my last year at Sussex University (Brighton). There was a demonstration at the University by a KUGB Shotokan Club. I was very impressed by the elegance and athleticism of the practitioners and decided to join the University Club. I only trained for a few months and learnt a few of the basics. On moving to London, I joined Mushindo karate in Acton (W4). Karate at this time was very popular due to the films of Bruce Lee. Mushindo karate was founded by a man called Terry Dukes (aka Reverend Nagaboshi Tomio). I achieved 8th kyu in Mushindo. Terry was a very accomplished karateka who had taken many ideas from Shotokan and Goju Ryu and formed his own style. Like many people before him and now, he set himself up as a “master” but had no direct lineage to the source of karate.
In 1976, having returned from travelling in the Far East, I joined Nick Adamou’s Club in Harrow. Nick is one of Soke’s original group of students and he trained with Soke around 1962 when Soke first arrived in the UK. Nick was a passionate follower of Soke and Shotokan karate. He is an excellent technician and I trained with him until 1982. Soke was a frequent visitor to the Harrow dojo, and we were immediately impressed by his mastery of karate. We all felt we were in the presence of a very special Master. I took my Shodan in 1979 and performed Kankudai.
In 1982, Nick organised a large Course at the Michael Sorbell Centre in Islington and I graded Nidan with Soke, performing Sochin. It was at this course that Soke introduced Tai Chi to the SKIF karateka in the UK. He advocated the practice of Tai Chi to balance the harder, more dynamic aspects of karate. I maintained contact with Nick Adamou and opened my own dojo in Greenford. I had around 25 students training twice a week. Soke visited my dojo on a number of occasions. I also started practicing Tai Chi.
In 1986, I took a break from karate and handed over the club to John and Brenda Wise. I had a young family and a demanding job, and I felt unable to continue training at this time.
In 1994, I joined Kobukan with Sensei Carpenter and started the long, slow progression back to some level of fitness and proficiency in my karate. I was a keen runner and completed many 10ks and Half-Marathons. This helped me get fit enough to train regularly at the Windsor dojo. With Sensei Carpenter’s encouragement I attempted Sandan in 1996 with Soke and passed. I was a little fortunate, I think, having made a mistake in Jion. In 2003, I was awarded Yondan and performed Meikyo. My tokui kata at the time was Unsu but I did not feel confident enough to perform it. When I graded Godan in 2009, I chose Unsu and managed to perform it adequately. I was particularly relieved to have made the 360o jump as there were about 300 people watching!
In May 2022 I took my 6th Dan grading with Kancho Nobuaki. I performed Nijuhachio kata for my tokui kata. This is maybe the most advanced SKIF kata and is very similar to the Shito Ryu kata Nipaipo. More recently I have started training with some Jujutsu and aikido practitioners and have organised joint karate/jujutsu seminars for our students.
It has been very interesting to step outside of the karate world and attempt a new discipline…….back to white belt!
Sensei Carpenter moved to Cornwall in 2007 and handed over the running of Kobukan to myself and Sensei Anne-Marie. I have kept the Club going and have arranged a number of Courses for Senior Japanese Instructors. I intend (hope) to continue training with SKIF as long as my body allows. I recognise the need to adapt one’s training as we age (as Soke advocated) and I advise my students accordingly. To this end, my lessons involve a mixture of basics and stamina training together with a technical and analytical approach to the teaching of kata. I have a firm belief in the benefits of karate-do as taught by Soke and the Honbu Dojo Instructors. The combination of physical fitness and the aesthetic artistry of kata are beneficial to everyone regardless of age and ability. The discipline, wisdom and respect conveyed through the budo influences in karate provide a moral structure for all of us to life our lives in the pursuit of harmony and maintain our well-being.
OSS! Clive Young 17th May 2025