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Robert Matthews Sensei commenced training Shotokan Karate with JKA Australia in 1980, graded to first black belt (Shodan) in 1984 under Shunsuke Takahashi Sensei, who was at that time Chief Instructor of JKA Australia and New Zealand. Shortly after this, while still training on a regular basis with JKA, he opened the JKA Nangiloc dojo. Nangiloc operated for a couple of years till closing due to lack of members - Nangiloc is on the outskirts of Sunraysia, about 60 km south of Mildura but not far from where Matthews Sensei was living and working at that time. Matthews Sensei received JKA Nidan (second Dan) in August 1989 from Takahashi Sensei, during the time when he was training in Melbourne with Takaatsu Nishimura Sensei (Senior Instructor of JKAA Victoria / Ex Chief Instructor of JKA Greece). Sensei was taking part in Nishimura's Instructors Course based on the infamous JKA Instructors Course conducted at JKA honbu dojo in Tokyo. Sensei has competed in JKAA National events and represented JKA Australia at events in both Japan and New Zealand on numerous occasions. Sensei joined the SKI karate group, under Kanazawa Hirokazu (tenth Dan), establishing 'Sunraysia Shotokan' karate club at Irymple Victoria, in September 2002. In February 2004, a second club was established 'Riverland Shotokan' with dojo at Berri South Australia. A second Riverland dojo was opened at Waikerie in May 2005 followed by another at Barmera in January 2007. In January 2006, Sensei moved to South Australia to pursue karate teaching as a full-time occupation. Over the next year or two several dojos were opened but ended up closing (including Sunraysia and Mallee Clubs) due to lack of support by local communities. This was mainly in small towns where, while the locals said they were keen to have structured exercise programs in place, the reality was that they really were not that committed, talk is cheap as everyone knows. Anyway, from early 2007 the Riverland Club has become more consolidated with classes held most days. Sensei graded to Sandan (third Dan) in October 2007 with Kanazawa Kancho and once again started taking part in competitions, including SKI Nationals and AKF Nationals among others, representing South Australia at these events in Veterans division. From this time, some of his students have also started competing. The greatest value of competition lies not in winning or loosing but in having taken part. Although competition is a relatively new aspect of karate, increased levels of confidence and self-esteem are the greatest benefits and as such should never be overlooked. At the same time, negatives such as big egos are strongly discouraged by Sensei, as Shotokan Karate founder Gichin Funakoshi would have likewise done. In June 2008, Sensei started holding advanced classes for Brown and Black belts at his Kingston-on- Murray (Riverland Honbu) Dojo. Brad Jones Sensei, during a weekend karate seminar, officially opened this dojo on 30th August 2008. The seminar was lead by both Brad Sensei and Karryn Jenkins Sensei, visiting instructors from the Revesby SKI Karate Club in Sydney. In May 2009, two of Riverland Club’s senior students Julie Lehmann and Peter Santella, successfully graded to Shodan (first Dan) with Tanaka Sensei from SKIF Japan Headquarters Dojo. A further three junior students then graded to Shodan with Kanazawa Kancho and his son Nobuaki at Shotokan Week 2009 in Gladstone Queensland, where they also had many successes in competition. While teaching karate most days, Sensei still likes to fit in training time for himself on a regular basis, under other instructors. If he's not taking part in weekly AKF squad training sessions in Adelaide (from February to August) then he goes to sessions with other Shotokan clubs. He often trains at the Mildura JKA Club where he began karate back in 1980. Despite many setbacks and disappointments, Sensei's first seven brown belts quit training for various reasons and never made it to black belt, he also suffered a lot of back problems and severe pain (work related) in his early competition days, Sensei is now starting to really enjoy his karate. However, he still maintains, "it's not what belt you have but your attitude and what's in your heart that matters most. While karate makes you stronger and you try as hard as you can, it should also be enjoyable. While people may have different reasons for taking up karate training, karate is something that most do for their health, to do it for the rest of their lives however, they must enjoy it!" |