Sensei John Euden
Sensei John Euden
Sensei John Euden
Training in Karate-do is like pushing a cart up a hill, if you stop, the cart will fall back. - Japanese proverb
Our Traditional Shotokan Karate Club is open to all grades and beginners. We are based in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, and we train twice a week and once a week for the Tiger Cubs (kids Karate club). This style of Karate will help improve your health and fitness, endurance, strength, flexibility and confidence, as well as making new friends. We aim to train our bodies and minds so we can become more efficient and generally better people.
People of any age and all walks of life can train in Shotokan Karate, there are no prejudices. Do not under-estimate yourself, come along and have a go, you will never know unless you try. Shotokan Karate is classified as a non-contact martial art, and is the most practical and effective style around. Our focus is on perfecting the basic techniques. In our association, there is the opportunity to take part in external courses, with excellent karate-ka (karate practioners), this also includes the annual residential course where members go to Devon/Cornwall and train with the chief instructors of our association. In addition, participate in competions and regularly come away with a decent amount of trophies.
If you want to know more about our club or the style, please feel free to browse our website, pop into one of our Dojos to try a lesson, or just watch.
How I Started Karate
I started training at 17 years old in Ramsgate, Kent, under Sensei Dave Roe. This was with the Thames Karate Association under Sensei Ray Fuller, who I did my early gradings with back in the early Eighties. After we left Thames we joined the B.S.B.J.K. (British Shotokan Bu Jutsu Kai) where I met Sensei Peter Manning for the first time in about 1990. We then joined the Funakoshi Karate Association under Sensei K. Funakoshi whose UK representative was Geoff Stansfield.
I gained my Nidan and my Dojo moved on, I think it was down to the distances we had to travel to train with Sensei Funakoshi, for gradings etc. The next move was to the J.K.A. (Japan Karate Association), the UK representative was Sensei Bob Sidoli (then 5th dan), an outstanding karateka. I achieved my Sandan, then after some years training with all the J.K.A. Sensei that came to the UK, I parted company with Sensei Roe.
I had a short time in the karate wilderness looking for a good group to join. By this time 18 years of training I was running my own Dojo. I was invited to train with Sensei Kawasoe, with a veiw to joining the U.K.T.K.F. I enjoyed his tuition very much, especially the annual events with Senseis' Ochi, Naito and Shirai, to name a few. It was on one of these I bumped into Pete again and old memories and friendships came back. I immediately joined the T.S.K.A. (Traditional Shotokan Karate Association) when he told me he was heading his own group and was now Godan. After a few years I gained my Yondan with the T.S.K.A. My Dojos have thrived within the T.S.K.A. and continue to do so.
As you can see, karate is a huge part of my life, as it has been for 25 years or so. I have made most of my lifelong friends through karate. I have had a rich and diverse history in shotokan, and have been privileged to train with some of the best. Here are a few I have trained with that spring to mind!
Sensei: Yahara, Isaka, Kawasoe, Akita, Kanazawa, Murakami, Sumi, O'Neil, Trimble, Hazard, Amos, Morris, Abernethy, Elwyn Hall, Bryant, Knoebel, Sidoli , Ohta, K. Funakoshi, Beech, Winslade, there are more of course, and all have had an impact on my training and knowledge of shotokan.
In all my Dojos we are still training in the pursuit of traditional shotokan karate with the emphasis on Kihon, Kumite and Kata. Correct body movement and the search for the perfect technique combined with the philosophy of 'Ippon!' goes on!
Sensei John Euden 2007
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