HISTORY OF KUSHIDO

A history of KANCHO HUGH (from S.A. black belt hall of fame.)
A history of HANSHI DENIS (from Kushido South Africa.)
The history page from the wuweidao web site is very informative on many styles and masters.

KUSHIDO is today a fully international organisation and system. It is, of course, the natural development of and from the founding KARATE-DO and later KARATE-DO INTERNATIONAL which are still the holding organisations. As a separate system, it follows its own principles, concepts and rules as developed by the founders. Additions and improvements are constantly being made and added by all the Masters. The complete story is naturally far more comprehensive and a brief history follows.
January 1st 1963 saw the founding of the school Karate-Do in Cape Town by Hugh St. John Thomson and Marty St. John Thomson together with 7 students. The second dojo opened at the University of Stellenbosch not too many years later. The style was loosely based on Shotokan style techniques but fairly heavily influenced by concepts of Kyokushinkai. The name was selected, simply, KARATE-DO. The name of the school was decided on after careful consideration of the meaning, aims and philosophy of the martial arts. At that time, 'Karate' was widely translated as the way of the empty hand, meaning without aggression, while 'do' is the mystical pathway of life through experience and searching for truth. This to indicate that the school would follow a deeper course - not merely physical techniques. So it is even today.
The badge design is the heraldic depiction of this concept. Simply stated, the fist, representing understanding through discipline and study, is superimposed over a sword, symbolising aggression and ignorance.
The year 1965 saw a new turn when the founders brought out two highly qualified teachers from Japan from the Shotokan system, Taiji Kase and Hiroshi Shirai. Training was conducted for some months and was of the highest level available. Both these teachers remain world-renowned. Hugh, however, felt that some element was not present and decided to pursue inner compulsions and accordingly went to Japan. Investigating, he decided to train with the Okinawan Goju Ryu system which he found much more open and fluid. He also trained with the Shorinryu system - which was the system from which Shotokan evolved. He also studied Aikido at the Aiki Honbu in Tokyo and found the system highly compatible with Goju. He was able to include some elements of Kendo at this time. He was unanimously appointed onto the founding World Referees Examining Board in Paris as one of nine. A singular honour. He returned to South Africa with the rank of SHIHAN or master. Karate-Do underwent dramatic alterations and expansion as all the methods and ideas learnt were incorporated. At this time (1967) he took the step to pursue an independent line and make the necessary adaptations to produce a system catering for Western concepts and build as well as oriental. Grades were consolidated and only grades issued by the system were from that time recognised within the system. However, appreciation is always afforded to recognised systems' grades.
By striving to expand concepts and become more encompassing, the system has encouraged experimentation at all level. Hanshi Denis St John Thomson, who has long been the leading light in development, first with expanding the use of traditional weapons such as the Sai, Bo, Nunchaku, Tonfa and Sickle, has become an authority in South Africa and many other areas. He has since changed focus and moved into the internal or soft system of T’ai Chi Chuan, with his studies taking him to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Britain, where he studied under various Tai Chi masters.
Healing, which has always been regarded as a vital aspect of the system, was first explored by the Kancho in 1963 and he studied under a famous naturopath, the late FO Lawrence. Later, the Kyoshi researched various healing aspects, including massage, shiatsu and reiki. Hanshi Alana van Rensburg expanded her side in healing and has greatly added to the pool of understanding in all aspects of Bio-energy. Since then much has been expanded and extended. During various periods it was considered to alter the name to better reflect the new system.
Finally in 1986 the big step was taken and KUSHIDO became the new name, an acronym made up of basically the first letters of - Karate-Do's Universal System of Human Individual Development and Order.
Karate-Do and now KUSHIDO has always been, and will remain, a totally and independent and separate system of budo. From its inception and although being founder members of various associations and representing different oriental and other organisations, its separate identity have never been compromised and the founders have never allowed the school to affiliate to any organisations, including those in Japan. As far as is known, this phenomenon is unique worldwide. KUSHIDO continues to develop, grow and expand.

KUSHIDO IN THE UK BEING UPDATED

We use the date of 1990 as the anniversary of when karate-do kushido came into the UK, however this is in fact only the date from which karate-do kushido has been in the UK mainland without any break.  But the British origins go back further than that, to the early 1970s when kushido was still called karate-do.  Sensei Dennis Martin taught in Liverpool for many years, those who used to read Terry O'Neill's "Fighting Arts" magazine will know him as the VIP protection expert.  In the 1980s Sensei Sue Allen had established a Dojo in Alderney, which is run today by Sensei Mike Carr.
In January 1990, Kyoshi (now Hanshi) Denis St.John Thomson arrived in the UK with one of his 3rd Dans and a brown belt Sempai to open a Dojo in Camberley, Surrey. Staying for several months he motivated and started a group of twenty or so students on `The Way` before returning to South Africa and leaving the Dojo in the hands of his brown belt. Although the Dojo progressed, things didn’t work out for the brown belt and he left to make way for Sensei John Golby 2nd Dan, who shipped home from Capetown with his wife Leila, to move to Camberley in December 1990 to make the Dojo his priority for the next 11 years. There was a period of a few months before his arrival when a second Dan living in London taught the classes to keep the Dojo running - Sensei Ford Hallam's contribution will not be forgotten.
For this time Sensei John worked all these students hard -  setting the foundations for good growth and excellent Karate-Do. Lots of good solid basics, Kata, Kumite, Kobudo, T'ai Chi Chuan, natural healing and philosophy set the very high standards that all Kushido students have come to expect and enjoy. We thank you Sensei! Throughout this time we saw the development of a serious Dojo (Camberley) and the early structure for what we have now. Regular classes for all grades which obviously increased and expanded as student numbers grew and senior students progressed. We experienced several Dojo premises....from the very small and compact where the `close-quarter` aspect become more apparent, to the large and cavernous which really tested the strength of your centre and lungs when attempting to fill the space with your Kiai! We performed in many demonstrations for local schools and sports centres, even the local police Women’s Awareness and self-defence unit. We have been privileged to have had visits from the Kancho himself, Hanshi Denis, several Shihan and Koshi and senior Sensei’s from around the world to cement relations and further everyone’s teaching, understanding, and experience...perhaps most notably the visits of Sensei Hans of Nederlands, and the Shihans Paul and Juanita Baumann of Switzerland who head the European organisation.
1998 saw further growth for Kushido in the UK with Sensei Lindsay opening our second Dojo in Windsor, which continues to grow slowly but surely! Like any Dojo of any system many students begin who soon realise it is not so easy....and it is less often the physical aspects that challenge so strongly! Here we have been the subject of local newspaper articles about the quality and depth our Junior (ages 9 - 15) and pre-Kushido (ages 6 - 8) teaching programmes, invited onto the Southern League Kumite Tournament Circuit, contribute to local newsletter (and websites) about Health and Wholism, and even invited onto TV’s Masters of Combat.....which we politely declined!!!
International intrigue effected us all in 2000 when Kushido Europe resigned from The Institute (in South Africa) and formally cut ties with Kancho Hugh, but kept all contacts with the rest of the Kushido world such as the Western Cape (under Hanshi Denis St.John Thomson), Australia (under Shihan Johnathan Sandler), and others.
Currently then, we are teaching a minimum of eight classes a week (in a month without any courses or extras), and are still looking at further expansion and development. Across the two Dojo’s we have group sessions for all grades, grade specific classes, weapons classes, courses every month - one day, three day, one week (gashuku)! - kids` days, self-defence specials, natural healing sessions, grappling nights, end-of-the-month specials, quarterly `sweats`, instructor training programme, socials, and much much more! In fact we have set up the classes so that the most motivated and committed (perhaps they should be!) students can train six days a week, and even seven days in particular weeks when courses are on!
Many students have begun, many have quit, but the few who have continued to train, study, learn, and struggle have begun to appreciate the excitement and some of the benefits of Budo. Here’s to the future of Kushido in the UK....we welcome all new students of the future....and to all those currently training/struggling: keep at it!!!

KUSHIDO, KARATE-DO AND KARATE-DO INTERNATIONAL TODAY

2003 saw the 40th anniversary of Kushido (karate-do), Members from Kushido and Karate-do international from all over the world came together for week long gashuku.  This was the first time in many years that students from the karate-do international dojos and kushido karate-do dojos trained together.  2004 saw the 15 anniversary of the karate-do international dojo in Hungary, again, the gashuku mixed both kushido and karate-do international styles.  And Australia's kushido dojo often has visits from members from karate-do international at their friendship gashukus.  In 2005 We celebrated our 15th anniversary in the UK, with students from dojos all over the world taking part made it a very up lifting event.  Since then Camberley Dojo has increased in size with plenty of new people wanting to join.  Meanwhile the Windsor dojo is being looked after by Sempei Arthur and Sempei David until Sensei Lindsay is able to get back into the dojo, here to new students are joining to keep the energy up.  Lester from Windsor Dojo is currently in Switzerland on a 6 month intensive training program known as being a deshi.  Good luck to you.  At the moment the future is looking very good for kushido UK.

For more history of karate-do, Kushido and Hanshi Denis St John Thomson click here.  This link will take you to the home of Kushido world wide.

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