2024 marks the 50th Anniversary of Steve’s Wado karate journey and the decision was made to hold a special training session, bringing past and present students together, including friends and fellow karate-ka from the past 50 years, enabling us all to train together, as we used to.
Initial approaches were made to Arthur Meek Sensei, Andrew Genery Sensei, Rob Howells Sensei, Nick Quilliam Sensei and Leeroy Ellis Sensei to join Sugasawa Sensei and Shikukai members in this event. An open invitation was extended to anyone who knew Steve and had trained alongside him. It was decided to hold the event at The Olympiad Leisure Centre for two reasons, namely, it was easier for most people to get to, and this was the home of Steve & Pam’s Club for many years before they relocated to Weymouth.
Half an hour before training was due to start the hall became full with friends and karate-ka, many of whom had not put gis on for many years. It was very heart-warming to see so many people had made such a special effort to attend. Commemorative pens were handed out to all attendees.
After a warm up by Carol Chatterton, Steve’s long-time senior student, a group photo was taken, and introductions made. The plan was to invite several of the instructors to each take a session, following the pattern of Steve’s karate journey. Steve explained how and why he took up Karate at the Doncaster Dojo in Baxter Avenue with Andrew Genery and his late sister Suzanne. Andrew took the first session with a lighthearted and novel approach to attack and defence techniques which really got the students thinking.
Steve then explained how he had met Pam at the Club, subsequently getting married and having three children, all of whom went on to become Dan Grades. It was at this point that Steve introduced Nicky Hawker, who was the third member of the Ladies Kata Team with Pam & Carol who had represented their country at the World All Styles Karate Competition in Malaysia in 1994. Session two was taken by Pam who concentrated on various Kette Junzuki movements involving balance and working on the core.
Arthur Meek then led the next session, concentrating on Irimi, Kuzushi and Maai in pairwork. Steve followed on with pairwork, using the analogy that all three of his and Pam’s children are different in character and in stature. He then showed a simple pairwork using the same attack, but with three different ways of defending, by making subtle changes. It was now the turn of Sensei Sugasawa to take the final session, where he concentrated on the importance of Okori Taru Tokoro and abdominal breathing. The three hours passed all too quickly, culminating in presentations to Steve by Sugasawa Sensei and Andrew Genery Sensei.
A social gathering was held at The Dumb Post Public House in Bremhill, owned by Richard Board who had trained with Steve and Pam as a youngster until University days. There was understandably lots of reminiscing and poring over some very old photographs!
Pam Rawson
September 2024
Shikukai Karate-Do International 