Toshu Jutsu Bunkai seminar with Renshi Simon Keegan
On April 22nd at Van Dang martial arts in Manchester, Simon Keegan Renshi is presenting a bunkai seminar that will give an unprecedented presentation of the real workable combat applications hidden within kata and forms.
Where: Van Dan Martial Arts, Newton Street, Manchester
When: April 22nd 2012, 10am-5pm
Who: Simon Keegan, Renshi
What: Kata Bunkai
How much: £20
Contact: [email protected]
Simon Keegan Renshi
Karate Biography: Introduction:
Simon Keegan is the pioneer of a system of Karate called Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu which is based around the combat effective old ways of Karate. Well versed in many styles of Karate, Jujutsu and Kung Fu, Simon has spent decades seeking to piece together and transmit the combat applications of Kata in a realistic self defence system. He has trained under some of the world's foremost Karate, Jujutsu and Kung Fu masters and many individuals have helped shape his approach to the old methods of Karate referred to as Toshu Jutsu. Training with some of the living legends of Karate - both Japanese and western has give Simon valuable insight into the old ways of Karate, as has training and grading in a Japanese group. In fact Simon received his grades from Japan's two oldest martial arts fraternities which included the likes of Grandmasters Kanazawa, Mochizuki and Sato and his grades were endorsed by the hereditary Shogun and Japanese royal family.
Background:
Simon is the third generation of his family to study traditional Japanese martial arts. His great uncle began studying Jujutsu in 1945 and his father David Keegan (now headmaster of our Yang style Tai Chi school) and uncle Paul first studied Jujutsu in 1959-1961 and in the 1960s his dad trained with the famous Red Triangle Shotokan Karate club while his uncle studied Goju Ryu. Simon's introduction to the martial arts was informal, training with his dad and studied many weapons from the age of 7 including Chinese broadsword, Japanese swords, Nunchaku and stickfighting. He joined his first formal club aged 10 and began to study traditional Karate and Jujutsu as a teenager.
Early Training & Grading History:
Simon trained for eight years with the Bushido Academy learning a freestyle Karate system based on a combination of Yoseikan, Budokan, Shotokan, Wado Ryu and Shukokai as well as Judo, Kobudo and Ki Aikido. In this time he also competed in freestyle Karate, kickboxing and kata competitions, winning several gold medals. He became his teacher's senior student and would also train outside of class at his teacher's home.
Around the same time Simon also studied with a Chinese martial arts academy for nine years, learning Yang Style Tai Chi, traditional Hsing-I Quan and Sun Lu Tang style, a combination of Wu style Taiji Quan, Hsing-I Quan and Pakua Zhang as well as Chinese straightsword (Jian). The Chinese art of Hsing-I Quan has proved to be a key influence on his interpretation of Toshu Jutsu.
After a very brief period of studying Malaysian Budokan Karate, he joined the Seiki Juku school of Shotokan Karate and the Kiai Yamabushi Ryu school of Jujutsu, training under instructors Bob Carruthers, Jaimie Lee-Barron, George Scarrott and Joe Carslake and also studying older Okinawan Uchinadi methods of Karate with Sensei Steve Brennan. In 2000 Simon founded his club the Bushinkai Academy.
Japanese Training & Grading History
At the age of 23 Simon was accepted into Japan's oldest martial arts fraternity, the Kokusai Budoin, and recognised as a 2nd Dan in Hirokazu Kanazawa's Shotokan Karate division and Shizuya Sato's Nihon Jujutsu division. Previous members of this organisation include the likes of Gogen Yamaguchi, Minoru Mochizuki, Kenji Tomiki, Kyuzo Mifune and Hironori Ohtsuka.
Simon became a student of Kyoshi Reiner Parsons 7th Dan who graded to 5th Dan under Nisseikai master Tadanori Nobetsu and 6th Dan under Shoto Ryu master Ikuo Higuchi. Reiner graded Simon 3rd Dan in Shoto Ryu Karate in Kokusai Budoin.
Simon eventually became a regional director of Kokusai Budoin and was able to learn from a number of Japanese masters including Nobetsu, Sato and Mitsuhiro Kondo and at this time was also still studying the Chinese martial arts, training on seminars with martial arts professors like Li De Yin and Zhang Xiu Mu.
As a 4th Dan and International Director of the United Kingdom Budo Federation, he also became a founder member of the English Karate Federation and along the way became good friends with Karate Jutsu and Yawara master Terry Wingrove, Jujutsu master Allan Tattersall and trained with some of the world's other foremost authorities on the traditional martial arts to have trained at the source, including Hanshi Patrick McCarthy and Sensei Alan Ruddock.
In 2010, under authority of Japan's original martial arts governing body the Dai Nippon Butokukai, Simon was awarded the traditional teaching title of Renshi (polished teacher). Previous members of the Dai Nippon Butokukai include Gichin Funakoshi, Choju Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni and Jigoro Kano.
Teaching the arts:
Simon is the chairman of The Empire Martial Arts Association and teaches the Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu system within a school called Bushinkai with classes at Manchester's Van Dang Martial Arts. Simon teaches alongside his senior students; regional instructor Dan Sanchez and club instructors, Ben Gaunt and Peter McHugh.
The course:
In this full day course I will be teaching an unprecedented amount of Kata Bunkai.
It doesn't matter what style you study whether it's traditional Karate (Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Shito Ryu, Shukokai, Shorin Ryu etc), Karate Jutsu, freestyle Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Lau Gar, Wing Chun, etc, this course is for you.
Not only will we unlock the "hidden" applications within the kata/forms/Hsing/Quan, you will also take away practical and pragmatic ways of practicing these skills for self defence. This course is not about hocus pocus and "Chi knockouts" it is about real, effective, practical combat skills including strikes, throws, traps, chokes, pressure points..., breaks, rips, trips, pins, controls, weapons and more.
This course is not about outdated anochronistic techniques. You will not be taught Bunkai for how to evade a Samurai on horseback, these applications are applications that are just as relevent today as they were in yesteryear.
And most importantly you will be taught in a quantifiable, organised way.
The course will include Shoto family forms such as Heian/Pinan, Tekki/Naihanchi, Bassai, Kanku/Kushanku, Empi/Wansu, and more plus Goju Ryu forms such as Gekisai and Seishan and Kung Fu forms such as the Yang style Taiji Quan.
Through analysis (Bunkai), applications (Oyo), variations (Henka) and flow drills (Renzoku Geiko) we will unlock the combat meanings behind the movements. Whether you study Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Tai Chi etc, this will give a whole new meaning to the moves in your forms. All grades are welcome from any styles. The training will be informal with plenty of opportunity for discussion.
You will not be lined up in rows and made to do press-ups (if you want that, come to my Tuesday night class) this seminar is about understanding and learning.
The price is £20 for the full day's training, including certificate. All grades are welcome from 10th Kyu to 10th Dan. I would prefer over 16s only please, but if you are 14 or 15 for example, with a serious attitude to the martial arts, accompanied by your instructor, you are more than welcome too.
I'm not going to say "you must wear a white gi" or anything like that - train in whatever you feel comfortable. This course is about learning.
There will be some historical discussion on the pioneers of Karate Jutsu in the 18th and 19th century and presentations of various histories and lineages so feel free to bring a notepad and take pictures.
This course is not about "my style is better than your style" this course is a celebration of all styles, by focusing on one area of the martial arts that deserves to be celebrated. This course will make Bunkai your Bible!
Where: Van Dan Martial Arts, Newton Street, Manchester
When: April 22nd 2012, 10am-5pm
Who: Simon Keegan, Renshi
What: Kata Bunkai
How much: £20
Contact: [email protected]
Simon Keegan Renshi
Karate Biography: Introduction:
Simon Keegan is the pioneer of a system of Karate called Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu which is based around the combat effective old ways of Karate. Well versed in many styles of Karate, Jujutsu and Kung Fu, Simon has spent decades seeking to piece together and transmit the combat applications of Kata in a realistic self defence system. He has trained under some of the world's foremost Karate, Jujutsu and Kung Fu masters and many individuals have helped shape his approach to the old methods of Karate referred to as Toshu Jutsu. Training with some of the living legends of Karate - both Japanese and western has give Simon valuable insight into the old ways of Karate, as has training and grading in a Japanese group. In fact Simon received his grades from Japan's two oldest martial arts fraternities which included the likes of Grandmasters Kanazawa, Mochizuki and Sato and his grades were endorsed by the hereditary Shogun and Japanese royal family.
Background:
Simon is the third generation of his family to study traditional Japanese martial arts. His great uncle began studying Jujutsu in 1945 and his father David Keegan (now headmaster of our Yang style Tai Chi school) and uncle Paul first studied Jujutsu in 1959-1961 and in the 1960s his dad trained with the famous Red Triangle Shotokan Karate club while his uncle studied Goju Ryu. Simon's introduction to the martial arts was informal, training with his dad and studied many weapons from the age of 7 including Chinese broadsword, Japanese swords, Nunchaku and stickfighting. He joined his first formal club aged 10 and began to study traditional Karate and Jujutsu as a teenager.
Early Training & Grading History:
Simon trained for eight years with the Bushido Academy learning a freestyle Karate system based on a combination of Yoseikan, Budokan, Shotokan, Wado Ryu and Shukokai as well as Judo, Kobudo and Ki Aikido. In this time he also competed in freestyle Karate, kickboxing and kata competitions, winning several gold medals. He became his teacher's senior student and would also train outside of class at his teacher's home.
Around the same time Simon also studied with a Chinese martial arts academy for nine years, learning Yang Style Tai Chi, traditional Hsing-I Quan and Sun Lu Tang style, a combination of Wu style Taiji Quan, Hsing-I Quan and Pakua Zhang as well as Chinese straightsword (Jian). The Chinese art of Hsing-I Quan has proved to be a key influence on his interpretation of Toshu Jutsu.
After a very brief period of studying Malaysian Budokan Karate, he joined the Seiki Juku school of Shotokan Karate and the Kiai Yamabushi Ryu school of Jujutsu, training under instructors Bob Carruthers, Jaimie Lee-Barron, George Scarrott and Joe Carslake and also studying older Okinawan Uchinadi methods of Karate with Sensei Steve Brennan. In 2000 Simon founded his club the Bushinkai Academy.
Japanese Training & Grading History
At the age of 23 Simon was accepted into Japan's oldest martial arts fraternity, the Kokusai Budoin, and recognised as a 2nd Dan in Hirokazu Kanazawa's Shotokan Karate division and Shizuya Sato's Nihon Jujutsu division. Previous members of this organisation include the likes of Gogen Yamaguchi, Minoru Mochizuki, Kenji Tomiki, Kyuzo Mifune and Hironori Ohtsuka.
Simon became a student of Kyoshi Reiner Parsons 7th Dan who graded to 5th Dan under Nisseikai master Tadanori Nobetsu and 6th Dan under Shoto Ryu master Ikuo Higuchi. Reiner graded Simon 3rd Dan in Shoto Ryu Karate in Kokusai Budoin.
Simon eventually became a regional director of Kokusai Budoin and was able to learn from a number of Japanese masters including Nobetsu, Sato and Mitsuhiro Kondo and at this time was also still studying the Chinese martial arts, training on seminars with martial arts professors like Li De Yin and Zhang Xiu Mu.
As a 4th Dan and International Director of the United Kingdom Budo Federation, he also became a founder member of the English Karate Federation and along the way became good friends with Karate Jutsu and Yawara master Terry Wingrove, Jujutsu master Allan Tattersall and trained with some of the world's other foremost authorities on the traditional martial arts to have trained at the source, including Hanshi Patrick McCarthy and Sensei Alan Ruddock.
In 2010, under authority of Japan's original martial arts governing body the Dai Nippon Butokukai, Simon was awarded the traditional teaching title of Renshi (polished teacher). Previous members of the Dai Nippon Butokukai include Gichin Funakoshi, Choju Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni and Jigoro Kano.
Teaching the arts:
Simon is the chairman of The Empire Martial Arts Association and teaches the Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu system within a school called Bushinkai with classes at Manchester's Van Dang Martial Arts. Simon teaches alongside his senior students; regional instructor Dan Sanchez and club instructors, Ben Gaunt and Peter McHugh.
The course:
In this full day course I will be teaching an unprecedented amount of Kata Bunkai.
It doesn't matter what style you study whether it's traditional Karate (Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Shito Ryu, Shukokai, Shorin Ryu etc), Karate Jutsu, freestyle Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Lau Gar, Wing Chun, etc, this course is for you.
Not only will we unlock the "hidden" applications within the kata/forms/Hsing/Quan, you will also take away practical and pragmatic ways of practicing these skills for self defence. This course is not about hocus pocus and "Chi knockouts" it is about real, effective, practical combat skills including strikes, throws, traps, chokes, pressure points..., breaks, rips, trips, pins, controls, weapons and more.
This course is not about outdated anochronistic techniques. You will not be taught Bunkai for how to evade a Samurai on horseback, these applications are applications that are just as relevent today as they were in yesteryear.
And most importantly you will be taught in a quantifiable, organised way.
The course will include Shoto family forms such as Heian/Pinan, Tekki/Naihanchi, Bassai, Kanku/Kushanku, Empi/Wansu, and more plus Goju Ryu forms such as Gekisai and Seishan and Kung Fu forms such as the Yang style Taiji Quan.
Through analysis (Bunkai), applications (Oyo), variations (Henka) and flow drills (Renzoku Geiko) we will unlock the combat meanings behind the movements. Whether you study Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Tai Chi etc, this will give a whole new meaning to the moves in your forms. All grades are welcome from any styles. The training will be informal with plenty of opportunity for discussion.
You will not be lined up in rows and made to do press-ups (if you want that, come to my Tuesday night class) this seminar is about understanding and learning.
The price is £20 for the full day's training, including certificate. All grades are welcome from 10th Kyu to 10th Dan. I would prefer over 16s only please, but if you are 14 or 15 for example, with a serious attitude to the martial arts, accompanied by your instructor, you are more than welcome too.
I'm not going to say "you must wear a white gi" or anything like that - train in whatever you feel comfortable. This course is about learning.
There will be some historical discussion on the pioneers of Karate Jutsu in the 18th and 19th century and presentations of various histories and lineages so feel free to bring a notepad and take pictures.
This course is not about "my style is better than your style" this course is a celebration of all styles, by focusing on one area of the martial arts that deserves to be celebrated. This course will make Bunkai your Bible!