Articles

In memory of Bill Groves - March 2009

I want to tell you about Friday nights, and how people’s lives can blend together,
Friday night is the time of the week when I have no classes to run, it is my little bit of free time to spend as I like,
The following is an insight into what usually happens.

Around 6pm I text my old Friend John, as a rule we visit Martyn Mulvey and John Bestwick (the late Arnolds brother) “4th and 6th Dan” at the Honto Shin Dojo in Hasland for an hour, then onto the Somerset pub to see Alan Roberts (the Landlord and 3rd Black Belt) where John and I partake in a little Karaoke, then its back to John’s for some good coffee and jamming on our Harmonicas, talking a little about old Friends like Helmut Leitner (4th Black) and a bit about philosophy, then we part around 1am.

This week (18th March) was slightly different, Wednesday saw Martyn and John at my Dojo in Mastin Moor, to witness four Black belt grading’s, (which I’ll report on later) followed by a celebratory drink at the local pub,
After the pub I called at Johns for a coffee, (he lives in the same village as I do)
It was funny really,
About three months ago, John was going through one of the cupboards at his home looking for something when he came across his coffee pot, now as a rule I drink more tea than coffee, but that Friday I was treated to real coffee, this set me off talking about Bill and Sue (Groves) and about how they love their coffee and always make it after Karate class when they are at my house/Dojo, (He’s my neighbour in Oz)
John has never visited Oz, but by the time that particular Friday night ended, john said he felt like he knew Bill and his wife Sue (Both my Black belt students) and their children Brad and Fiona,
I’ve spoken to John often about Bill in the past, and John has spoken often about his Dutch Friend Jack van der Holst and his Wife Nel and their children, so gradually we began to feel as though we knew people we have never met.

When I broke the news to John last night (20th March) about Bills death, John admitted to feeling very sad, we lit a candle in respect for Bill and played blues music, and drank a brandy,
Not to mourn Bills death, but to celebrate his life.

Vicki, Johns Wife came out into the garden and reminded us both of something I wrote a couple of years ago about seizing the moment, about how short and fragile our life can be, and how we tend to put things off, live every moment to the full, she said, this is the real thing, it’s not a rehearsal.
As I write this piece it is Saturday the 21st March 09, I am waiting for my sister Linda to arrive from South Africa,
John has just text me to say he is taking my advice and seizing the moment too, (tomorrow 22nd), “He” and Vicki are getting in their car and driving over to the Netherlands to see Jack and Nel.

I leave for Oz on the 26th March, I think when I return to England my Wife “Kana” and I may very well go over and visit with the Van der Holst Family,
“Seize the moment”, from now on I intend to grab it by the throat and shake it.

I will miss Bill Groves a great deal, he was a good Friend and student, he is part of my life, and a part that I will carry around with me for the rest of my life,
I extend my deepest condolences, sympathy and respect to all Bills Family, he was a good man, and a good Karate Ka, he will I know be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

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The following words were spoken by a World War 2 Lancaster Bomber pilot just before he went into Battle,

I believe that his words are appropriate.

We shall pass through this World but once.
Any Goodness therefore.
Let us do it now.
For we may not pass this way again.

With Respect

Graham Ravey.

SANCHIN (Lifes Breath)

When asked what is the most important things we as humans need to survive, people will say food, cloths and shelter and nine time out of ten never think about air.
And yet without it we would die within a matter of seconds.

Once a martial master was conducting a seminar, he asked his students “how long is life”
One said 40 years, another said 70 years, no 80 years said yet another.
The master insisted that they were all wrong.
"We can not measure how long life is" said one thoughtful student. "Because we all live to different ages".
The master said “ Life is as long as this” and then he inhaled and exhaled a breath of air.

Yes, life is now and here right at this moment, not in the past and not in the future, if we put the words "now+here" together we get "nowwhere".
Air is so important to our existence and yet there is no manual given to us at birth on the use and abuse of it. Most of us without training (Sanchin) will breathe shallowly in our chests thus never using the Diaphragm to its potential. Shallow breathing results in stale air being trapped in the body leading to all kinds of disease and as we get older we breath even more shallow. Oxygen is an oxidiser, it not only destroys bacteria in our body but also helps de-toxify it.

Sanchin

Sanchin in Japanese means "The Three Battles" between mind and body and breathing being the glue that bonds the other two together. With proper breath control we can lead to spiritualism. In  its own context "Air is Spirit".
When someone is in high spirits Oxygen is pumping around the body via the blood system rapidly. Killing bacteria and de-toxifying every cell making us feel good.
Low spirit is quit the opposite and being low spirited for a long time results in disease.
High and low spirits are triggered by both mind and body, e.g.
Mind, worrying about problems, financially, work place, home equals stress.
Body, Lack of exercise, bad eating habits equals Low Spirit.

Sanchin if done correctly with the full one and a half pump action of the groin area activates the "Kundalini" energy (Hindu Serpent power)”
This is the forest Chakra or Meridian on the spinal column and is connected to the beast, or physical make up of a human. To ground one to the earth Sanchin has a grounding action in its very "Dynamic Tension" nature, same as “Shaolin, Flesh and Bones Posture”. There is much controversy at the moment about how much  pressure should be applied to the air being inhaled and exhaled from the body , as to much pressure can induce hypertension.

We are told to regularly practice Sanchin, but I agree with the fact that to much pressure is bad for you and certainly toned my pressure down a few years after I left Japan. In Japan we were told to do it just about until our veins bulged in the forehead and felt dizzy if practiced about 3-4 times in a row. This I agree is not good on regular basis, but I always remember the feeling I had after.

  • That I could fight anybody

  • That I was bullet proof

Now I realize what was happening to me, my Chi-Kung (as the Chinese say) or Kundalini had been released by the Sanchin Kata practice. Have you ever watched a Kung Fu demo of wood or stone breaking, the practitioner will start a rhythmic pattern with dynamic tension and timed breathing to induce Chi-Kung to the body just before he attempts the break. To ground oneself  to the beast certainly helps in these situations.

So I say practice Sanchin with moderate air pressure when regularly training, but in circumstances like breaking practice with more pressure just before.

There is a legend of a Celtic warrior who upon arriving at a battle field by Chariot (Chariots were a sign of a strong seasoned warrior) would go into a state of "Inner Rage" just before the battle. His body would shake, animal like noises would be heard as his veins bulged and faced reddened. I really think this is what the Irish call Berserker mode, but also from an onlookers point of view this could describe someone practicing Sanchin the "Old Way".

Maybe in the past  people had more of a hard time to live and violent confrontations took more of a regular role in ones life, so could Sanchin have been practiced hard to survive to an age of 40 - 50.

Sensei Graham Ravey 6th Dan

The Unconquerable Foe

As a maturing Martial Artist, I have come to know the formidable foe know to us a Ageing. We go to battle this enemy with our lotions and potion, diet and notions. All to stave off the ever accelerating onslaught upon us. All of us knowing in the back of our minds that total victory can never be ours, but in the true spirit of "Bushido" we must try.

The word "Gambatte" springs into mind, this is Japanese for "Do your Best" and was shouted at me many times during my years of hard training at the now legendary YOYOGI Dojo Tokyo Japan under the ever watchful eyes of Sensei Morio Higaonna.

Gambatte!, Gambatte he would bark this many times filling our minds with power to push the body those few extra miles. So I say to all you ageing Martial Artists out there, Gambatte!, don't give up do your best, cut down but don't give it away.
I am only 50 but I have seen some of my comrades "in the way" fall foul to ageing. They say Oh I can't do that anymore with as much power as I used to, or my body aches som its time for me to stop.
Never stop, cut down accordingly. I have seen Martial Artists stop and believe me it is not a pretty sight, they seem to put on weight and age quickly. So keep training and also experiment with lotions and potions, diets and notions.

I myself have a lot of success with cleaning my blood electrically, ingesting liquid ozone + colloidal silver and using magnetic pulsar to clean my deep lymph tissue of bacteria. Then I mineralize with colloidal minerals and Celtic sea salt. I will write in enormous detail about these agent and publish schematics for blood cleaner and pulsar in the future. Watch this web site for further information. I would like to end this article on ageing with a Poem written by a poet friend of mine, Peter Harmon entitled Age.

AGE

Thus stands the belted warrior oiled and ready for the fray.
For long has he known of this ancient foe and seen its coming day.
And  not with charge or rush or speed does this stealthy spectre come not with gun, nor knife nor shooting drug not at a gallop nor a run.
It shambles in like  tumble weed or sneaks in hidden amongst the grass it comes to pass in winter time when polish is off t' brass,
It rises with you in the morning in groans and creeks and cricks following you the live long day to play it's ancient tricks.
Legs that once like oiled machines quick to ball, to run and field no longer pivot with sensuous ease as all, at last, are brought to  knees.
But still, wise men thus became In contemplation of this game and then with fist, spear and lance they joined the fray, this deadly dance.
They laid down plans to shape the mind in discipline, they knew their kind, could never defeat such a natural force the best  result, to enjoy the course.
To tend the body to drive the schemes amidst the smoke of Shaolin dreams.
Those priests they knew and they passed it on with thoughts like oceans vast and strong Sanshin, sunshine breath of life, Yin and Yang man and wife Tai chi in the garden neath a fulsome moon, dancing in the darkness, or picking out a tune, laughing with the children and trusting in their heart that this a passing dream time and not the final part.

Sensei Graham Ravey 6th Dan

Spiritualism

Martial Art's is for individuals to discover themselves through rigorous physical training of the body, eventually freeing the spirit of it's physical boundaries to pursue the moral truth through realisation.
The spiritual side of Martial Arts is the mental training of the mind and soul. The body enables us to have hands on experience to understand and realise the importance of the unseen mental processes in the higher order of things, these are all one and the same, inexplicably inter-twined into the matrix that is the essence of what we really stand for.
If we neglect our spirit or cease to reflect, tradition and philosophy can diminish in importance to the point where balancing the ego becomes impossible. A student who never finds the spiritual side of the art will only concentrate on the physical and therefore become unbalanced.
I have been studying Martial Arts for a 30 years and have read in many text that date back thousands of years that a basic desire for money, position and power can be a catalyst for a wasted life.
To desire theses things by means of abuse to the community, for self gratification of ego can be intrinsically evil, though from a business point of view can be seen as progress.
Spiritually this may stagnate an individuals growth.
Martial teachers alongside the rest of the population have their needs, some get their needs and wants mixed up, we all need transport, but some want a Porsche! We all need a roof of our heads, but some want a mansion! money is needed to run Dojo's, for equipment, rent, salaries, but there are those who want to become rich of it. This leads to watering down and denial of the one true path to self knowing. Respect for the Masters and the true growth of the way of the Art.
To be humble and live humble comes under the spirit of Martial Arts. Master Gichin Funakoshi said "I have  no money problems because I have no money". Once spiritualism is neglected the flavour of the teachers lesson changes instead of the student having to strive to match the standard of the masters the standard is lowered to match that of the student.
These symptoms are prevalent in many schools causing erosion of the way.
Milder discipline and training is given so as not to scare the student away, frequent   gradings are given to keep their egos fed. Patience is a great lesson to learn and the only way to learn is by waiting, etiquette is another area that is selectively edited or being left altogether.
Once the spirit is neglected one or all of these cancers will grow until there is little of the original strong and successful form of teaching left.
Living of Martial Arts requires sound judgment on the part of the teacher, taking care not to sacrifice the morality of the art for personal gain or to the detriment of the generations past, presence and future.
The responsibility of education fall on seniors in any place of learning, the young need constant tutoring and guidance to keep them strong and focused on the path within themselves.
I once attended a summer camp abroad at which time I was a fourth Dan, I was approached by a third Dan level a green belt who asked me to look at his Kata, I expected him to do a drill of the level of green belt and was shocked when he proceeded to do Kata of a third Dan level and not very well at that.
He had developed many mistakes and made them his own, by which I mean he had trained them into himself. I found out that he had taught himself by way of video.
Such a seeker of the way will inadvertently take many steps backwards as a video lacks all the importance of hands on tuition from a teacher. His lessons in patience and ego refining were put to one side as soon as he turned on the video and before this man could be taught properly, he would have to be retrained from all his mistakes.
Don't get me wrong, I think videos can be a great asset to martial arts as a reference library for senior students of all styles, to appreciate  the masters as they really are. But for novices to try and copy advanced teaching, is a recipe for disaster.
This could be solved by having all parties decide that there is indeed a problem. Perhaps a licence could be shown before purchasing advanced teaching videos? Or perhaps such videos are only for accredited Dojo's. I can not see to many problems evolving as long as they have ample explanations of the importance of warming up and down. Also a guide as to how to recognise the difference between a fine overall teacher to a fly-by-nighter, anyone can go out and buy a black belt (which is another huge problem the credibility of martial arts faces).
Such pseudo teachers set themselves up as the be all and end all of Martial artists, hoe "they" do it, is the way everybody should do it. An illustration of how wrong this view comes from personal experiences.
I am a tall man and have changed my basic application instruction over the years through understanding that how my body type applies a technique is different to how a short fellow would apply the same technique. If I taught my flavour of the gospel, I would be neglecting all students of different statures in my Dojo. So what I teach must stay general in form, acceptable to all shapes and sizes of people.
The basic way is flexible and adjustable to suit all, a gift from our masters making it possible for every person to reach their best.
There is a fine line between right and wrong in life and the way of Martial Arts is no exception.
Some people have pride in what they do, but don't go over to vanity. To need things is normal, but when does need become greed? To admire someone for  accomplishment is healthy, but over stepping the line becomes hero worship. Take care, enjoy your Martial Arts both physically and mentally to the fullest.
Read philosophy and most of all, contemplate it. Otherwise it will be like eating without digesting, no nourishment will take place. There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes even when you lose, you win.
Remember, nourishment for the soul starts with philosophy.

Sensei Graham Ravey 6th Dan

Sunday Bloody Sundays

Saturday night and the message reads: bring old running shoes and hachimaki on Sunday – Graham.

As I read the note, my stomach ties itself in knots as I remember the last time such a command was issued. Another Do or Die Sunday. I wonder what physical impossibilities Sensei has in mind for us tomorrow.

Sunday morning I am awake and it would be great to stay in bed. I should get up but my body keeps saying, “no don’t go.” I know I must. It’s a love hate thing like an uncontrollable addiction and I must get my karate fix for the day. The words of my wife come to mind,
“ Bloody Sundays – who do you think is going to look after you when you are old and crippled at 50? ” She is jealous of my karate, she sees it as the ‘other woman’ and lover in my life against whom she can’t compete. I hear my daughters ask their mum, “Is Dad off to training again? Why can’t he stay home? ”

A quick breakfast and I am on my way. I tell the family that I will be home early about 4pm straight after training, but they don’t take me seriously – they know better.
I head off on what is a nice relaxing country drive through the D’Aguilar Ranges towards Sensei’s place. I wonder what form of physical torment he has in store for us today? My stomach feels like a net full of butterflies as I turn into Sensei’s land.
No time wasted on idle chitchat we are here for a purpose. We’re off on a fast jog come run, backwards, sideways, zigzag up, hill down hill, off the road into the bush over logs and creeks. My old ankle injury from past training sessions is starting to rear its head but maybe it’s only my brain trying to find a way out for the rest of my body. I forget it. Slipping, sliding, rolling down the hill we head fro what Sensei calls nature’s obstacle course.

“Watch, run up, jump back and forth over this suspended log (about knee high) 10 times, hit the ground, roll under, quickly jump up on your feet, run up this fallen tree trunk balancing then jump to that boulder, jump off, roll onto the ground to break your fall, quickly up mae geri, mawashi geri, sokuto geri, ushiro geri, ura-ken, gyaku zuki. Hajime Go.”
I’m starting to get into this but after the eighth time around I lose count. I don’t want to waste energy. It’s getting painful and I’m feeling stuffed. Sensei is pushing us faster, stronger, badger, badger, push push, “Gambatte” stronger, do your best. “Yame” and we’re off again running toward a clump of trees into the shade. Very thoughtful I think, out of the sun, maybe a quick rest? NO WAY, he has other ideas. Kotekitae, arm pounding and shin pounding against these 3 to 4 inch saplings. “Now fight the tress, be aware and make them come to life, they’re all around you.” Elbows, knees, punches and kicks, skin and bark flying – lucky some of these trees are paper barks.
Sensei now directs us to fight each other – what a relief, although my new opponent can now strike back. It doesn’t hurt so much to punch and kick, at least the human body has some give in it, almost like jelly compared to the trees. “Change partners.” Now I am with Sensei. I’m pushing myself  - kick harder, faster, think and let it flow. It’s no use. I’m on the ground more than not but I dare not give in and stay down. I know Sensei has no time for quitters. He is just playing with me like a cat with a mouse. Sensei is playing and I am fighting for my life. I know he’ll stop when he’s finished with me when he knows I’ve got no more to give and not before. Yame change, yame change, yame change. Maybe the best part of an hour has past of alternating between tree and flesh. I prefer flesh.

REST 5 minutes.
Off we go again “ to that creek bed and find a rock. No too small, one this size.” I can hardly grasp it. “Now throw it to one another and catch it. After several variations of rockwork, hip evasion against incoming missiles of volcanic rock we hit the road again. But at least this time we’re heading in the right direction, HOME. The welts, bumps, limps and bruises are starting to sting as I come off my physical and mental high and my body systems enter a damage control mode. As we run back the last 2 kilometres home to Honbu my mind says yes you can do it. Sensei yells, “push yourself”, but the body is failing. I look around. It is not only me. That last bloody big hill, I can see it looming up in front of us, my heart is racing, and my mouth feels like I’ve swallowed a box of tissues and my limbs are aching. I can’t give up now, no way. I draw my energy from Sensei. The words of a friend come racing back from the past. He trained with Ravey in the early days, left and became a black belt in another style. Maybe he did the smart thing. “You guys are crazy, he said. There’s no way I’m going to abuse my body this way.”
GREAT. I can see Honbu and the dam. Even better still we’re heading for its cool waters for a swim, I think. No wrong again. Sensei invites us to spend another 30 minutes of BASICS shoulder deep in this murky pond, countless punches and endless kicks pulled out of the ankle deep sludge on the bottom and we’re finished.
FINISHED 3 hours after we started – laid back relaxing with a cold cider, surveying a beautiful view of the Kilcoy ranges from Sensei’s front veranda. I feel great. I love my compulsory T.O.G.K.A instructor’s training every fortnight. This is where you pay for the privilege of being one of Sensei Ravey’s Dansha. “ NO PAIN NO GAIN  & DEFINITELY NO FREE RIDES.”
I love the satisfaction and sense of achievement that comes with the end of each Sunday session. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Some might call it a form of masochism but we cal it Traditional Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do. “The Way.”
Maybe next Sunday we’ll get to do kata up at the waterfall. It’s beautiful up in the mountains. They’re not all Do or Die Sundays. After all it’s Goju, hard soft.

Sensei Rob Williams 4th Dan

What is a Master

During my time in Karate training I heard that a master only comes around every 50 years or so.. This left little comfort to the fact that thousands of people are training Karate but only one can be a master if indeed this position is vacant during your time on earth and surely if we are all created equal this can not be. So we have to research the guidelines to what makes a master.

Basically a master is like a diamond and must polish every facet of his martial to a good degree before they can truly shine. Now good is an achievable level for us all , I did not say fantastic or great just good. The hard part though is to shine in every facet to this degree, both mental and physical. How many times do we see Karate practitioners who shine only in their naturally gifted points but neglect to practice their weak points.
For example:
this Karateka has a great kick, punching is awesome, but his kata is fair,
teaching ability good but flexibility poor,
Mental & spiritual outlook needs a good polish, etc, etc.

So I believe it is within everyone's reach with much hard work over many years to achieve the standard of good in every facet of Karate. Thus becoming a masters, sad to say,  only a few will accomplish this because of the hard work involved and the humbleness of admitting to our weak points, then doing something about them.

Many people follow a leader who has only polished their physical facets to a degree of greatness but neglected to shine the mental and communication facets. These leaders are then given the title of master for their physical prowess only.

Sensei Graham Ravey 6th Dan

Karate Do/Tools My way of Life/Arts

armed with "Tools" that can only be obtained by many years of traditional Karate practice students may then choose subjects and mould then into art forms much quicker, but first we must realize what "the tools" are.
Training a traditional style with a knowledgeable teacher over a lengthy period of time builds positive qualities such as focus; strength of character, discipline, timing, will power etc etc.
If looked upon as tools, these can help us defeat any task set upon us by "life itself" not only that but these "tools" assist us to pick up other art forms much quicker because we already understand an art(traditional Karate).
I will give you my own example. In my case I chose the art of music. I heard that some Karate masters became multi talented as time went by an selected such art forms like music dancing; singing and painting; to pursue. So I decided to play a musical instrument, the harmonica. I rationalized I had a "tool" to use, this was diaphragm breathing and breath control taught to me over the years by Goju Sanchin Kata. And knowing the structure of teaching Karate, gave me the "tool" to learn to play. I related the formats of each art and found them to be similar EG.

<<Karate>>          <<Harmonica>>
warm up .............. breathing Exercises
basics ...................do.re.me.fa.so la.te.do
sandan gi ..............riffs(3basic notes strung together)
kata ..................... cover or classical songs
kumite...................jamming(playing with others)

So the more I applied my Karate tools to the Harmonica the quicker I learnt the art form.
Enjoy your training and dont forget to apply the tools, otherwise they lay idle.
The Japanese made art forms out of most everything from drinking tea to swordsman ship.

Sensei Graham Ravey