Tag: steve rowe

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Mick Nursey Interview 2003

Steve Rowe

This interview was conducted in September 2003… I didn’t really know Mike Nursey until recently.  I’d heard his name over the years and when he came directly into the English Karate Governing Body from FEKO he attended the Council meetings and was elected on to the Technical and Executive Committees.  Mike has always been the voice of reason.  He represents the voice of the majority and clearly has the interests of English Karate at heart. At the first Management Board meeting it was clear that he wasn’t duplicitous and in computer speak was WYSIWYG (what you see is what you … Continue reading Mick Nursey Interview 2003

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Bullying….

Steve Rowe

Bullying is not always obvious, Sometimes it’s physical abuse, Sometimes it’s verbal and persuasive, And sometimes it’s on the screen you use. The punching and kicking is obvious, The name calling, taunting and rumour, Destroying someone’s reputation can be more hidden, Done by nasty gossip and humour. Recruiting others makes it seem legitimate, Peer pressure makes it seem right, When many agree to make one suffer, Surely that makes it alright? Bullies often have high social standing, This empowers them with the crowd, They are quick to be aggressive, And the majority are scared to speak out. The victim will … Continue reading Bullying….

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Martial Arts Biggest Secret…

Steve Rowe

Sometimes those ‘special’ sessions just seem happen spontaneously, more so with the senior classes.. Sweat was running down the walls, everyone moved as one and the communal spirit was that of determination. This felt like a club in the true sense of the word, our mentor was giving the call and we moved in harmony to it.  The senior class had all trained together for a minimum of 5 years and some as many as 30.  We knew each other better than our own families; we had struggled, sweat and bled together in the cause of self improvement for an … Continue reading Martial Arts Biggest Secret…

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Ray Fuller Interview 2003

Steve Rowe

This Interview took place in 2003 Ray Fuller was there at the beginning.  He was one of the very first Karateka in England, starting with Vernon Bell in the famous Horseshoe pub in Clerkenwell in 1964 with Mick Randall (now MBE).  Ray was there for the founding of the KUGB and in 1975 formed Thames Karate, which is still a member of the English Karate Governing Body today. Ray has without a doubt led an eventful life.  Well known as a spirited Karateka and for his uncompromising attitude to traditional Shotokan Karate, Ray has headed one of the largest groups … Continue reading Ray Fuller Interview 2003

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Blood On Wood…

Steve Rowe

Thump, thump, thump… He’s out there again, Hitting that bloody piece of wood in the garden, One of those Kung Fu nutters. Every bloody day it’s the same, Well I ain’t gonna tell him, He’ll probably tie me up like a pretzel, And post me back through our letterbox. Thump, thump, thump, Each time strike with seiken, Shuto, tettsui and teisho, Haito, koken and nukite. Feet press directionally to the floor, Spiraling through the legs, Connecting through the core, And powering out through the hands. Thump, thump, thump, The makiwara bends and is momentarily held, The return force is repulsed, … Continue reading Blood On Wood…

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25 Signs You’re Ageing In The Martial Arts

Steve Rowe

You know you’re getting old in the Martial Arts when: You realize that those who taught you and many of your fellow students that you started training with are dead. You get out of bed and your first fifteen steps are like the “dawn of man” poster. The other students call you “Grampa” and you realize that you are one. You’re shaving your Father in the mirror. “Designer stubble” makes you look homeless. Your Karate belt gets shorter and training doesn’t make you slimmer or fitter just out of breath and more tired. Training on a cold day your head … Continue reading 25 Signs You’re Ageing In The Martial Arts

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Martial Arts – The Masterkey!

Steve Rowe

“To do Martial Arts you have to be totally dedicated!”…. “To be good you have to sacrifice many other things in your life”….. “To get there you have to be single minded”….. How often do you hear this?  How true is it? Words can be confusing because they are a method we use for defining an idea and often they mean slightly different things to different people, but let’s look at the idea that you have to dedicate yourself to one thing to the exclusion of most others to be good at Martial Arts – because I disagree. Martial Arts … Continue reading Martial Arts – The Masterkey!

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Blind Assumptions…

Steve Rowe

Do you know what blind assumptions are? They are the views and opinions that we grew up with, They were always around us, our culture, And we never knew they were there. They came from our family, They came from or friends, They came from our schooling, They came from our environment, They were just always there. We took them on board without knowing, We naturally voice them as opinions, We blindly accept them as a part of us, Even though they never came from us. They act as a barrier to the outside world, We seek out like minded … Continue reading Blind Assumptions…

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Jim Uglow Interview 2001 – Chap Sau

Steve Rowe

This Interview was conducted around 2001 In all old mystical systems there is the hidden art of “direct transmission”.  This is often alluded to – but in most cases never revealed. Many modern so called “masters” often deride it as “hocus pocus” but on investigation never studied under a genuine master or if they did, didn’t stay long enough or possess the necessary talents to receive the “family” transmissions. The thing is, you only have to look a some masters to see that they possess that certain kind of “magic”, not only in their Martial Arts movements but in everything … Continue reading Jim Uglow Interview 2001 – Chap Sau

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Doug James Interview 2003

Steve Rowe

This interview was conducted in April 2003 I have known Doug for around 20 yrs from the days we were both in TERA Karate Kai and shared some lessons with the late Toru Takamizawa. It has been a pleasure to watch the quiet and dedicated Doug grow from strength to strength.  He is a prime example of how dedication to the Art of Karate coupled with resolve can positively affect your life and that of those around you. From the small beginnings at Middlesbrough Budokan Karate Club in 1967, Doug has risen to be a World Class Referee and Kata … Continue reading Doug James Interview 2003