Sensei Garry Edwards

Yondan

I first had the opportunity to learn karate at the PCYC Shito-Ryu Dojo in Toowoomba under the instruction of Sensei Mike Jordan in 1987. My training from 1987 to 1989 was vigorous and intensive, training 4 or more times per week including tournaments. One of my tournament high lights was the State AKF Titles where I won the kyu grade division as a brown belt and then came second in the U70kg black belt division having nine fights in total for the day. I was awarded my black belt from Sensei Greg Storey in December 1989.

In 1990, after receiving injuries to my hands and feet through competition, I elected not to compete for 12 months and focused on recuperating whilst continuing to train.

In 1991, I made a comeback to fighting, travelling from Dalby 3 times per week to Toowoomba throughout the year to train in points fighting and full contact Koshiki. Every Saturday for 3 months I travelled to Brisbane to train with the AKF (Australian Karate Federation) State team in the afternoons as well as in the mornings with a team selected to compete in Toronto, Canada. I was successful in Toronto and won the All-Canadian IKA (International Karate Association) Championships in June. While I was there I had the pleasure to train with Kancho Okuyama ( 8 Dan ) for a week, Shihan Zvonko, Shihan Emilio and in Los Angeles with Soke Tak Kubota ( 8 Dan ) for a week. All of them very good instructors. In August I went to Brisbane to compete in the 6th Kubota Cup IKA World Titles with 18 countries competing. In the U75kg division there were just over 100 competitors which saw me have seven fights to win the event. I had a successful year in Koshiki loosing one fight through disqualification in the finals at the National Titles in Sydney.

For my effort in the All-Canadian Championships I was The Chronicle - Bank of Queensland Darling Downs Sportsman's Association Senior Sports Star of the Year for June 1991. At the end of 1991 I competed in 15 tournaments, 3 of them State, 3 National and 2 International - having 59 fights in all, and winning 52 of them.

I opened a karate club of my own in October 1991 at the Dalby Police Citizens Youth Club and occasionally taught in Toowoomba. By December 1993 I had built a strong Club of 40 students aging from 7 to 40 years. Work commitments saw me move to Stradbroke Island, leaving the Club to my senior student.

In 1994 I started training seriously, sometimes seven days a week by myself. This was in preparation for the 1st World Karatedo Summit and 9th World Koshiki Championships in Tokyo, Japan. This was the largest Koshiki event ever held with 11 countries competing. The Australians sent a team of 70, there largest yet and were very competitive. I came 3rd in the Middleweight division and quickly realized the only way to score an ippon to win the fight was to put your opponent on the ground.

After the competition we all headed down to Hemiji to train with Kancho Sotokawa and Kancho Iba for a week at there different clubs which was the highlight of the trip. This was my first time training in Japan and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The people where lovely and looked after us very well.

October 1995 saw me win the Queensland State Koshiki Championships in Toowoomba in both kumite (fighting) and kata. Then in November 1995 I won the Australian Koshiki Championships in Sydney in kumite and placed 3rd in kata. The year finished memorably when I attained my 2nd Degree Black belt. Thru a last minute injury I was unable to compete at the World Koshiki Titles in Copenhagen in 1996. As the plane flew out I was being prepped for a full knee reconstruction.

While living on Stradbroke Island I taught a small club from late 1994 to March 1997 when I moved to Brisbane where I continued my training at various dojo’s in Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast. During 1999 I had the privilege to train with Sensei Patrick McCarthy for nearly two years where I was exposed to many aspects of the Martial Arts. McCarthy Sensei possesses a very large skill set consisting of all forms of martial arts and weapons. The training is very intense both physically and mentally lasting up to 3 hours some night. Kata Bunkai and Two Man Flow drills as well as weapons training was something I enjoyed very much as it was new to me. Because of the time I spent with Sensei McCarthy my mind was opened and the blinkers removed and I was able to realize the direction/path that I wish to peruse within my own training. Understanding Kata bunkai being at the top of the list.

In 2001 we were privileged to have Kancho Iba Katsumi (8th Dan) from Japan visit us and conduct an Association Grading at which I was graded to 3rd Dan. I then taught at the Bulimba Dojo till late 2002 and then trained and taught at the Wynnum Club until late 2003.

Due to a work injury my next Training session was not until the October 2004 Gasshukku with Traditional Shito-Ryu Dojo headed by Sensei Jason Armstrong ( 5 Dan ) where I had the invited privilege to assist with the grading of a good friend. During that camp I caught up with Sensei McCarthy and met and trained with Sensei Victor Young from California and developed a friendship with Sensei Jason's club.

In 2005 I started training 3 nights a week in preparation for a 4th Dan grading in late 2006 in California. Another injury in April has seen me question what I am doing, fortunately I have good friends and that combined with another highly successful gasshukku run by Sensei Jason has helped me to stay focused.

My goals up to the end of 2006 are to get fit, strong and healthy again. Look at opening up my own Dojo, develop a better understanding of the philosophy involved with martial arts and to successfully grade in California.

As a senior rank it isimportant to remember why we practice martial arts and to stay focused on the path that you have chosen. Remember that you will always be a student of the art and that respect is a two way thing. Avoid political issues as best you can and concentrate on training and instructing and becoming a better person inside and outside the Dojo. Associate with like minded karate-ka and most importantly have fun and enjoy training.

Train Hard Train Often

Osu