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ROOTS OF HISTORY
The style of karate-do Shotokai appeared in the 1960’s few years
after the dead of the modern karate O Sensei Funakoshi Gichin,
founder of the Shotokanryu.
Sensei Shigeru Egami was the Technical Manager of the Shotokai
Association (NKS) whose President was Sensei Hironishi. In
association, Shotokai in Japan, there are nowadays always two
technical tendencies, that of the orthodox of Shotokanryu of
Master Funakoshi Gichin and that created by its deshi (student)
Egami Sensei, who completely reconsidered his practice to make a
style of it. This style was introduced in Europe, through
France, in 1965 by a handwritten instruction of Egami Sensei
into a letter containing informations about the new forms of
practice created by him. This letter was given to us by the
karateka Olivier Perrois who was the first 4th dan
delivered by Egami Sensei to a “Gaishin” r(foreigner). Olivier
Perrois returned from a long stay in Japan and brought us this
letter and showed us the new forms of practice during a seminar
hold in Valence (France) and lead by Bassis Sensei. Bassis war
one of the first young expert in karate in France although he
practiced and teached the orthodox style Shotokanryu.
To clear up what precedes one will find hereafter the contents
of a letter reporting the circumstances of the introduction of
the style of Egami Sensei to this seminar in France
Letter of Jacques Causon
V
1999*
(Jacques Causon (student of Bassis) was the initiator of the
first Shotokai training courses in Avignon since 1965)
ORIGIN of the introduction of the style Shotokai of Master Egami
in France and in Europe
Letter written by Jacques Causon, organiser of the training
course of Valence in 1965 at the time of the arrival of Olivier
Perrois. Jacques Causon is deceased in 1999 at the time of a car
accident and the diskette containing this letter is to date in
possession of AKSER.
In spring 1965, we were in Valence to attend a 3 days training
course led by Marc Bassis. I then tried as much as possible to
delocalize the training courses originally organized in Avignon
to make of it profit the dojos that some of my pupils had been
able to open. During this training course, we accepted a phone
call of a Brazilian of French origin, Olivier Perrois. This one
returned from a stay to Japan, with his wife, who also practised
karate-do. It called from Rome and asked that we await his
arrival in Valence, because he had extremely important things to
transmit to us. Taking turns day and night at the wheel of Kombi
Volkswagen, the couple arrived in time at Valence. There,
Olivier Perrois says to us that her was charged by Egami Sensei,
direct student of Funakoshi O' Senseï, and professor of Harada
Sensei, to show us the new way of practising that the later one
had developed starting from the teaching of O Sensei.
In a few hours, Olivier Perrois showed us a radical change
indeed, of a karate powerful and fast certainly, but jerked,
contracted, and for any "military" statement, towards a more
fluid form, even lower on his postures, with penetrating attacks
rather than percussion, balls of rifle rather than mass of
weapons, being prolonged quasi ad infinitum through the
adversary, the whole in flexible, swift displacements and
without discontinuity. At the end of this drive, that Olivier
Perrois could achieve in a single course, and during which he
was condemned to transmit to all of us in only one blow, that
way of full with progress opened in front of us. We all were
exhaust, but enthusiastic and conscious Thank still to him.
However, when before final safety, he says to us, in a solemn
way which tallied a little with the kindness and the solicitude
of which he had made proof until there, that it was reserved for
us the mission, starting from this only drive, to put to us in
situation to be able to show to Harada Senseï the new way two or
three months later, in Grange Farm, our feelings became more
contrasted much...
The months which followed were the period at the same time most
insane and more enriching that was given to our group. Each one
in its dojo, Bassis in Paris, us in Avignon, Schneider in Nancy,
meeting together as often as possible, working like damned,
supported in our effort by the wonders which we discovered on
each step, we prepared.
One day thus, in Grange Farm, England towards the end of a
training course, after the training of the afternoon, Marc
Bassis told to Harada Sensei that we had something to show him,
and that we wish a special drive, in small committee if
possible. In the evening, a handle among us, in a withdrawn
part, following Marc Bassis, practised in front of Harada Senseï,
only, motionless and dumb. That lasted, I do not know any more,
one hour, two perhaps. There was no more time, more tiredness,
more apprehension... Our small group, in total osmosis,
delivered, without second chance, what we had been able to do
ours of the message transmitted by Olivier Perroy.
The following day, with the drive of the morning, Harada Senseï
had changed its Karate.
Jacques CAUSON May 1999
Karate-do Shotokai Egamiryu®
Although the name "Egamiryu®" was never employed before, Sensei
A. Schneider, as Technical Manager and creator of AKSER, decided
to put this name ahead and in practice and in the writings.
There were and there are always several Japanese and non
Japanese professors who claim style "Shotokai". Unfortunately
the name is used wrongly in many times. However having
practised during several stays in Japan, as well with the
academics as with the other groups and very often under the
advices of Egami Sensei, Professor A. Schneider noted certain
deviations of the practise of the Shotokai style created by
Egami Sensei. It is on the recommendation of Egami Sensei that
it often met in Japan and with which it was likely to take part
in one of the last training courses supervised by the Master,
that Sensei Schneider followed the drives of the group of Usami
Sensei which, in his opinion reflects and the gestual one and
the technique the most brought closer to the style created by
Egami Sensei. It is on what precedes that the style practised
within the AKSER recommends to karate-do "SHOTOKAI EGAMIRYU®.
The teachers (Sensei) who brought A. Schneider to this
determination and among which appear Harada Sensei (which is one
of the last pupils of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei, of which Sensei
Schneider was during several years the assistant), to who it
owes the fact of having been able to involve itself several
years of following the practice in Japan, and Bassis Sensei
which gave birth to him the spirit of Budo, on the other hand,
were its guides. Also in Japan Usami Sensei which improved it in
the efficiency of the technique without forgetting, of course,
Egami Sensei itself which lavished to him with each one of their
meeting councils of a priceless value, forged in him the desire
to call the Shotokai style of the AKSER: "Shotokai Egamiryu®" .
Sensei Schneider took this decision in remembering to Egami
Sensei and to dissociate itself from certain groups, which in
its opinion, differently assimilated the thought of Egami
Sensei. This is not a criticism but a simple observation.
Leading since years seminar courses to Africa, Spain, Greece and
other countries, A. Schneider tries to bring its share to
karate-do, and to give back what it received to those who wish
it. Holder of the rank of 5th dan Shotokaï Egamiryu®
and being also 6th dan of the FFKDA (French
Federation of Karate), A. Schneider reached a level of enough
advanced expert and Officials to promote style "Shotokai
Egamiryu®".
AKSER organizes each year 1 international training course, 1
national training course and regional training courses as well
as seminars of studies reserved to the professors, to their
assistants and the black belts. One of the principal aims of the
association is research on the martial arts in order to
perpetuate the progression of it and to leave them the current
fixed framework. Our practice, in addition to karate-do of
Master Egami, also extends to Bo- jutsu (art of the long stick)
and to Ken jutsu (art of the sword like with one from the
aspects from karate ignored a long time in the majority of the
dojos, because non known of the instructors: Goshin Karate
(Self-defence Karate).
We are opened with any contact concerning Budo excluding critics
or polemics which we will not be answered in these pages. These
pages only will be reserved only for one permanent information
of our practice and our training courses and demonstrations.
Our Technical Director and guide is at the disposal of any club
or association which wish to invite it for the organization of a
training course or seminar.
It is enough to contact us:
aschne9846@aol.com
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