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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
one
of the orthodox Shotokanryu of Master Funakoshi Gichin and
that
one
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 to a “Gaijin”
(foreigner) by Egami Sensei. 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 waS
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.He
called from Roma
and asked that we
shall
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
told
us that
he
was charged by Egami Sensei, direct student of Funakoshi O'
Senseï,
(and
professor of Harada Sensei),
to show us the new way of practice
that
he had developed
from the teaching of O Sensei
Funkoshi Gichin.
In a few hours, Olivier Perrois showed us a radical change
indeed, of a karate powerful and fast certainly, but jerked,
contracted, and
some
"military" statement, towards a more fluid form, even lower on
its
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,
opened
that way full
of
progress 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
(England),
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
instructors
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,
Sensei
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
he
often met in Japan and with
whom he
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
teacher
(Sensei) who brought
Sensei
Schneider to this determination and among which appear Harada
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.
Another one was
Bassis Sensei which gave birth to him
of
the spirit of Budo.
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
seminars
courses
in
Africa, Spain, Greece and other countries, Sensei
Schneider tries to bring its share to karate-do, and to give
back what
he
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),
Sensei
Schneider reached a level of enough advanced expert and
Officials to promote style "Shotokai Egamiryu®".
AKSER organizes each year
one or two
international training courses,
one
national training course and regional training courses as well
as seminars of studies reserved to the
instructors,
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 open
for
any contact concerning Budo excluding critics or polemics which
will not be answered in these pages. These pages only
are
reserved for 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@gmail.com
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