Master Johnson's Family Karate

The February pre-grading seminar will now take place on Saturday, 18th Feb, and not the 25th as previously advertised.

The venue remains Stratford Leisure Centre, Bridgefoot, Stratford.

A mixed group of students from age 8 to "maturity", and purple stripe to Master Grade, met up in Church Lench this afternoon for a seminar taught by Master Johnson. We enjoyed a very condensed introduction to Korean knife training. As Master Johnson wanted us to experience as many aspects of the art as possible, the seminar contained a lot of different techniques and exercises (including knife attacks in pitch darkness!)- 2 hours passed in no time at all!

"The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have."

-Vince Lombardi

Congratulations to the Johnson family on the birth of their daughter Erin Anne, born yesterday weighing 8lb 5oz. Mum & baby are both well and are now at home.

"Discipline in martial arts is not about the instructor shouting at the class...
...it is in studying the detail of your art that you will find the discipline."
-Master Johnson.

Master Johnson and Master Griffiths-Johnson, together with a small group of students, recently attended a prestigious awards dinner, at which Master Johnson was inducted into the Combat Magazine Hall of Fame. This honour is given to martial artists in recognition of a lifetime's contribution - not only in their own practice, but also in developing and promoting their style to a wider audience.

"To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill."
- Sun-Tsu

Over 40 pupils and parents turned out for a tasty buffet dinner in Stratford. According to legend, Jimmy Spice's is the ultimate destination for food lovers keen to sample some of the world's finest cuisines with a sumptuous range of Indian, Thai, Italian and Chinese dishes served up freshly every day. Add a smattering of festive turkey, et voilà: a brace of karateka happily clutching their bellies. The general consensus among Facebook friends was that no-one ate much more until the following tea time!

Many thanks to the wonderful Lena for organising everything!

"There is no such thing as "good enough." I never use these words in the dojo."

Sensei Kensho Furuya

"The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants."
~ Master Gichin Funakoshi