a good sensei...

[guty]

I think that to be a good teacher you have to be a good student first,and to be a master you have to be a remarkable student in all ways possible ,but a student of life itself by all means, meaning reading all possible information,in regards as martial ways,styles-philosophies,science,religion,politics,astronomy,E VERYTHING YOU CAN GRAB , is somebody who is dedicated to meditation,understand the metaphor -training resembles life and vice versa,knows about poverty and wealth ,about love and rejection,about been alone and friendship,a person who have the moral right and is knowable enough to talk about life , training and anything,must have kids (really important) and a healthy relationship with wife or husband ,someone who knows failure and success,somebody to look up to ,that you can call at any time for help or advise,a moral,physical and spiritual companion,and most of all someone that understand filial respect,loyalty and honor.....regardles the grade...its age what you need because belts are made just to hang your pants on...

[strongman1]

Osu

Shihan Tony Bowden good teacher old school with a bit of new one of australia best fighters 5 times aussie champ (hw)

I have Shihans story here if any one want to read it

Osu Osu

[supergroup7]

Originally Posted by strongman1

I have Shihans story here if any one want to read it

Oh yes! Please. Where is it for me to see it?

Thank you.

[strongman1]

Osu

Happy reading

THE PUNCH THAT SHOOK HAWAII

THE JOURNEY FROM GEELONG
When Tony Bowden commenced Kyokushin Karate in 1972, no one could have known the destructive power that was about to be unleashed on the world of martial arts. Without prior sporting experience, Bowden had just arrived on the Gold Coast from Geelong, and had no idea that he would one day become five-time Australian Heavyweight Kyokushin Karate Champion - a feat only equalled later by Sam Greco.
After originally training with Frank Everett, Tony was to move frequently between Victoria and the Gold Coast over the ensuing years, and earned his black-belt at a Geelong Shodan grading of 1978.
UNLEASHING THE POWER
In 1979 Tony attended the Second World Kyokushin Karate Championships in Japan, organized by Kyokushin founder, Sosai Mas Oyama. The full-contact tournament allowed no padding to be worn. Tony’s opponent was Japan’s Koichi Kawabata, a worthy adversary who was highly respected at the Hombu, Mas Oyama’s headquarters.
"Before we could enter a fight we had to qualify by breaking three 1-inch boards. We went to a three minute extension after the first round was declared a draw, and had to break more boards to be eligible to fight in the next round. "After three rounds the judges still couldn’t reach a decision, and we’d both broken the same number of boards, so the match was awarded to Kawabata as he weighed less than I did.
"To this day, I’m quite happy with the decision, because Kawabata was such a talented guy, and I hit him with everything I had. When the match was over, Kawabata walked straight outside and spewed his heart out," says Bowden. It was here that the martial arts world first became aware of Tony Bowden’s enormous striking power. Today the fight between Tony Bowden and Kawabata is still considered to be one of the greatest fights of any world tournament.
IF THE CHAIR FITS
Following the tournament, Bowden stayed in Japan and trained under Mas Oyama for a further six weeks. "Each Friday night Mas Oyama would run a Big Man’s class for men over one hundred kilos, and fortunately I fit into that category. "One night Mas Oyama was demonstrating how difficult it was to get out of a seat if someone pressed his finger on your forehead while you were sitting there. "To prove the point, Mas Oyama sat in a chair and called me out from the group, telling me to press my finger on his forehead. So I did this, and as he started to stand, my finger slid down his eye and left this great big scratch mark across his cheek. "I thought, ‘Oh, I’m dead. I’ve just scratched God’," says Bowden. Fortunately Mas Oyama saw the funny side of the incident and laughed it off.
THE AURA OF MAS OYAMA
Tony still has a very high regard for Mas Oyama, and feels that he was able to command such respect from all of Kyokushin Karate’s 10 million members throughout the world because of his aura and personality. "He didn’t demand respect through fear. He earned it genuinely through being the incredible person that he was, and because of what he’d done with his life. He was a true leader who gave directions to work by.
"The good thing about an instructor who gives you a direction is that you know you’re going forward and progressing. A lot of instructors choose to sit there and do nothing. And these are the guys who end up going stagnant," says Bowden.


STREET-WISE TONY
Bowden first became aware of Kyokushin’s street applicability during the early eighties when he worked as a bouncer at the Gold Coast’s Playroom nightclub for four years. "Some people have said that, because we don’t punch to the face in Kyokushin training, we won’t be prepared to punch to the face in a street situation, but I didn’t ever have that problem."
BACK TO THE BASICS
Tony is an advocate for adhering to basics in training, but feels that many instructors these days overlook the benefits of basics, because they believe that their students just want to do spectacular, theatrical martial arts. "Basics are an important key to karate. If you don’t have good basics you don’t have a good foundation. It can be very boring and repetitious doing them, but in a street situation you don’t have time to coordinate a fight like in the movies.
"Once a fight starts, you work off your subconscious, and in your karate, each time you’re doing basics you’re reinforcing that technique in your subconscious mind, and this is what will come out in the fight. The more you practise a technique, the more it will become a reflex action under pressure," says Bowden.
HAWAII K-O
In 1985 Shihan Bobby Lowe (8th Dan) organized the Kyokushin full-contact Asian Pacific Titles in Hawaii. During the finals Tony Bowden knocked his opponent out, and Tony’s enormous striking power became evident once again when, during the battle, he delivered a stomach-punch that caused bruising to appear on his opponent’s back the following day. Even the most experienced martial artists at the tournament shook their heads in disbelief.
50-MAN KUMITE
In 1986 Tony was invited to participate in Australia’s first ever fifty-man kumite, which required him to fight against fifty different black - and brown-belts for a period of one-and-a-half minutes with no break between bouts. "The thing about it was that you had a minder who made sure none of your opponents went soft on you, to give you an easy run.
"From about the thirty-fifth fight you begin to wonder if you’re going to go the distance. And by the fortieth mark, you start to think that you’re going to make it and you get a second lease of life. Your main interest is getting to the fiftieth fight without someone knocking you out," says Bowden. Tony came out of the fifty-man kumite feeling sore, but regards the pain as a pain he enjoyed, because he achieved so much and the achievement overrode the pain. Since the 1986, only two other men in Australia have attempted the fifty-man kumite and succeeded.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Today, Tony is the Queensland Branch Chief of AKKA (Aust. Kyokushin Karate Ass.), and takes much pride in the fact that his Branch Chief certificate was presented to him personally by Mas Oyama. When Mas Oyama died in1994, the world Kyokushin Karate group fragmented into three groups: Matsui group (IKO 1), Branch Chiefs (IKO 2) and the Matsuhimi group (IKO 3).
Tony, a member of IKO 3, says originally there was some animosity between the groups, and groups were trying to poach students and instructors. But now there is a more harmonious relationship among all three organizations. He believes that everybody is now comfortable in their established groups, and all are able to come together without any political animosity. Bowden appreciates the fact that Kyokushin’s founder, Mas Oyama, treated all his students as family members. "Mas Oyama was a top bloke. He was the father of our style, and that was the attitude he had towards all of us, that we were part of his family.
"And that’s how I look at everybody today who trains in Kyokushin Karate. We’re all still part of his family regardless of which organization we belong to," says Bowden. He feels that barriers between martial arts organizations can be broken down through training camps and tournaments, such as the May 5 Queensland Knockdown Championships, where practitioners of all styles of the arts and all three Kyokushin groups were welcome to participate.
DEVELOPING POWER
To increase punching power, Tony recommends push-ups on the two knuckles closest to the thumbs. This technique strengthens the wrists and encourages the striker to connect with the target using a straight arm, from the knuckles to the shoulder, for maximum force, and to minimize injury to the person delivering the punch.
He does the push-ups with his fists facing each other and positioned close to the body so the triceps are being worked rather than the chest muscles. The back is kept straight, and the chest is lowered to the ground before pressing back up. To further build his punching power and toughen his hands, Tony also hits the heavy bag using the same two knuckles of each hand.
LABOUR OF LOVE
Years ago, Tony had to choose between continuing work as a carpenter, or taking on karate instruction full-time, but chose to continue with his trade and keep karate as a hobby.
"I love my martial arts and I think if I had taken it on as a full-time occupation I may have lost my love for it, whereas now I keep my passion for karate, because it is my sideline and sport, and not just my income. I didn’t want karate to become my business instead of my love."
WHEN THE BOW BREAKS
And what does Tony Bowden do to chill out when he’s not occupied with karate and carpentry?
"For a break, there’s nothing I enjoy more than heading out on the water with my wife in our 28 foot Baycruiser speedboat, going wherever we want, forgetting about everything, and having a nice cold beer."

________________________________________

[intwominds]

Thanks for the info strongman. I met (and trained under) Shihan Tony Bowden at the end of November when he came down for our branch camp here in Tassie, so it was great to get some background information about him. He certainly has a strong personality and takes training very seriously, even with the kids. Its always great to be trained by different instructors (with different training methods), especially ones with such vast experience.

Just one small issue with your info:

Originally Posted by strongman1

Osu
...Since the 1986, only two other men in Australia have attempted the fifty-man kumite and succeeded. _______________________________________

According to my syllabus, there have been 9 successful men and women who have completed the 50 man kumite in Australia (up to 2003). I can't even imagine completing that many fights consecutively

[strongman1]

Osu

Yes old info and yes the is 10 now one of them is my friend Sensei Robert Lauretti akka IKO3 NSW
and Naomi Ali née Woods has done 100
Osu osu

[supergroup7]

That's a great article. Thank you.

It's amazing to read about the achievements of this wonderful Martial artist.

Have you ever had the chance to meet him, or watch him fight?

[mpeters]

Damn thats one mean stomach punc, when it leaves bruises on your back!!!!

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by supergroup7

.

Have you ever had the chance to meet him, or watch him fight?

I have indeed had the privilege of meeting, training with, going on camp, sparring with and being graded by Shihan Bowden on many occasions. He was my branch chief from when I was 10th kyu up to 3rd kyu. You just don't want to be on the wrong side of that punch.

I have seen him unleashed once, when a visitor from another style quite deliberately broke sparring rules and injured me quite seriously. (One of my two busted knees). Shihan just walked onto the floor, deadly silent. Deadly. I won't ever forget it. and I think our "guest" will play by the rules from then on....

When people used to ask him if they should wear a mouthguard, he used to just smile...and show the gap in his teeth .

[strongman1]

Osu

yes he is going strong and this year Shihan Tony Bowden is going for this 6th dan
in japan so i am hope to go over with him and sempai Phill if i can get the money together

[supergroup7]

Osu, Thank you Seienchin. I enjoyed reading about your experiences. I'm sorry to hear about your knee.

"Shihan just walked onto the floor, deadly silent."

Isn't it amazing how in moments like these, it's almost as if they radiate power, and authority? There is no questioning what they are capable of.

[guty]

thanks for that exelent reading strongman1 i like this frase...A LOT! .."When Tony Bowden commenced Kyokushin Karate in 1972, no one could have known the destructive power that was about to be unleashed on the world of martial arts."

OSU!!

[vapor]

excelent story!

vapor