In Memory: Matthew “Matt” Eagles, 27 Apr 1978 – 20 Apr 2023
A month on, it is with great sadness that I convey the news of the sudden passing of my dear friend and most dedicated student Mr Matthew (Matt) Eagles.
Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him, both socially and in the dojo will I am sure hold his memory as dearly as I do.
A wonderful, caring and polite person. The most dedicated and vigilant student I have ever known.
His presence will always be felt in my dojo. Rest In Peace my friend and dojo brother, you will be greatly missed.
At every training you will still be there in spirit just as seen here, as we sit in seiza.
– Sensei Chris Gillies
COVID-19 Update
As the Government roadmap out of lockdown continues successfully, the next round of lockdown easing is due to commence on 17th May, with indoor adult group sports and exercise classes permitted. Unfortunately The Open University has deemed this still too high a risk for the timebeing.
Training will therefore remain suspended until further notice. Oss.
In Memory: Sensei James “Jim” Rafferty, 1947–2020
Everyone at Tokushinkai is saddened to learn of the recent passing of Sensei Dr. James “Jim” Rafferty last weekend.
A dedicated 4th Dan black belt in Shotokan Karate, Sensei Rafferty founded the club alongside Sensei Chris Gillies as a co-instructor of the Olney dojo in 1991 and taught at the club for many years. Orginally training under Sensei John Van Weenan with TASK, the dojo would eventually follow its journey towards Shotokan Karate Kanazawa-Ryu International Federation, where he remained devoted to passing on the technical precision, dynamic movement, and traditional Budo spirit established by Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa for many years. To generations of karateka in Olney and Milton Keynes, he was a patient teacher and mentor known for his deep knowledge, warm demeanor, and encouraging presence in the dojo.
I remember Jim regaling amusedly a tale of his visit to Japan where he purchased a tailored Tokaido gi that he had long admired and wished for. Upon receiving the gi he requested SKIFs calligraphy be embroidered on the chest at which he was informed they were not permitted to do so. They sheepishly contacted Honbu dojo, where Soke graciously permitted the embroidery to take place. From that day on he had one of, if the only, Kanazawa-ryu Tokaido gis in existence, after which he was never too shy to say!
– Ryan Gillies
Beyond the dojo, Sensei Rafferty had a distinguished professional and academic career. Joining the University of Buckingham Business School in 1987, he held the IMI-D.K. Chowdhury Chair in Management, twice served as Head of the Department of Management, and was the Founding Director of the MBA Programme (1997–2000). Before entering academia, he held executive management roles at General Motors Corporation and Granada Group, and consulted internationally for United Nations agencies including the UNDP and UNIDO.
A long-time resident of Olney, Jim exemplified traditional Budo values – humility, lifelong learning, and quiet dedication – both in his professional life and in his karateka. He is remembered with deep respect, gratitude, and affection.
OSS.
Honbu @ Home
SKIF HQ have announced the creation of new live streaming karate classes for students at home during lockdown in their respective countries. Lessons feature Kancho Nobuaki Kanazawa and Shihan Shuseki Murakami as well as other instructors from Honbu in Japan! For more information please visit www.patreon.com/SKIF
COVID-19
Inline with government instructions, all classes at Tokushinkai have been suspended until further notice. Wishing you all stay safe and healthy during these troubling times. Don’t forget that the you only need a space no bigger than the width of your stance to practice, so continue your training at home whenever you can. It is good not only for your physical health, but your mental well-being as well.
Looking Back: Tokushinkai in 2005!
A look back to 2005 when Tokushinkai featured in a full page spread in the local Olney Phonebox magazine, shortly after Soke’s historic visit to the club.
In this month’s edition of the Phonebox we are taking a look at Olney Karate Club, the longest established Karate Club in the local area.
Olney Karate Club, now in its 14th year in the town, is affiliated to the Shotokan Karate Kanazawa Ryu International Federation (SKKIF). SKKIF takes its name from its Chief Instructor, the legendary Japanese karate master, Hirokazu Kanazawa (10th Dan).
Kanazawa Kancho (chief master) as he is referred to, visited the Olney club in November last year, spending three days in the town. During his stay he also visited the Nipponzan Myohoji Temple, which is adjacent to the Peace Pagoda in Milton Keynes.
Kanazawa Kancho’s association is the largest single style karate organisation in the world, with approximately two and a half million members in over 105 countries¹. As a pupil of the founder of Shotokan Karate, Master Gichin Funakoshi and later as a student of his successor, Masatoshi Nakayama, Kanazawa Kancho is an authentic master in the traditional Shotokan style. As a world-renowned instructor, it was a great privilege to welcome him to Olney and everyone at the club is looking forward to his next visit.
Karate-Do (meaning “the way of the empty hand”) is an activity that appeals to all kinds of people and apart from the obvious training in self defence; offers benefits in maintaining fitness, flexibility, endurance, self-awareness, discipline and stress relief. Research has also indicated that training in martial arts such as Karate, helps children to improve their ability to concentrate, which has beneficial effects on other areas of their learning and development².
The club was given its Japanese name Tokushin-Kai by Kanazawa Kancho and means “group with deep moral spirit”. The club instructors (senseis), Mr Chris Gillies (4th Dan) and Dr Jim Rafferty (4th Dan), have both trained and taken their Dan (Black Belt level) grades in Japan under Kanazawa Kancho.
In the recent (May 2005) SKKIF UK National Championships held in Watford and presided over by Kanazawa Kancho, Mr Gillies took second place in both the Dan grade Kumite (free fighting) and Kata (correct forms of techniques) competitions. In addition, Mr Gillies’ son, Ryan, took second place in the Kumite and third place in the Kata competitions in his particular category.
The club trains on Monday and Thursday evenings in the Olney Centre. Classes on Monday are from 7.30pm to 9.00pm (all junior and senior graded students) and on Thursday from 7.00pm to 8.00pm (beginners’ class) and 8.00pm to 9.00pm (all graded students).
New members are always welcome. So, if you are someone who has always thought, “I would really like to try Karate”, but never got round to it, then you have an excellent club with a great pedigree on your doorstep. Karate is for all ages and it is never too late to learn!
The founder of Shotokan Karate, Master Gichin Funakoshi, was renowned for telling his students, “you must believe that if others can do it, you can do it too”. This message is as relevant today as it was then, so what are you waiting for?
SKKIF National Championships 2014
Another year of hard won medals at the SKKIF National Championships for Sensei Chris Gillies!
Held on Saturday 7 June at Windsor, Tokushinkai’s Sensei Gillies lost only one bout during the entire competition to finish 1st in Men’s Team Kumite (with Oganna Iwunze and Peter Hawdio from Kobukan and Zanshin respectively) and 2nd in Men’s 20yrs+ Dan Grade Kumite!
Congratulations on another successful year from all at Tokushinkai – oss!
SKKIF National Championships 2013
Sensei Chris Gillies took Silver last week in the SKKIF National Championships!
Held on Saturday 8 June at Kodokai dojo, Sensei Gillies fought through a long day to the finals of the Men’s Dan Grade Kumite (20+ yr / –75kg). Later this month he will enter the SKIF Belgium 25th Anniversary competition with Kancho Kanazawa and Sensei Murakami presiding – Tokushinkai wishes Sensei Gillies all the best of luck!
Godan in Japan!
In April 2012 Sensei Chris Gillies returned to Japan for a period of 3 weeks to train at Honbu Dojo in Tokyo, and enjoyed many hours of training with Kancho Kanazawa and other honbu dojo instructors.
At the end of his trip, Sensei Gillies was invited to take his Godan (5th Dan) examination by Kancho Kanazawa and successfully achieved the grade.
The trip proved once again to be very fulfilling experience! Now back in the UK, Sensei Gillies has once again resumed teaching at Tokushinkai and classes have resumed on their normal schedule.
No Classes
Please be aware that whilst Sensei Chris Gillies is in Japan, there will be no training at the Open University on the following dates:
- Wed 21 March
- Wed 28 March
- Wed 4 April
- Wed 11 April
- Wed 18 April