GKR Karate

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Nihongo|Go Kan Ryu|剛完流|Gō Kan-ryū or GKR, is a business based on a non-contact karate club mixing features of Shotokan and Goju Ryu together into one style of karate. The name of the club roughly translates to the "hard and complete system in the way of the empty hand." The motto behind the club is "Karate for Everyone".

Origins

The club was founded in Adelaide (Australia), in 1984 by Robert Sullivan, known to the members originally as 'Shihan' (a self-awarded title roughly translated as master) but now known as 'Kancho' (Founder of the Organisation). [ [http://www.gkrkarate.com/about_gkr/gokanryu.asp Go Kan Ryu] - about, accessed August 2007] He was later joined in 1991 by Stacy Karetsian, who previously attained Black Belt status in Shotokan. He was later given the title of 'Shihan' (Master) by Sullivan in 2000. [ [http://www.gkrkarate.com/people/profile.asp?profile=5 Stacy Karetsian] GKRKarate.com]

Since its inception, GKR has grown significantly and currently has over 50,000+ students training weekly, 1500+ instructors and 400+ full time personnel. Classes take place on a daily basis in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the USA. [ [http://www.gkrkarate.com/about_gkr/gokanryu.asp Go Kan Ryu] ]

Robert Sullivan

Robert Sullivan is the Founder and Chief Instructor of Go-Kan-Ryu Karate (GKR).

Born in 1947, Sullivan spent most of his early life growing up in Gosford, New South Wales. At the age of 17, his fascination with martial arts led him to begin training Karate.

He returned home to Australia from America (where he had been teaching karate and had even had a short run on TV) in December 1971 to marry and begin his family. Over the next 13 years Sullivan gained experience working and starting a number of businesses, but he eventually found himself turning his focus back to his passion for teaching karate. In 1984 he started Go Kan Ryu karate. His original aim was to build a karate club, and in the 20 years since then, the club membership has grown through improved recruitment techniques and a constant demand for new students.

It is known that Sullivan's training also involved getting a green belt in Goju Kai [ [http://www.gkrkarate.org/pages/medias/mediak1.html Blitz Magazine Interview] Unofficial Go Kan Ryu] as well as training for four months in another style. Sullivan also trained with Hirokazu Kanazawa in Shotokan karate.

Controversies

*Kenshukai Karate - The former managing director of the organisation, Adrian Sclanders, unsuccessfully attempted to wrest the organisation from Sullivan's control. He was subsequently dismissed from the organisation, starting up his own school called "Kenshukai", which has since split up into smaller groups.

*Sensei Training - GKR senseis are not required to be black belts, unlike most clubs in the wider karate community, resulting in claims that GKR Senseis are less qualified than their counterparts in other clubs. It is sometimes the case that senseis from GKR in black and white (instructor) belts are mistaken for black belts.

*Recruitment - A significant proportion of GKR's member base is from its door-to-door recruitment systemFact|date=April 2007. This system of student recruitment was taught to Robert Sullivan by Matsugi Tanaka, who was at that time the Senior Instructor of Go Kan Ryu at the Adelaide Headquarters, this was during 1984/85. Matsugi Tanaka had joined Go Kan Ryu already a Sandan in Shotokan and significantly contributed to the manner in which Robert Sullivan viewed the potential of Karate as a business.

The method of door-to-door recruitment is unpopular with sections of the martial arts community and many styles have criticised GKR for its "commercial" or Amway approach to martial arts and for not caring about their members. GKR shrugs off such accusations, alleging that there is a strong "family" feel amongst its students and senseis.

*Locations - GKR usually use school halls or community centres, rather than full time dojos. These dojos, not being purpose built for karate and other sports with similar needs are sometimes said to have a higher being risk of injury than full time "properly" floored locations.

Instruction

GKR class instructors are called Sensei, the instructor assistants are known as Sempai. Prospective instructors who have at least achieved yellow belt (8th Kyu, the first full grade in the syllabus can be achieved after 12 classes(see below)) may be invited to attend a more intensive 'S.T.P' "Sensei/Sempai Training Program." GKR trains all prospective instructors for an indefinite period in an intensive training program. The prospective instructor must show teaching capabilities and karate skill, before an exam is set, which they must pass to be accepted onto the 'STP' "Sensei/Sempai Training Program". From this point on, the new trainee may be used as a Sempai and later as a temporary stand-in for other regular instructors, they will carry the role of Sempai until the senior instructor "Regional Manager" deems them competent to stand in or teach their own class. From the point of passing the exam the new Sempai will wear a Black and White (instructor) belt to denote them as Sempai/Sensei until they either grade to "Shodan Ho" (provisional Black Belt) or leave the instructor program. Sensei and Sempai are expected to attend senior training with their "Regional Manager" at least once a week to ensure that they are capable of teaching and performing the entire GKR syllabus and are recommended to train as much as possible.

This has led to a debate within the karate world as someone being asked to join the STP after only 12 lessons (see below) raise issues of the standard of GKR karate. Most traditional karate clubs do not allow teaching until the standard of black belt or above. However this also raises an issue of safety, as well as legal issues involving insurance etc. This is one of the main gripes that people have with GKR.(a grade that can be achieved by having knowledge of 5 blocks, 7 strikes, 4 kicks, 3 stances and the first of the GKR kata.)

Grading System

GKR Karate employs a coloured belt grading system. [ [http://www.gkrkarate.com/training/gradingkata.asp Go Kan Ryu] ] Each rank is called a Kyu until the black belt grade. The recommended minimum times are listed below (NB: the below times are per belt, not cumulative, although in some cases these may be ignored if the Regional Manager feels that someone is advanced enough):

The Yellow and Orange tips are given as encouragement grades, without requiring formal grading. For instance, the Yellow Tip is given after 6 classes.

As of 1st January 2008 this is now just a guide. If a Sensei believes the student ready then he/she may be graded sooner than the time stated on the above chart and vice versa. However, it is common that gradings do not occur as quickly as per the minimum chart, students can feel disheartened, but shouldn't it just means they have more time to make better their current karate knowledge, before being asked to learn something new.

As of June 2007, Sullivan is ranked 7th Dan [ [http://www.gkrkarate.com/people/profile.asp?profile=4 Robert Sullivan] Go Kan Ryu] under the Go Kan Ryu syllabus, and Karetsian is a 5th dan. [ [http://www.gkrkarate.com/people/profile.asp?profile=5 Stacy Karetsian] Go Kan Ryu] Gavin Samin [ [http://www.gkrkarate.com/people/profile.asp?profile=6 Gavin Samin] Go Kan Ryu] is the international vice president and senior instructor for GKR, he is currently ranked 4th Dan. Tyrone Coates [ [http://www.gkrkarate.com/people/profile.asp?profile=10 Tyrone Coates] Go Kan Ryu] is the 3rd dan senior instructor for UK southern zone, and Nabil Fanous, [ [http://www.gkrkarate.com/people/profile.asp?profile=7 Nabil Fanous] Go Kan Ryu] is a 4th dan senior instructor for Australia northern zone. While some students may move more quickly through the ranks then others, GKR argues that karate is, above all else, a personal journey, with an individual's progress from their starting point being more important than specific markers of technical skill. GKR also points out that, unlike many organisations, a student who fails a grading is not asked to pay for subsequent attempts at the grading.

Kata

From the age of 13 and over or 6th Kyu (Green Belt) Kata (routines) must be performed to show a significant progress in technique and strength. At each grading a student will perform the Kata for their belt and all the ones for the levels below.

Each style of Karate has its own Kata; the ones used in GKR are combinations of those from the styles Sullivan studied.

Tournaments

GKR makes a significant appearance in the National All Styles competitions in Australia, a competition organised, run and refereed by GKR members with most competitors being GKR students. [ [http://www.nationalallstyles.com.au/ National All Styles] ] . GKR has started to enter the AKFAustralian Karate Federation championships, but has not had any major success yet, entrants are also only a select few from the club.

GKR has had a lot of success in the National All Styles Tournament Circuit, winning seven out of twelve of the circuit's "Champion of Champions" titles over the six years that the title has been running (Glenn Hutchison 2001, Vedran Lovric, Angela Uytingco 2002, Craig Lennox, Angela Uytingco 2003, Ben Cunningham 2004, Ben Cunningham 2005). [ [http://www.nationalallstyles.com.au/champion-profiles/championsofchampions.php National All Styles Champions of Champions] ] This is often met by a lot of criticism however, because most of the competitors are GKR Members, and it is sometimes argued that National All Styles competitions are heavily biased towards GKR and it's members. This is a point of a lot of ongoing debates.

GKR's second in command, Stacey Karetsian, is on the World NAS board, and the UK NAS [ [http://www.uknas.com/ UK NAS] ] director is GKR regional manager James Boardman.A large percentage of its referees are also GKR members which has caused much criticism of GKR as it proves that GKR does not actually compete in true 'All Style' Competitions.

GKR also holds regular in-club tournaments throughout the year. These tournaments are run usually four a year, three being a Regional tournament (in each capital city as qualifiers), the other a National. They also have a World Cup, which happens every 2 years. The GKR World Cup 2007 was held in Birmingham in the UK at the National Indoor Arena on the 2nd and 3rd of June. The next World Cup will be held in Australia. The World Cup, like most GKR Tournaments, will have Kata, Kumite, team Kata and team Kumite events for each belt and age range. It is felt that this makes it fairer preventing a 15 year old Black Belt from facing a 15 year old 9th Kyu or 30 year old Black Belt. The instructors normally compete separately from the 'public' students in tournaments. Again this has caused much speculation as due to the categories of grade, there are many GKR kyu grades that are now "World Champions". This highly differs from other World Cup's where the best competitors from each country compete regardless of style or grade therefore resulting in only one World Champion.

Club Growth and Marketing

GKR utilises a pro-active marketing system, that entails sending 'S.D.C's' ("Self Defence consultants" are frequently recruited themselves or find the position through adverts in australian and British jobcenters) into residential areas to recruit new students.No prior Karate/martial arts knowledge or sales experience is required, however "Whilst all aplicants need to have a genuine interest in the martial arts field, GKR is essentially a 'people business'. Therefore the criteria for selecting new personnel is based more on comunication skills, work ethic, and attitude, rather then on academic background" ['GKR's' Career Opportunity' Leaflet'] Fact|date=November 2007 Candidates are expected to successfully complete a trial period in which they must join a minimum number of members as door-to-door recruiters. These recruiters are paid by commission only when they sign new members.'S.D.C's' train at least 3 times a week consistently, and are placed in a management traineeship. There have been regional managers at blue belt and above. These SDCs receive free training and management skills in return for helping promote the karate classes. Kyu grade instructors wear black belts with white stripes through them, indicating they are not in fact Shodan (1st Dan) level but in training. All Sensei must be Police Checked [ [http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/employment/index.html see Blue Card] ] and First Aid trained to complete GKRs Accreditation to become an instructor. [ [http://www.gkrkarate.com/about_gkr/accreditation.asp GKR Instructor Accreditation] retrived February 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.gkrkarate.com: GKR Karate Official Website] - The official resource for GKR Karate.
* [https://www.gkr-unofficial.com: GKR Unofficial] - A secure and free GKR Karate discussion forum.
* [http://www.ilovegkr.com: GKR Karate - aka I love GKR] - The independent voice of MattB GKR Karate.