FOREVER KYOKUSHIN - Brian Fitkin

Was karate tougher in the 1970s? What was it like to train with Sosai Mas Oyama, the karate master who fought bulls with his bare hands? Is it hard work making action movies with Dolph Lundgren? What does budo really mean?

These questions and more were answered by Shihan Brian Fitkin, 7th Dan, one of Europe’s most experienced Kyokushin karate instructors, when he spoke to Mike Clarke recently.

INTERVIEW BY MIKE CLARKE

How did you get involved with karate back in the 1960s? There can’t have been many people teaching it in England then…

Not much was known about karate in those days, and when spoken about it was often confused with judo, which most people at that time had heard something about. The only karate you saw then was the odd badly executed technique used in either a TV show or film. However, there was a certain mystique about karate that captured my imagination, which eventually lead to my searching for a club. One day, while out driving my car, I saw a karate sticker on the back of a car in front of me advertising a club in Kennington, South London.

I made a mental note of the number and gave them a call later that evening. My first instructor was Sensei Bob Boulton, who had recently returned from a stay in Japan. The course was six weeks long and at the end of it we went through a basic test. We were awarded points for the test and to my surprise I came top.

I first heard of you in the early 1970s when you were a member of perhaps the strongest British all-styles karate squad ever. Can you talk a little about that time and the selection process?

The top fighters from each style would meet up, and after training together for one or two sessions we would be pitched against each other in a fightoff; the best were selected. I personally found it extremely useful to train and spar with so many people from the different styles of karate, and I learned a lot. There was, naturally, quite a bit of rivalry between us, but on the whole we all got on very well with each other and had some good times together.

How long were you on the national squad?

My first memory of fighting for the national team was around 1966, which was against France. I was in the team continuously after that until I went to Japan in 1969. Upon my return to England in 1970, I was again selected to represent the national team in the first All Styles World Championship, which was held in Japan. In 1971, I disappeared once more to do some travelling around Europe. I didn’t return until 1973, and although a little rusty I still managed to get back into the national team again. In 1974, I moved to Sweden, but I kept my place in the team right up until I retired from competition in 1976.

Were there many injuries back then?

There were quite a few, especially in the early days, [with] no protective equipment and a lot of rivalry between the fighters of the different styles. It was quite a few years before protective gear made an appearance, and the rivalry became less intense once we all got to know each other better.

You travelled to Japan around that time too, for an extended period. Can you talk a little bit about your meeting with [Kyokushin founder] Oyama Sensei and what training was like?

My first visit to Japan lasted for about a year. However, I had met Sosai Mas Oyama when he visited London the year before. He struck me as a very friendly and relaxed person. He also oozed confidence and charisma, and I could certainly understand why he commanded such respect. Training in Japan at that time was mentally stressful for me, not only in the dojo but outside as well. Trying to find money for food and rent each month was not easy. It was a constant struggle for me and, consequently, getting enough food inside me for the rigorous training schedule was not always possible.

However, when things got too bad, Sosai Oyama usually noticed something was not quite right with me, like if I got too thin or looked weak during my training. He would then usually take me out for a slap-up meal to try and build me up again. During my stay there in Japan, Sosai Oyama expected me to devote myself totally to the training, which meant training anything from four to seven hours a day, seven days a week. I even had to sign a contract with him before I could begin training there, which stipulated that I would have to train every day, keep away from alcohol and women, and be in bed by no later than 10pm. The training itself was, for the most part, tough, not just physically but mentally as well. There was so much kihon [basic technique] drills, and there really wasn’t much imagination at that time when it came to training methods. A normal lesson would begin with stretching and then move onto basic kihon, which was practiced standing in one spot. This would all take around 45 minutes. Then we would move on to practicing basics on the move, backwards and forwards, turning after three steps. This would be done for about 30 minutes and would be followed by about 15 minutes of some form of pre-arranged fighting techniques.

After this, we usually practiced 15 minutes of jumping kicks. This was performed against tennis balls that were suspended from the ceiling by elastic. This was then followed by push-ups, sit-ups and other strength training exercises, also for about 15 minutes. Lastly, we would either practice kata or free fighting, sometimes a bit of both. This would take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes to complete, depending on the instructor. While I was there at the honbu [headquarters] dojo, there were always some foreigners training, but most only stayed for a week or so. Apart from myself though, there was one other Englishman and one New Zealander who were there, more or less, the whole time.

However, Sosai Oyama did not put as much pressure on them as he did on me when it came to training every day. I guess this had something to do with the fact that my instructor when he had first met me in England had originally introduced me to him as the British Champion. Sosai himself used to teach around four or five days a week, which meant that I saw quite a lot of him during my stay. Training with him was a very good experience, of course, but like everybody else, he had good days and bad days — but I learned a lot from him and I am very grateful.

Soon after returning to England you relocated to Sweden, where you’ve lived ever since. What lead to this move?

Karate in England at the time was not as popular as it had been; kung fu was all the rage, due to the Bruce Lee movies. As a consequence, it was proving quite difficult for me to earn a living from karate. In 1973, I was representing England at a European Championship, and I met a guy who was in the Swedish team, who also trained Kyokushin. He had a very large dojo in Stockholm at the time and he really needed help in running it. He asked if I would consider coming over to Sweden for a while and take up the post of chief instructor.

I initially went over for just a few months, but when that period was over he asked if I would consider staying on permanently, which is what I did and have never regretted it. You’re well known as the instructor of the action movie actor Dolph Lundgren. How did that come about? Dolph began training with me in Stockholm, when he was about 15 or 16 years of age. He was a young, shy, skinny kid, but very tall. He trained extremely hard, and it was obvious that he would one day become a champion. After a couple of years of training, he was big, brave and very strong, both mentally and physically.

Once he had established himself as a tough competitor, there were very few fighters around at that time that would fancy their chances against him. It was during this time we built up a special bond between us.

I believe you’ve been active in the film industry also?

I was Dolph’s personal trainer, but I often helped out with some of the fighting choreography as well, which was a lot of fun. I also jumped in from time to time as an extra, and in one movie even had a scene with quite a bit of dialogue. This wasn’t as difficult for me as it sounds because I had spent some time at acting school in London, some years earlier.

One of your books is called The Fundamentals of Kyokushin Karate. What are the fundamental physical principles Kyokushin karate is based on?

Kyokushin karate is all about power, stamina and mental strength. These qualities are developed through the hard physical training we practice in the dojo. The power and stamina are projected into our techniques, while our mental strength is used as part of our defense. Sosai would often talk about the power of correct technique and movement, which he explained through a point-and-circle principle. The circular motion of the body not only increases the speed and power of a technique it is also extremely effective when deflecting it as well.

For example, if you have ever seen one spinning top strike another then the power of circular motion is very obvious. In this instance, the moment of contact is known as the point and the motion of the top, the circle. To give another one of his examples, when a baseball player swings his body in a circular movement and strikes the ball at the exact moment of maximum speed and power, the ball will obviously fly a great distance. So it is with a punch, kick or block.

Is there a mental/spiritual mindset specific to progressing in Kyokushin karate?

Never give up — no matter what!

From the outside looking in, Kyokushin karate seems to require a lot of physical strength and stamina. How do you manage to keep your karate effective as the body gets older, and muscular strength and stamina declines along with reaction speed and timing?

You do what you can, but with age comes experience. You may not be as strong or as fast as you were but through your experience you still know how to put a man on his back quickly. However, when it comes to training you have to listen to your body and know your limitations. This often means varying the training a bit more and avoiding, or at least cutting down on, any exercises that do not agree with your body.

Having said all this, with age comes also wisdom, and the importance of being a good fighter seems to dwindle with the years. It is then that you realize how much more there is to karate, and budo in general, and how your journey within the martial arts is just one long learning curve.

One of your books details the kata of Kyokushin karate. Can you talk about the role of kata within Kyokushin, their purpose, and whether they are explored through the study of bunkai [combat applications]?

While kata is trained on a regular basis in our organisation, it has always taken second place behind kumite. Indeed, there are a few countries around the world that train very little kata at all. Their main focus is on producing good, strong fighters. However, when I began training karate, and certainly during my time in Japan with Sosai Oyama, kata was trained more or less in every class, but sparring was always number one! However, it has to be pointed out that there were very few competitions in those days compared with today. This means that competitors today have to train like professionals if they are to be successful in competition, which often leaves very little time for kata training, unfortunately.

To me, if basics are the alphabet, then kata are the sentences. They also teach you to analyze more what you are doing, and in doing so understand how karate has evolved. In kata there is tradition. Some of the movements may, of course, seem very dated today, but from these very movements our present-day fighting techniques have evolved. All the basic tools of fighting are there within the movements, and while fighting might continually be developing and evolving, kata remains the same. Bunkai was never a big topic when I was learning karate, but as the years have gone by, interest has increased, certainly for me personally, and for quite a few other older instructors I know, as well. I guess it is the natural progression of things. I mean, when you are younger, fighting is what is important, but as the body weakens with age you tend to search for a deeper meaning and better understanding of what you are doing.

Since Oyama Sensei’s passing, the Kyokushin Kai has split into many factions. Are any of them still training the same way as Oyama Sensei taught, do you think, or has each group evolved their own ‘type’ of Kyokushin karate?

Although Kyokushin karate, like all styles, is still developing, the exercises and traditions that were taught to us by Sosai Oyama are still taught widely throughout the different factions. Tradition, I think, is an important factor in karate and should never be forgotten. Many people before us have put a lot of thought and physical input into our karate, out of respect for them and their work we should try to remember our roots.

What does the word ‘budo’ mean to you?

To me, budo means integrity, respect, honesty, humility, justice, patience, tolerance, politeness, enlightenment, and consideration, etc. In other words, all that is good about human beings.

Can budo training and the commercialisation of karate go hand-in-hand?

The budo content within any karate training is down to each individual instructor. It is really only affected by money if an instructor is prepared to sell his soul in order to get as much of it as possible. Earning a living from karate as an instructor will nearly always lead to some form of compromise or flexibility in your teaching, but this does not mean that the basic principles of budo have to be discarded.

Can awarding Black-belt Dan grades to children be justified?

In Sweden, we do not award anyone under the age of 18 with a Black-belt. We feel that a person needs at least that number of years behind them before they can be considered mature enough to wear it.

Due to the popularity of MMA and cage fighting, many people feel that karate is no longer ‘reality-based’ as it once was. What are your views on this?

People can say what they want, but how many adult people get into a real fight in their lives? Not many really! Besides, karate is not just about fighting; it is a way of life with its own philosophy behind it. It teaches you more than just how to fi ght; it teaches you how to be a good, strong and healthy human being, in both mind and body. A person who trains karate for many years should be a man of integrity, someone to look up to, someone you can trust. In any case, all fi ghting arts have their strengths and weaknesses. Being able to fi ght well on the ground may not be such an advantage in a situation whereby you have more than just one opponent against you. In this instance, mobility and speed of technique will be of the utmost importance.

You were in Australia in November last year. Was that your first visit, and can you talk a little bit about your time here?

It wasn’t my fi rst visit, as that was back in 1988, when I was there with Dolph Lundgren, working on The Punisher movie. This time I was here as a guest instructor at the Shinkyokushin summer camp, which was held at Mt Feathertop [in Victoria]. I also spent a couple of weeks with some cousins and an aunt who live in Melbourne. I hadn’t seen them since I was there in 1988, so it was great to meet them again and catch up on family matters.

Do you travel a lot to teach?

Yes, quite a lot throughout Sweden and to a number of countries in Europe. I usually travel to Japan at least once a year, as well.

Finally, what are your thoughts on the future of Kyokushin karate?

As long as we have karate around, there will always be a Kyokushin organisation. However, I do not believe that the different factions within our style will ever join together to become one organisation. There seems to be quite a bit of prestige connected with it, mainly in Japan, but you never know! As for our own Shinkyokushin organisation, it’s doing very well and seems to be going from strength to strength. It’s run as a democratic and non-profi t organisation, and I’m very happy to say that Japan keeps in touch with all dojos at least once a month, which is more than you can say for a lot of other organisations.□

Blitz Martial Arts Magazine MARCH 2010 VOL. 24 ISSUE 03