CLUB HISTORY
Asano Sensei - Era of hard spirit training a secure foundation
Dave Hague joined the SKI (Shotokan Karate International) dojo in 1970. It was then a member of the KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) and gave him the opportunity to train with Sensi Enoeda. Dave Hague left KUGB when Sensi Asano started SKI and continued to train with Sensi Shiro Asano for about 18 years with Sensei Asano regularly having visiting Japanese instructors. He was able to train alongside many whom are now karate legends such as Kanazawa, Kato ,Mura, Shirai, Kasi, Kobara, and Sode, to name but a few.
Trimble Sensei - Era of Competition Athletic and sporting application
In about 1989 Dave Hague was approached by Aiden Trimble & Vince Morris to ask for his help in establishing a new karate group, to be named ‘The Federation of Shotokan Karate’. Aiden and Vince severed their connections with the Honbu and the SKI and decided to form their own association. It was one of the hardest decisions I have made leaving Sensi Asano but Vince was one of my oldest friends and I decided to give him full my support. This turned out to be successful. Chief Instructor was Aidan, with Vince Morris sharing the presentation of courses and the coaching. Vince’s University Dojo continued to amass a notable number of championship successes and when the FSK were asked to represent England at the JKA World Championships in Dubai Vince was selected as the team coach.
Morris Sensei-Era of Kyusho - reality combat and Dimmak
In 1993 Vince Morris left the FSK and again approached Dave Hague to develop his own organisation and Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do was founded. Dave Hook whom had always been with Vince at the Nottingha University
dojo was the third founder member of Kissaki. Vince had been interested in researching the origins of modern techniques and in the applications of the Kata. In his first book, ‘The Karate-Do Manual’ published in 1979, we first see the use of the phrase Kyusho-Jutsu (Vital Point techniques) which signified a shift of focus away from the relatively ‘new’ sports oriented style of karate exemplified by Shotokan to a deeper study of the original concepts and practical effectiveness of traditional karate.
Vince, after attending a George Dillman course in Scotland with Dave Hook, decided to adapt Kyusho to develop the dynamic aspect of bunkai with maewashi uke. We were sure that this was the way forward for Kissaki. For many years Dave Hague accompanied and assisted Vince on his travels around the UK and Europe and have many lasting memories of the friends we made. But unfortunately after 14 years with Kissaki Dave decided to leave to look into developing a full range of combat with Dave Hook whom had left Kissaki a year earlier.
Present Era – full range combat
After 40 years of training it becomes necessary for what ever reason to review the system of combat that still remains an obsession. However, martial artists tend to see their chosen style often with fanatical zeal, almost a religion and not with detachment. The key factor, however, always appears to be the warrior within and not so much the style. Good fighters have an eclectic approach to their training and observe and learn constantly.
This being said there must be a distinct disadvantage to not training through a full range of combat scenarios, stand-up – mid range and close, Grappling and Groundwork. Many Karate styles do not have in their syllabus or practice groundwork or grappling but observation shows street fights often go to the ground. Karate stylists have to cross train.
Identification and practice of core principles improves a fighter’s ability to deliver effective techniques.
Striking, grappling, throws and locks etc: It is an instructor's task to derive methods of teaching core principles along with technique. We have designed this web page as an ongoing research document with the intention to integrate all aspects of the martial arts into a complete fighting system that is available to all. This remains the current challenge to round out Golden Valley syllabus and incorporate all fighting ranges and spectra.