Okinawa Karate Association U.K.
and the Essex Group of Clubs called the
Shi Gakkou Shuudan Est. 1986

Rear left to right, grading panel members Barry Coles, Derek Charlton, Paul Natzyl & Ken Smith. Front left to right, wearing his new black belt, John Pike, along with Simon Lee, Tony Coles and Ian Weatherley.

Shi Gakkou Shuudan's 25th Anniversary 1986 - 2011



Paul Natzyl, founder of the Shi Gakkou Shuudan

Written by Paul Natzyl

It all began 25 years ago on a Friday evening at the Shenfield Sports Centre. I had been learning Karate from Sensei Ron Ship at the centre for about 8 years. I trained with him at classes held between 8.00 p.m. and 10.00 on a Tuesday and Thursday evening. I trained on most occassions twice a week and had achieved my 1st Dan Black Belt in 1982. I then became assistant instructor and taught for Ron when he was absent form the club, which wasn't very often, however he used to visit Okinawa regularly for a period of time, so it was then that I would take the class for him mainly.

I had decided within a few weeks of my joining the club that given the chance I would one day become a full time Karate sensei (teacher). I didn't give it much thought after that and concentrated on my training which I enjoyed immensely. I also enjoyed friendship with many fellow students, many of whom I still keep in touch with today.

In 1986 I decided to ask Ron if I could start a beginners class at his dojo, to be held on a Friday evening. The idea was that they would eventually filter into his Tuesday and Thursday evening classes. I placed about 20 hand drawn posters which I copied in the windows of local shops a few weeks before the first class and hoped for the best. The Friday evening came and I had about 12 beginners, mainly junior and senior school age. Each week after more and more beginners would come along. I decided that I had enough students to split the group into two and have two classes on the Friday evening, one after the other. The classes kept growing until thay were about to burst. I remember on one evening I had over 40 junior students in the first class, I could hardly fit them all in the hall, followed by about half as many in the second class. It soon occured to me that I could achieve my ambition in becoming a full time instructor.

I asked for permission from Ron to open some clubs and then started looking for venues. The first was Castle Hall in Rayleigh, followed by a room above a shop in Billericay high street. It wasn't large enough so I looked for another hall in Billericay and found the South Green Memorial Hall, which we use to this day. The next halls to be found were the Shotgate Community Hall in Wickford and then Mill Hall in Rayleigh. The classes at Shenfield were moved to several other halls in succession after becoming independent for the Shenfield dojo (training hall) eventually ending up at the Brentwood School Sports Centre.

The Shi Gakkou Shuudan means Four School Group (Billericay, Brentwood, Rayleigh and Wickford) and is the flagship in the new Association that I have formed, the Okinawa Karate Association U.K. I am very proud of the Shi Gakkou Shuudan and all of the students that I teach. I still have a great passion for Karate and I don't think that will ever change. Over the last 25 years and seen many come and go, however I have managed to gain many black belt students, the highest being 4th Dan. I have also gained great friendship with many of my students. I can't believe that I have students of such a high level. I am sure when the time comes to say good-bye to the group as inevitably it will one day, I will leave it in good hands but in the meantime I will enjoy living my dream as a Karate Instructor.

Dan Grading 07.05.11

The first Dan grading of the newly formed Okinawa Karate Association was held at the Brentwood Club on Saturday 7th May 2011. Rayleigh students Joe Rapley and Reggie Went were succesful in passing Junior 1st Dan along with Nicholas Wilkins who was awarded a Senior 1st Dan. Brentwood student Jacqueline Purser also tested for Senior 1st Dan and was successful.


Rear left to right, grading panel members Ken Smith, Tony Coles, Paul Natzyl, Ian Weatherley & Barry Coles. Front left to right, wearing their new black belts, Nicholas Wilkins, Joe Rapley, Reggie Went & Jacqueline Purser.

U.K. Students train with Okinawan Karate Masters.

Students took full advantage of Karate Masters Sensei Yamashiro and Sensei Higa,s flying visit to the U.K. Two, two hour training sessions were arranged with the 8th and 6th Dan experts over two days. Lessons were held at the Calso Health and Fitness Centre Dojo in Bromley, Kent, run by Derek Charlton. Members of the Okinawa Karate Association U.K. were invited along with members of the Uechi-Ryu Karate Association G.B.. Despite plans for the visit being finalised only a few days beforehand, many members were able to attend an enjoy the rare experience.

Sensei Hirokuni Yamashiro

President Paul Natzyl's Visit to Okinawa, Japan

President of the Okinawa Karate Association U.K. Paul Natzyl has just returned from Okinawa, Japan where he undertook five days of intensive training. During his visit to the parent Association, the Okinawa Karate-Do Association Japan, also known as Okikukai, on the Japanese Island regarded as the birthplace of Karate, Paul trained with some of the highest ranked Karate masters in the world. His visit culminating with him passing an examination for the rank of Kyoshi 7th Dan. The following is an account of his Okinawan experience in his own words.



I trained at the Association headquarters at Chatan-Cho for most of the time but was able to visit two other dojos (training halls) close by other occassions. The four hours of training nearly every day from Monday to Friday was gruelling. Two hours in the morning and two in the evening. I even had to train for an hour before my exam. Temperatures were 30 degrees centigrade and above with humidity and the dojo's were not air conditioned, There were only a few electric fans to help keep temperatures down. I am used to training for about 2 to 3 hours per day normally, between Monday and Friday but with the heat and the jet lag, things were very difficult for me. My gi's (karate suits) were soaking wet with sweat during the sessions. Even my belt was wet. This made my gi seem as if weight twice as much, making things worse.

I received personal tuition, mainly with sensei (teacher) Hirokuni Yamashiro, ranked Kyoshi 8th Dan. Quite often, there would be a 9th or 10th Dan also in attendance, watching my techniques and offering their advice, many of them in their 70's and 80's and still training. Their fitness and expertise is remarkable. They made me do things over and over again to improve my technique. That's what I expected and needed from such experts. I knew that the training on Okinawa would be hard, I wanted to be challenged and I was.

At the start of the week I was very concerned as to whether I could put all of the corrections that had given me into place, in time for the test. I had a notebook in which I kept a record of the improvements and changes I had to make, this had to be kept up to date and studied in between lessons. As the week progressed I was gradually putting things into place and felt a little more confident, but would I meet the requirements for the biggest test in my Martial Art career.



Friday 27th August 2010

Left for Okinawa from Heathrow Terminal 5.



Saturday 28th August 2010

Arrived at Hong Kong and took a flight to Okinawa, arriving late evening. Collected by Humiko Tsuchida, one of Yamashiro sans students and driven to the Beach Tower Hotel at Chatan.


The plane waiting at Hong Kong Airport that took me to Okinawa



Sunday 29th August 2010

Collected by Yutaka Higa san a Director of the parent Association, another of Yamashiro san's students and taken to Okinawa City Martial Arts Hall to watch a tournament between Shohei-Ryu students on the island. After the tournament I made a speech in Japanese to officials and competitors which fortunately most people seemed to understand and then invited to an informal party at headquarters by Takamiyagi san and then asked to make another speech. I commended the participants of the tournament for their strength and good technique. Takamiyagi san noticed that my portrait was not on the wall with the other instructors from around the world. I offered to send him a photo and he said that he would arrange for me to visit a professional photographer tomorrow, so that my picture could be added. He asked if I have an Association tie and I replied "no", so he promptly took off his tie and said that I could borrow it. He asked if I have a jacket. Again I said "no". So he took of his jacket and said I could borrow it.


Tournament Venue - Okinawa City Martial Arts Hall

Monday 30th August 2010

Collected from hotel at 9.30 a.m by Yamashiro san and taken to the headquarters for a 2 hour training session. Concentrated on the three katas for my 7th Dan exam, Sanchin, Seisan and San-Sei-Ryu. I was asked to repeat the moves over and over again and received many corrections. There were heavy pots which are used in conjunction with the stepping and turning routine in Sanchin Kata. The pots had to be held at the neck by just the finger tips and thumb knuckle joints.

Headquarters at Chatan-Cho

12.30 p.m. taken by the photographer and another man to the studio, I was still sweating from the training session, and finding it really hard to cool down. The photographer had a really large camera with an apron on the back, under which he constantly disappeared. He moved the camera into different positions whilst another man adjusted the studio lighting. All the time I was thinking, I have some time to cool down whilst they are making the adjustments, the longer they take the better. He took the pictures and then picked up an SLR camera and took some more photos. He printed some off and I asked if I could have one of the photos. He gave me the two that he printed. Him and the other man then took me back to the hotel. On the way back we were talking and the photographer told me that he did Goju-Ryu Karate.


Photo for Dojo Wall at Headquarters

Collected again at 5.00 p.m by Yamashiro san for more training at the headquarters which lasted about an hour. Back to hotel and collected by Higa san and taken to an official party to celebrate the tournament. Sat at table with Tomoyose san, Inada san, Takamiyagi san, Higa san and Machida san. Received a Takamiyagi Dojo t shirt and made another speech in which I complimented again the tournaments participants and winners.



Tuesday 31st August 2010

Collected by Yamashiro san from hotel at 10.00 a.m. and taken to HQ. Inada san was also there. Finish about 12.00 p.m.. Takamiyagi san phoned headquarters and said he would take us to lunch. He said he would collect me that evening and take me to his dojo, despite a typhoon on it's way. I wondered whether he would be able to due to the adverse weather conditions. However that didn't stop him, he arrived in the midst of the storm and he drove us the couple of miles to his dojo regardless.

During the training we heard what appeared to be tapping on the window. Takamiyagi san opened the window and received a lashing of the rain and wind, then promptly closed the window. I suggested to him that it may have been a tree branch being blown against the window. The tapping continued and Takamiyagi san said that he would go to the front door of the dojo to see if anyone was there. When he opened the door, it was Toshio Higa san, very wet and windswept. He had been waiting outside in the storm for some time. Both put me through my paces. There were just the three of us, with the wind howling and the rain beating on the windows. It all seems surreal. Takamiyagi san gave me two books on the Association members around the world and containing valuable training information. Takamiyagi san said that he had to go on a trip and was sorry that he would miss my grading exam. He wished me success and we said good-bye.


Inside Headquarters


Wednesday 1st September 2010

Collected at 9.30 a.m. by Inada san. Train at headquarters with him and Yamashiro san. Go to restuarant for lunch. Inada san took me back to hotel. Afternoon in spa at hotel and then take taxi to HQ for 7.00 p.m. start with Nakahodo san and Yamashiro san.


Spa at Hotel


Thursday 2nd September 2010

Collected by Kay at 10.00 a.m., student of Takamiyagi san and taken for day out to an aquairium in the north part of the island. Hatsuko Machida san kindly lent Kay the car for the trip. We collected Inada san on the way. Spectacular coastline drive, the sea was blue, green and turqoise, with little islands dotted here and there. The area is a popular with divers. Amazing Aquarium, we stopped on the way back to the hotel and Inada san bought lunch and then later we stopped again for some KFC.

Yamashiro san collected me at 7.50 p.m and we went to his dojo. Lots of makiwara training and classical music playing whilst training. Exercises include striking many times with the knuckles, elbows and shins a a striking post known as a makiwara, which was basically an upright piece of wood covered with a single layer of rope. The idea is to condition the striking areas of the body. Another exercise was kicking a sandbag, which was suspended on a low rail, with the tip of the big toe. After kicking the sandbag, it would swing forward and as it did so you would prepare to kick again on it's return. Their was also a heavily weighted bar bell, which is used in conjunction with the stepping and turning routine used in Sanchin Kata, similar to the exercise with the pots. After each step you would have to extend the arms into the down position and then pull up into the bent arm position. Scott Higa san, a friend of Yamashiro san arrived whilst training, then finished at about 10.00 p.m..Taken back to hotel by two of Yamashiro san's students.


Makiwara at the Headquarters Dojo


Friday 3rd September 2010

Collected by Inada san at 9.30 and went to headquarters for grading paractice. Yamashiro also there. Scott Higa arrived and did some training too. Finish at about 12.00 p.m. Yamashiro san said that Higa san would like to take us for lunch but I declined feeling the need to recover and prepare for the evening grading examination. Inada san took me back to the hotel. He said that he would collect me at 6.30.p.m. for practice then grading exam at 8.00 p.m..

The morning session had left me drained and I knew I had to recover for the evening, so I took a traditional Japanese massage, followed by sleep and a long soak in a deep, hot bath. I hadn't really eaten much and time was running short. I went to the little supermarket in the hotel lobby and bought two tubs of ice cream and two bottles of cola in a hope that it would give me the energy I needed. I consumed it all immediately I got back to the hotel room. I packed my bag making sure that I had a clean gi for the grading.

Inada san collected me at 6.30 p.m and took me to headquarters for a practice before the grading at 8.00 p.m. Kata, over and over again. Nakahodo san, Higa san Yamashiro san and Arakaki San arrived and set things up. Scott Higa san also arrived to watch. 8.00 p.m. I changed into the clean karate suit and hoped for the best. I had to perform the three Katas I had been practicing during the week, Sanchin, Seisan and San-Sei-Ryu. The new corrections had caused me some concern, as I was so proccupied with putting them into place that I had occassionally been missing out moves completely. I had previously been told that if I missed a move I would be marked accordingly and would not be given a chance to do things again.

We started with Sanchin Kata, so it was jacket off and I prepared for a severe test from Yamashiro san, As expected the test was hard, and included being stuck with force to the shoulders, arms, stomach and legs, needing good muscular control, correct breathing pattern and a strong stance. One blow from behind to my right calf, forced me to have to adjust the position of my feet, in order to regain my stance. Three Katas later the test was over. Fortunately it seemed that I had been able to put most things into place. I can't remember missing out any moves. I felt satisfied that I had done my best. The grading panel stood and lined up in front of their desk. I was called and stepped up in front of them. They then announced that I had passed. I made a short speech in Japanese again and the the certificate was presented to me and then we posed for some photographs. Inada san took me back to the hotel. Higa san drove back to the hotel as well where we had some more photos and then said good-bye. Then celebration in American Village next to hotel.


Paul proudly displaying his certificate with the grading panel, officials and students. Front row left to right, Hiroshi Inada, Hanshi 10th Dan, President Tsutomu Nakahodo, Hanshi 10th Dan, Paul Natzyl, Kyoshi 7th Dan, Toshio Higa, Hanshi 9th Dan and Hirokuni Yamashiro, Kyoshi 8th Dan. Back row form right to left, Takashi Arakaki, Kyoshi 8th Dan, Keicho Tobaru, Kyoshi 8th Dan, officials and students.


Saturday 4th September 2010

Checked out of hotel and was collected by Yamashiro san at 11.30 a.m. Taken to a fantastic Okinawan restuarant for lunch on the way to the airport. Then said good-bye.


View from hotel room across bay towards headquarters - where it all happened!

In my role as the President of the Okinawa Karate Association U.K., and as an instructor It's my resposibility to make sure that techniques are kept up to date and that standards are kept high. The tuition I have now received can be passed on to all of the instructors and students within our U.K. Association. Everyone will benefit from my visit to Japan, the memories of which I will keep for the rest of my life. Passing my exam and my experience in Okinawa has given me a great boost and I am delighted.

I would like to thank all those I met during my visit to Okinawa for their hospitality, generosity and kindness. I would like to thank in particular Ryuko Tomoyose, Hanshi 10th Dan, Hiroshi Inada, Hanshi 10th Dan, Shigeru Takmiyagi, Hanshi 10th Dan, Toshio Higa, Hanshi 9th Dan, President Tsutomu Nakahodo, Hanshi 10th Dan, Hirokuni Yamashiro, Kyoshi 8th Dan, Takashi Arakaki, Kyoshi 8th Dan, Soukei Machida, Kyoshi 7th Dan, Hatsuko Machida, Shihan 5th Dan, Yutaka Higa, Kay from Yamashiro san's dojo and Humiko Tsuchida.