"7" JSKA-GB / BSK Instructors' receive

Recognition from Japan

Words and Pictures by A Davy BSK/JSKA-GB

Towards the end of February 2007 I took a trip to Japan, I suppose its one of these palaces that all serious practisers of any Japanese martial art would one day  hope to go to. Well I was so fortunate that a very good friend asked if I would like to join him on a trip that was not only to prove a fantastic place to visit but also one that as long as I shall live will forever be remembered. Remembered not only for the sheer difference in culture but one that I can say I met and was taken to places in Japan that your "average Tourist" would never see, And with a master whom pretty much all serious Shotokan Karateka on the planet have heard of!! Yes none other than Shihan Keigo Abe !!

    Where do i begin ???  well back in September 06 I was asked to join a long time friend Mr Chris Smalley on a trip to Japan on  business (well for Chris any way) so being the type of person i am i couldn't refuse and in a heart beat said "err well ok go on then" . On arranging said Business trip i quickly informed sensei Gidley of where and when i was going, with great Delight Sensei wished me all the best for the trip and that was that, so as the weeks and months passed sensei Gidley asked me to do a small favour  to which i obviously agreed. so the quest was set!!!!

The Quest

      well it goes something like this :- 

CG" Hi Tony how's thing with the planning of your trip to Japan?"

TD "Ok thanks sensei and your self?"

CG " Well ok Tony but i wonder if you could do a little favour while you are in Japan???"

TD " Yeh Corse what is it just ask ill see what i can do while im there"

CG " Well as you know we have been having slight difficulty in pinning Shihan Abe to one place to ratify some of the association seniors"

TD "Ok ?"

CG "I was wondering if you could make contact with Abe sensei ?"

TD " ok ill see what i can do "

so there it was the quest to locate Abe sensei

       So on arriving in Japan i was armed with a phone number and an address in Itchikawa City to locate sensei , after several un answered calls i thought well ill try and find the address in  A-Z of Japan!!!!!!. how wrong was i to think i could understand the book. Eventually with lots of help and a relatively good translator i managed to locate said sensei.  using my new found best Japanese friend i asked him to ring for me to arrange to meet ASAP, to which after 3 or 4 more call's we eventually got through .

      Our rather broken English / Japanese conversation led to him asking me to meet him at the north side line in Itchikawa City train station. If any of u have been on any of the under grounds in Japan, then u will undoubtedly know how efficient clean and damn right difficult to understand they are. anyway, once i had sussed out that i was only 20 or 30 stops away id set off early and be in plenty of time to meet Abe sensei. Unfortunately i set of in RUSH HOUR!!!!!! i have never seen so many people get on or off the tube trains EVER!!!! it was a mass of bodies but so so well organised left for up stairs right for down enter from the left to get on trains exit on the right , amazing to watch (not like the London underground!!). After my 1st train exchange from the underground to the outside JR line i was well on the way, heading on the Express line to Itchikawa city . in what seemed like only 5 minutes we were pulling up at the station , i took a look at the time and realised i had been travelling for over an hour and a half !! but fortunately i was 25 mins early (amazingly efficient Japan's trains ) so after ringing Abe Sensei i waited in a spotless Cafe drinking Tea,

TO BE Continued