Lessons from the world’s best

Nelson Mail. 20 June 2008

One of New Zealand’s premier karate masters has been a student for 34 years.

Nelson Seido karete instructor Andy Barber recently returned from the United States, where he was awarded his eighth dan black belt in Seido karate. The promotion makes him one of only four people in the world to have achieved the status of Hanshi.

Barber was summoned to New York to take part in an intensive training programme with the founder of Seido, Kaicho Nakamura. He travelled to an upstate monastery with Charles Martin and Christchurch-based Renzie Hanham, now both eighth dans.

“We went through the entire syllabus from white belt all the way through to the end, so we all wore white belts and went back to being students. It was a pretty humbling experience” Barber said. The three also discussed what they saw as the future of karate. barber said it was agreed that what passes as martial arts these days is to be passionately avoided.

“People bouncing around in leotards and moving like robots to music is not karate. The future of karate is in its tradition.”

The World Seido Karate Organisation was established by Nakamura in 1974 to return to karate’s traditional values. Seido means “sincere way” in Japanese and was created to develop complete individuals committed to improving themselves and their communities.

“All of a sudden, tournaments had become really important in proving how tough you were. Karate is not about that. It is about being available to all regardless of gender, race or age.” Barber said.

The promotion to Hanshi now means two of the four most senior Seido masters are based in New Zealand, a fact that does not change Barber’s outlook.

“As Kaicho Nakamura says, there is no graduation ceremony. You just have to keep on going and keep teaching. A hell of a lot of people have benefited and there is a hell of a lot more that can still benefit,” he said.

The benefits of gaining and maintaining fitness are many. Not only is the performance of internal organs, heart, lungs, circulation and breathing strengthened and enhanced, but the increased strength and endurance gained from regular exercise also increases energy levels and improves the general sense of well being.

Seido Karate is proven to be an excellent all round exercise. It also offers the student the opportunity to develop essential physical skills while engaged in the physical training programme.

One of New Zealand’s premier karate masters has been a student for 34 years.

Nelson Seido karete instructor Andy Barber recently returned from the United States, where he was awarded his eighth dan black belt in Seido karate. The promotion makes him one of only four people in the world to have achieved the status of Hanshi.

Barber was summoned to New York to take part in an intensive training programme with the founder of Seido, Kaicho Nakamura. He travelled to an upstate monastery with Charles Martin and Christchurch-based Renzie Hanham, now both eighth dans.