Japanese Cultural and Martial Arts Academy since 1978
'a slice of traditional Japan in Australia.'
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A trip down memory lane... Stories connecting time and space and one another via individual mind, body and heart journeys.
Below are missives from students from the 20th century (80s and 90s mainly), to portray how Australia martial arts culture and Shinbukan specifically, were like.
Hean Siew
Back in 1987, at the ripe old age of 27, in between working, dining and drinking, I decided I needed to get fit again. I was always interested in martial arts and having practiced a bit of TaeKwonDo during my early school years, I thought it may be worthwhile resurrecting my martial arts training. I did my due diligence on a number of martial arts dojos. I ultimately settled on Saito Soke's dojo in St Leonards (before it relocated to Lane Cove), not just because it was close to where I lived in Lane Cove but that I liked what I saw the karatekas were taught karate in a traditional manner that was balanced with an appropriate level of physical fitness training. Over the course of the next two decades, I not only studied karate with Sensei (Saito Soke has always and will always remain my Sensei...) but also how to wield traditional Japanese weapons: Katana, Sai, Jo and Bo. I learnt a lot from Sensei and his senior students (there are too many to name and as much as I hate to say it, my memory fails me!) - fighting techniques - humility and mental toughness - and for that, I will always be grateful. One of my prouder moments was when I achieved my Shodan (1st degree black belt)... only to be told by Sensei that it simply marks the beginning of my karate journey! In 2006, a change in my work circumstances upended my work/life balance: I could not fit in with dojo schedules and I had to take a self-enforced break from training. That short break turned out to be a bit longer than expected, resulting in an extended period of absence from the dojo. But walking past from Karate and Shinbukan was not really an option for me and I have since resumed training at Lane Cove (albeit a bit more sporadic than regularly as of late). Some things have changed in the dojo since when I first signed on with Sensei; the training is still familiar and much remains similar. Saito Soke, Harrison and the other instructors continue to impress traditional karate values on the karatekas as well as emphasising physical fitness and mental strength. And of course, the dojo's ethos will never change: strive and challenge to improve oneself. I am so privileged to have trained with and be guided by Saito Soke; Karate and Shinbukan will always be a part of my life. Hean 6th Dan, Saito-Ha Gojuryu Karate Do
Eric Hong
Training under Sensei was, in many respects, an initiation into a more profound understanding of martial arts - one that transcended mere technique and weaponry. We engaged extensively in weapons practice, not simply as a ritualistic form, but as a living, evolving discipline. Sensei frequently improvised upon traditional kata, transforming each session into an exploration rather than a recitation. This included not only the movements of kata but also the practice of 試斬 (pressure testing) - a direct and uncompromising encounter with the blade's potential. One vivid memory remains etched in my mind: during a visit to Sydney by several esteemed Japanese Iaido masters, they arrived bearing elegant, high-quality katana- blades that were as much art as weapon. In stark contrast, I had with me a cheap Spanish display sword, purchased from a military surplus store in Parramatta. It was, by all objective standards, wholly unremarkable. Yet when it came time to cut, I performed surprisingly well. The blade, inadequate in craftsmanship, still moved cleanly through the target. Sensei observed quietly, then affirmed something that struck me with revelatory force: the effectiveness of the cut lay not in the sword's price or refinement, nor in the wielder's brute strength, but in the timing and angle of the motion. This principle - at once simple and profound - dislodged many of my prior assumptions about martial discipline. Sensei's words reverberated through all my subsequent interpretations of martial arts. They suggested a universal principle: that form without understanding is empty, and that the essence of mastery lies in subtlety, not spectacle. Whether in cutting, in movement, or in life, precision of intention surpasses the force of exertion. From that moment onward, I ceased to pursue the aesthetic of power, and began to seek its inner geometry. In that single confirmation, Sensei imparted not just a lesson in technique, but a philosophical axiom - one that continues to guide my path.
Navin Zabeti
A Memoir of what I have learned from Shinbukan - Martial arts has been one of the greatest investments of my life. When I first set foot into the Lane Cove dojo at the age of 13, little did I know that I would be committing my life to this training for the next 13+ years. Other than the typical benefits most people think that it would provide, the lessons and training that I received here not only shaped my physical health, but also created rare and uncommon characteristic traits that have shaped who I am today. I have learned much from many of the senior instructors here at Shinbukan, but there are a couple whom have changed my life in ways I could never have foreseen. I personally owe a lot to both Sensei Jai Knight and Soke William Kazuo Saito. After being diagnosed with a rare and potentially debilitating condition, I was told by may specialists, doctors and even my parents, that it was necessary for me to quit martial arts training and to resign myself to more "academic pursuits" that wouldn't require much demand from my physical body. This was very difficult for me to accept as I had grown to love this pursuit of martial arts. My specialist at the time said that I would have to get reparative surgery to fix the issue. After bringing the situation to Sensei Saito, I still vividly remember his words to this day. "Don't do surgery, meet me in park on Sunday 6:30am... I will fix it." I was initially doubtful but decided to proceed with Sensei's guidance. The following months were filled with Sensei Saito's renowned 'park training' alongside weekly dojo training. The training provided me an avenue to not only physically express my internal frustrations through something beneficial and productive, but also served as the benchmark for hardship in my life at a young age that I would use as fuel for future challenges in life and still use to this day. I opted not to do the surgery and followed Sensei Saito's training and guidance for the next couple months. Months later, the doctors were astonished at the improvement. "Whatever you're doing, just keep doing it," one doctor mentioned after looking at my scans. At a time in my life where I almost gave up my journey and gave in, I was shown an alternative path through martial arts alongside expert guidance and with it, a profound lesson that I will carry for the rest of my life. I struggle to see any other realm in life through which authentic dedication can provide the exact combination of benefits in this day and age. To dedicate yourself to an art that culminates discipline, respect, character, traditions as well as physical prowess and health all in one, is difficult to find. A.I. and advancements in technology, bring great benefit to us as a race, but also comes with great disadvantages. Every rose has it's thorn. With more distractions like social media and A.I. technology, there is no better time than to develop the characteristic traits and skills that are becoming more and more scarce not only in our current generation, but for the future generations to come. I shall leave you with a quote from the movie 'the Last Samurai' (2003). "The way of the Samurai is not necessary anymore..." "Necessary?...... What could be more necessary?....."
Daniel Ngan
Training under Soke for more than a decade, both in the dojo and as a private student, has been a journey defined by discipline, effort and dedication. On entering Soke's dojo, you immediately feel the weight of lineage and the depth of the legacy he carries. Soke doesn't simply teach techniques - he transmits their essence, distilled through a lifetime of immersion in the art. His commitment to preserving the spirit of karate, connects us directly to his teachers and to the teachers before them. Soke maintains the principles of traditional training, so there are no shortcuts - only honest practise and raw physical conditioning. We continually repeat our kihon, kata and kumite because he understands that true depth is achieved by mastering the basics. What sets Soke apart is the knowledge he brings to every aspect of his teaching. His understanding of karate is so nuanced yet he expresses it with quiet simplicity; his skill is so internalised that it is effortless. As his student, only your genuine effort will do, and even then, the bar raises. Because while we stumble on the next stone, he sees the entire path ahead. The most important lesson he has taught me is that there is no destination to rush to. There is no shorter path. Only time, discipline and dedication sharpen the blade. Being his student is both a responsibility and honour, for which I am grateful.