zen shin birmingham, zenshin birmingham, shotokan birmingham, kids karate birmingham, kids kick boxing birmingham, karate west midlands, kick boxing west midlands, shotokan west midlands
Shihan John Richards :: Magazine Articles
Traditional Karate - Volume 1, Number 8 - January 1988
The force and form of John Richards Article by Dave Wakeling
page 1 of 5
Although I have known Sensei Richards for over seven years. I was lucky enough to have him as my bodyguard when I was touring. He used to escort me when I was doing interviews, so now the tables have turned! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this different approach to meeting one of the great gentlemen of Shotokan Karate.
D.W:Which other martial arts did you try before settling on Shotokan, and why did you choose that particular style?
J.R: Well, I tried Wado Ryu, kung fu, judo and Aikido, but Shotokan's dynamic power seemed to make the most sense to me, perhaps because I had come from a Boxing background. However, I'm glad that I tried the others, because it gave me a proper respect for those arts. It also gave me a better appreciation of some of their attributes - things like the snapping action of Wado or the yielding nature of Aikido - that can enhance some aspects of Shotokan.
D.W:When it comes to choosing a martial art, does it depend on your body type and temperament as to which one will suit you?
J.R: I believe that all martial arts are good, providing that you are prepared to work hard at them. However, sometimes some people can find it hard to make a certain style work for them, and then they move to something else and find that it just 'clicks.' This is why there are so many martial arts styles. It's because people are built differently. Having said that, I still think that application and dedication are more important than anything else. I believe that anyone can master any martial art if they are really determined to do it.
D.W:I've noticed that what started off centuries ago as life-or-death fighting arts have been modified so as to become international competitive sports. How has this shift affected the mental attitude of Karate?
J.R: I think that you have to have competition today. You have to remember that the time in which Karate was born were very different. It was a period in history in which it was essential to have a form of personal self-defence. I think that we live in rather less dangerous times now (if only slightly less dangerous!), and competition has replaced that constant threat as a reason for people to train hard and master their art. I think that people need that kind of motivation if they're going to work hard, as you need to in Karate.
Update news
Student Login
Improve Health
Black Belt Club
Shihan John Richards :: Magazine Articles
D.W: When it comes to choosing a martial art, does it depend on your body type and temperament as to which one will suit you?
