HALL OF FAME


J


oe Ellis is one of the martial arts’ big movers and shakers and the Chair of NAKMAS. He is also a practising 6th


dan martial artist and instructor, specialising in the Tsuyoi Karate system. MAI recently met up with Joe for a chat...


Bob Sykes: Just for the read- ers, Joe, would you please tell me a little about your martial arts background? Joe Ellis: I first started Kyokushinkai Karate under Steve Arneil’s British Karate Kyokushinkai in 1977 and in the days of low regulation and safety control. My main instructors in the early years of my Karate were Pat Meacher, now sadly deceased, and Bernard Creton, now 8th Dan who was the regional branch chief for the BKK.


Due to politics, Bernard Creton and Brian Dowler, who was then the BKK Chairman, split and formed the British Karate Jutsu Renmei and, by default, I went in that direction but returned to the BKK sometime later while, at the same time, unknown to my Kyokushinkai and Jutsu Renmei colleagues, I was training heavily at the Queen Mother Sports Centre in London within Shotokan Karate under Charles Mack. After some soul searching following the politics in Kyokushin, Jutsu Renmei and Shotokan, I returned to my original roots where I am today - Tsuyoi Karate, a Kyokushinkai based system where I have included some Shotokan concepts.


The Tsuyoi system was initially developed by Gerry Bryan - now, I believe, a 9th Dan. I dismissed his training some years ago for various reasons and, although I respect him, I do not agree with his training methods.


26 / martial arts illustrated


Last month, we didn’t have space to feature our Hall of Fame interview... So this month, we have two! First up is Joe Ellis, head of NAKMAS...


I also trained within Ju Jitsu for many years and reached 1st Dan black belt level. I am also a 6th Dan in Karate.


What memories stand out when you cast your mind back to those early years?


The extremely hard and devastat- ing full contact Karate within Bernard Creton’s dojo - blood, sweat and tears was the norm.


In those days, the British Karate Con- trol Commission and later the Martial Arts Commission became influential in the governance of Karate and martial arts - but safety in the early days of the MAC took back seat and they only developed sound policies some years later. Too late for me… those early days of heavy kicking and punch- ing on an unprotected body caused kidney disease which does cause problems from time to time.


Many are aware that the martial arts can, at times, be a politi- cal mine-field - what was it that inspired you to set up your own association? Well, not many people are aware of it, but the present NAKMAS body was not set up purely by me! I would love to take the credit for it, but I am a co-founder. The first body was TABKO - The All British Karate Organisation and much later NAKMAS. Equality and fairness to all and respect for the grass roots of martial arts were instrumental at the formation and development of NAKMAS.


The MAC and later the English Karate Governing Body (EKGB) were, in ef- fect, private member clubs. If your face fitted, you were in and if it did not fit you were out. They kept me out and some years later I became the Presi- dent and Chair to Karate England, so hard work and persistence really does pay off, much to the pure unhappiness of my political enemies!


Looking at the overall picture, how do you view the political landscape regarding Karate in general?


Karate is made up of over 85% chil- dren under 18 years, 3% elite perform- ers or athletes and the rest made up of adults. Karate specifically has no regard to children or those individu- als who are disabled or have special needs and that’s where NAKMAS and I come in. Karate and martial arts are fractured and the politicians of yesteryear are best kept in yesteryear. Let the younger Karateka have a say. I am sure that they will do a better job, given the chance and given a steady- ing hand if needed from time to time from the experienced martial artist.


These days, some people regard governing bodies as a thing of the past, not really necessary for today’s martial artist who may be more inclined to up sticks and go it alone. What would be your advice to not so radical an idea? Not a good idea and here’s why... If you really do have a well structured governing body that functions purely


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