Very sad to announce the death of Mick's elder brother Sensie Gerry Grey on 31st May 2020. A much loved uncle and inspirational Karateka.

​Gerry leaves a fine legacy, but also a big gap  x

From the SKC England website July 4th 2019:

"The SKC England committee has awarded chairman, Sensei Gerry Grey 6th Dan in recognition of his tireless commitment and dedication to the development of the association. Sensei Gerry started training in 1973 and has helped administer both the KUGB and JKA England before becoming a founder member of SKC England.  We are honoured to have him as our chairman."

www.skcengland.co.uk

Karate camp at Club La Santa circa 1989

2 photo's from a public demo by The Queensway Shotokan Karate Club, Wellingborough (Late 70's)

Press cutting from November 1980

Author's note: The Queensway club ran a memorial trophy for many years in recognition of Maurice's karate. I recall Ronnie Baxter was the first recipient in 1981.

Press cutting from February 1979
Sensei Tomita at the Queensway Club grading

TRANSCRIPTION

Caption: Debbie Grey and Roger Ayres prepare to start their grading programme under the expert eye of Sensei Tomita 

Headline: Lucky thirteen 

Text: THIRTEEN proved a lucky number  for 21 members of the Queensway Shotokan Karate Club. 
For in the club's 13th grading session since their inception in January 1974, 21 Students were considered. 
And all were accepted. The latest successful entries  brought the total of grades awarded to  596 - ranging from 9th kyu or White belt to 1st kyu (brown and white belt.) As their name implies the Queensway club practises the Shotokan form of karate and are members of the Karate Union of Great Britain— the sport's largest Organisation outside Japan.  The club was tounded at  Queensway Hall  Wellingborough by second Dan Mike Grey, who runs sessions at  Wellingborough on Mondays and  Wednesdays and at Corby on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He is assisted by three other first  Dans. all of whom started with the  club as beginners. Judging Oueensway's latest grading  session was One of the Karate Union of Great Britain's three resident  Japanese instructors — fifth Dan  Sensei Tomita. Queensway were originally hoping  for the services of the Chief instructor of Great Britain and Europe, eighth Dan Master Enoeda, the comer all Japan and World Champion who has been resident in this country  since 1967. Enoeda, however. was unable to attend. although he would surely have been impressed by the progress of the Queensway students on show. Perhaps some of them will one day  enjoy the success of the British team of two years ago which, under the guidance of Enoeda, grabbed the title and became, in the process, the only national selection ever to  defeat Japan. Queensway encourage new members and anyone interested in joining should contact Mr Grey... 

Press cutting from January 1975
Sensei Enoeda presides over a weekend course at The Queensaway Shotokan Karate Club, Wellingborough

Many thanks to Sensei Gerry Grey for his recent post on the SKCEngland website...

Found a few still shots from the demo at The Archway Club Windsor mid-80's
​
[still working on the video with audio to capture the narrative - but also just to ring out the sound of the sledgehammer on slab]

Excerpts from John L. Anderson's 1974 photo shoot for "The Basic Forms of Shotokan Karate" book, showing Mick Grey perfectly performing a variety of Kumite techniques.

A portrait of Sensei Mick Grey 5th Dan in his early days, circa 1974

10th of May 1974  Mick Grey and Mick Dewey take their Nidan grade
​
Grading Senseis Shirai, Enoeda, Kon, Kato and Tomita

Mick Grey scores Ippon / KUGB Championships 1974.

Mick's KUGB Licence including Sensei Enoeda's 4th Dan registration.

空手
​1st July 1970

GICHIN FUNOKOSHI (First edition 1974 Ward Lock)

Author's note: Thank you Lee, although I know not who you were. This book was Mick's most important reference and this copy has been one of my few ever-present possessions for the last 25 years (page 234 continues to amuse, inspire and illuminate).

A few shots of the Dojo at The Archway Club, 3 Goswell Hill. Windsor. Mid 80's

Spring 2017 Windsor
​Mick's grandchildren Maya (5) and Bali (8) have started training at The Fifield Dojo under Sensei Debbie Richards. #GoodKarate

Note: Mick Grey's brother Gerry is Chairman of Shotokan Karate Centres England (SKCE) and has been a champion of Karate-Do since the early 1970's...

​"My introduction to Shotokan Karate was in the early 1970’s through my late younger brother Mike Grey who was at the time a Shodan. My very successful football career was unfortunately, or fortunately with benefit of hindsight, ended by a serious spinal injury forcing early retirement at the age of 30. Mike who was running the successful Slough area clubs decided in 1973 to relocate to Kettering near me and established clubs in Wellingborough and Kettering. I joined him at training ‘just to help me keep fit’ but I quickly realised the potential karate training offered especially for the over 30’s. The Wellingborough Club which I took over a few years later is still operating to this day which makes me very proud.

​In the mid 70’s after a brief encounter with competitions, there were no categories in those days for veterans, I found myself appointed to the KUGB national executive, as their Press and Public Relations Officer and it opened up opportunities for me dealing with the media of the day and to help improve the general public awareness of the concept that karate was not just fighting but required great skill and ability to perform at the highest level. During the 70’s and 80’s there were some great champions, who came through the KUGB system, which quite possibly will never be surpassed...

This period also gave me greater access to Enoeda Sensei, one of the all-time Shotokan greats and together endeavoured to improve the potential spectacle that could be created through producing good championships. During the next two decades I became responsible for directing KUGB’s national championships, three European championships and best of all the 1990 JKA world championships held here in the UK. I was enormously proud to be appointed as the Director of the World championships particular as it was a partnership between the JKA and KUGB.

I was immensely honoured when in 1981 I was invited by Enoeda Sensei to undertake a one to one interview of Nakayama Sensei during his visit to the UK, and, subsequently to be accorded similar opportunities with Sensei Kase, Enoeda and Shirai...."
​​
​Gerry Grey
SKCEngland.co.uk
SKCE is dedicated to traditional Shotokan Karate

Note: The author of this site was privileged to be present (as a fidgeting infant Karateka) at this interview with Sensei Masatoshi Nakayama, conducted by SKCE Chairman Gerry Grey, at Crystal Palace in 1981....

GERRY GREY: In May 1981 Sensei Nakayama visited this country along with the World Champions the Japan National Kumite Team. On the Thursday before the KUGB National Championships, Sensei Nakayama gave a special course at the Crystal Palace Sports Centre for which the support was so astonishing that just the black belts alone absolutely packed the vast main hall area. Before this course I was very honoured to be able to conduct a unique one to one interview the great man through special arrangements kindly made by the late Enoeda Sensei.

​The following are extracts of the original 1981 interview giving some of Professor Nakayama’s philosophy towards Karate with some slight changes in emphasis brought about by subsequent alternative philosophy that we now adopt.

GG: Sensei you have now been Chief Instructor for the JKA for about 25 years and travelled all over the world. What would you say has been the most noticeable improvement in Karate and what has been the most disappointing ?

MN: The greatest improvement is the worldwide support I have received, including that from Enoeda Sensei and his British and European students has been most helpful towards world Karate expansion. My two worries are:-

• A lot of people adopt only one style of fighting and there is not enough competition with other styles of fighting to learn some of their ways.
• To judge the winner or loser of a competition now requires greater skills because it has become more difficult to be able to judge the subtle difference between competitors with their improved techniques and skills.

 
GG: Sensei, the sports media are of the opinion that there are already too many Olympic sports. Do you think Karate will ever achieve Olympic status ?

MN: If we could join the Olympics we would be happy and we must all therefore strive towards this.

GG: Sensei, is there a special message that you would give the British Instructors and Karateka ?

MN: Trust everyone according to Mr Enoeda’s way, examples and standards in all Karate can be learnt from him and this will ensure a good future for Karateka of Britain. Great Britain and other nations in Europe are very respectful towards him. Also it is now most important not just to ask JKA but to seek options and advice of all the organisations in Europe and the world to ensure the correct progress of expansion. Each organisation must help others in all ways.

GG: Sensei, for you what are the most important aspects of Karate ?

MN: It is important is to practice Kata, Kumite and Kihon (basics) equally and not to concentrate on just one. Without all three there is no Martial Art.

GG: Sensei, would Karate be better off without sports Kumite ?

MN: Sports Karate has now been going for about 25 years and I well remember many years ago when I decided to allow competition, people disagreed with me and many said that competitors would lose their spirit in order to get points, and lose control. There are important aims we must observe to keep Karate as a Martial Art:-

• Practice movements and physical exercise.
• Practice Martial Art as a means of self-defence.
• Competitors must exercise the full spirit of Karate without losing control.

 
GG: Sensei, what are the basic principles for Karateka to follow in their training?

MN: Concentrate on learning and improving your Kihon, Kata and Kumite. To develop any one of these without the others is to lose the true meaning of Karate.

GG: Sensei, in this violent world what would you say karate should teach young people because it is a Martial Art requiring great control ?

MN: Ultimate aim in the Art lies not in winning but to build the character of the individual and Karateka should never fight outside of training and competition.

Every day before performance or training we should chant and absorb;

‘Cultivate the spirit of perseverance, respect propriety, refrain from impetuous and violent behaviour’.

GG: Sensei, what are the basic principles to follow in learning Kata ?

MN: In Kata it is most important not to learn advanced Kata too quickly because the knowledge learnt from lower grade Kata’s will greatly help your performance of high grade Kata’s.

For example, first learn Bassai Dai for strength followed by Jitte for stance and balance. The two Kata’s will help you understand and perform Sochin.

GG: Sensei, what are your feelings regarding competition or sports Kumite ?

MN: It is important for Karateka to remember that correct sporting Karate spirit can never be achieved without first learning properly your Kihon, Kata and basic Kumite. Kihon will help you to improve your Karate techniques, Kata your flow of movement and combination of techniques and Kumite your timing and distance. Do not try sports Karate until you have trained sufficiently in these very important aspects of Karate.

From "INTERVIEWS WITH THE MASTERS", a series of interviews with some of the great masters of Shotokan Karate, conducted by SKCE Chairman, Gerry Grey.
http://www.skcengland.co.uk/about-2/interviews-with-the-masters/

The author of this site received this posthumous acknowledgement on Mick's behalf in late 1991. Unfortunately Andy Sherry wasn't available to sign... It has been a long standing intention to see this task completed!

UPDATE
12th September 2017
Mission complete!
Many thanks and much respect to Senseis' Bob Poynton and Andy Sherry for making it so.
​MG

An old photo from the archives. Location unknown circa 1974

"The Basic Forms of Shotokan Karate, The Heian Katas & Tekki Shodan"
By John L..Anderson with Mick Grey
First published in 1975 

Don't stray too far from the path, you might get lost.
KARATE AND STRESS CONTROL BY MICK GREY
KUGB 1988 Championship Programme

Mick Grey and John L.Anderson
​Karate & Oriental Arts magazine July/August 1975