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Graham Hopkins 4th Dan Wado Ryu -
Aldershot club instructor |
Interview conducted in a pub somewhere in Southern England
in late Summer 2008. Written by John Kemsley (Netweaver)
Q - When did you
first start Karate?
A - In the Autumn of 1975 when I found a club
which was in the then UKKW. (United Kingdom Karate Do Wadokai) I
had just stopped playing rugby, after some 20 years in the
sport, and was therefore looking for something physical to
replace it. Although I enjoyed playing squash and tennis they
did not really meet that need. Then I came across an advert for
a beginner’s course in Karate which was to take place in the
"Peter Driver Sport’s Centre" in Fleet, Hampshire. I remember
there were around 30 of us at the first lesson, which was being
taken by a charismatic and highly talented Karate-ka, called
Mick Robbins. Such is the way of Martial Arts that I recall
that there were only two of us left at the end of six months,
myself and a Solicitor. One year on and there was only myself
that was left
 still training! Anyway, I carried on and I’ve not
really stopped since.
Q - So what did you
like about the training back then?
A.
A - That's such a good question, as some of the training
in the 70s was really tough and often done with exercises that
today are regarded as dangerous! For example, doing basics with
a partner sitting on your shoulders, was to say the least, a
little uncomfortable”. But we survived, although it is
understandable why so many students did not continue to train.
As a beginner it would have been very hard to understand why
this should have been so. The following Tibetan quote I think
explains the rational behind such training very well.
"The iron ore thinks itself senselessly torchered in the blast
furnace, but the tempered steel looks back and knows better"
Now after so many years there is still a
great feeling in trying to improve your movement and technique
and looking for new applications hidden in Kata. They say that
when you become a green belt you think you know everything, on
reaching brown belt you start to have doubts but as a black belt
you realise just how much there is to learn. But it is the
learning that is the fun. What I find that's really good is
coming home from work tired, yet dragging myself to
training and then coming away completely energised. It works
every time!
Q.
Q - Who have been your instructors over the last 30
odd years?
A - I have been very fortunate with all the
instructors I've been fortunate to train under. As I mentioned
earlier, my first teacher was Mick Robbins who sadly died
in his early 30s, but sowed the seed for my enthusiasm. Then
there was Sensei Bill Bishop, a remarkable man who survived
Dunkirk, North Africa and Italy during World War Two and then
taking up Karate in his fifties. Bill made sure we learnt the
syllabus really well and was an inspiration to us all. I then
trained with his son Dave, a very innovative instructor whose
basics were never boring, shattering yes, but never boring! My
senior Instructor Sensei Shiomitsu Hanshi, has been the biggest
influence on my Karate. He is never satisfied and yet he
continues to try and improve himself and that is a first class
and excellent example for us all.
Q.
Q - Have you taken part in competitions?
A.
A - I had a torn retina
in1980 and that really put paid to any Kumite competition if I'm
honest, although I was probably past my sell by date in that
when I actually first started Karate! Sensei Shiomitsu kindly
brought me a full face mask from Japan so I could at least spar
in the club and at all of my gradings. I had entered some kata
competitions over the years with a little success. However in
2005, I was training hard for my 4th Dan and as part
of that preparation I entered the annual Army Martial Arts
competition and won the senior kata by a whisker. This gave me
the enthusiasm to enter more competitions and my luck held in
the veterans’ kata competition in the
Super-games in New Zealand and the weapons
kata in the Inter-service competition all in the same year. So
for me it was a year to remember and I think a message for all
that it is never to late to compete and try to better yourself.
Q.
Q - Have you ever trained in any other martial art?
A.
A - Yes, when I had my injury,
I had to take a couple of years out from Karate and I was
desperate to maintain some contact with the martial arts, so I
trained in Iaido. In those days there were no kyu grades, so
once you had reached the appropriate level you went on to take
your Dan grade exam, provided a Japanese Master was in the
country. I remember taking mine in the West Country, following a
long weekend course. The exam taught me a lesson that I will
never forget and one that my students are probably sick of me
passing on to them! The grading involved us going on to the dojo
floor in groups of 3 and after bowing on, performing a series
of moves in front of the examiner. It seemed to go ok until we
came to bow off. As I lay my iaito ( practice sword ) down in
front of me, out of the corner of my eye I saw that the other
two students had their swords facing in the opposite direction,
so as formally as I could, I turned mine around to face the same
way as theirs. How wrong can you be?!! My instructor, Sensei Len
Bean, pinned me to the wall after the grading and told me that
my sword had been in the right position in the first place all
along and that I had turned a pass into a fail! So the message
was that you should learn by and trust your own hand, not
others.
Q - That was a hard
lesson. Have you ever trained in anything else?
A - Oh yes, in 1999 I spent a year doing Tai
Chi, as well as Karate and learnt the short form, which I still
find a great way to relax. Also within the Army martial arts
association, we have a one week training course each year, where
we have the opportunity to experience other martial arts
including Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Jujutsu, Judo and karate, all
with high level guest instructors. After 1999, we introduced a
beginners week in Kendo, which is now also an annual event. This
event caused some excitement and the Japanese ambassador came to
the first course, as did the British Kendo team. It was a such
great experience!
Q - What are your goals
as an instructor?
A - There are two key points. I'm always
trying to engender an enthusiasm for the art of Wado karate with
everyone that I teach. I work on the principle that
because without any enthusiasm within a student, you won’t be
able to get the technical aspects of the art over and this is
the second key point. So enthusiasm and trying to break down the
movements so the students understand what they are trying to
achieve on a technical basis.
Q - As instructor, what
do you most difficult challenge?
A - I'm lucky that I teach karate, but before
this, I was also an Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) tennis
coach. After qualifying with the LTA, I then went on courses at
places like Bisham Abbey, where they gave us so insight in how
to teach correctly and I learnt so many fun drills, which help
to keep people interested. They also showed us psychological
techniques, so that you are able to help every individual. So I
think the challenge is really trying to get the most out of
every student. I have to say I'm very lucky, because my
instructors in the old days sometimes left me to teach at a
moments notice and therefore you had to on you r feet. Whilst
really difficult, it made you think and adapt and has been
really useful in the long term. It's still relevant now,
especially as you don’t know any class mix from week to week.
Therefore it's so difficult to stimulate everyone, when you have
beginners and brown belts in same the class, but that's the
challenge!
Q - What's the thing you find most
difficult as student?
A – I guess I will have to say it is because
karate is not seasonal, like football or cricket and everyone
has periods of being less enthusiastic than at other times.
Therefore I find keeping my constant motivation to teaching and
training the hardest thing.
Q - What's your
favourite kata?
A - It consistently changes. My current
favourite is Bassai, although it varies throughout any point
during the year.
Q - What have been your best achievements
in the Martial Arts?
A -
Well, I was the founder chairman of and am now president of the
Army Martial Arts Association. I am also the founder chairman of
the Combat Services Martial Arts Association, both of which have
been very successful. I am also the Wado Academy's doctor which
reflects my occupation in the armed forces is as a consultant
Rheumatologist. I have been really lucky to be able to treat
many famous sportsmen in their rehabilitation over the years.
I'm also fortunate to be able to run courses on first aid and
martial art injuries, which always helps others.
Q - Who else’s karate
technique or spirit do you admire?
A – Sensei Arthur Meek was without doubt one
of the cleanest technical fighters I’ve ever seen. Nikki
Hawker on the female side, who represented the full GB team in
both kata and fighting was very similar. For courage, combined
with technical ability, I'd have to say Craig Hadley, who is now
captain of the Army karate team. I recall having a seminar many
years ago with Ticky Donovan OBE, who was just unique and
taught us all on another level. Of course more recently, I've
had the privilege of training at Haslemere with Wayne Otto OBE
and he is equally as inspirational.
Q - What do you
think are the best things for training?
A -
Well, a top instructor, a good partner and a
mirror. You have to know that repetition is important, but so
variety is equally important.
Q - Who would you like
to train with, that you haven’t already?
 A - I know that although I was training at
the time, I wish I had taken the opportunity to train with
Grandmaster Ohtsuka 1st before he died. Other than
that, to be honest, I’ve been so lucky to train with so many top
instructors, such as Terry Pottage, Sensei Kobayashi and
Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki. I therefore think that I've already
trained with pretty much anyone I could have wished to. I’ve
been been very fortunate to have trained under who I have done
over the years. I couldn't have asked for better instructors.
Q - Who do you
admire outside of karate?
A – Aha, an easy question! It is Nelson
Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev or the Dali Lama.
The
Dali Lama, because he’s always smiling, which
brings me back to my earlier point!
Mikhail Gorbachev because he instigated, or
helped instigate, the end of the cold war, at great personal
risk to himself I think.
Nelson Mandela is a man who shows to all of
us, you can go though hell without becoming vindictive and
bitter.
Q - So what do in spare
time?
A – Well, I have played the guitar over
last 20-30 years, but have only just started lessons, which has
re-stimulated my interest in playing.
Q - So you have
ambitions to play in front of big audience?!
A –No, you must be joking! It’s for my
pleasure only and I wouldn't wish for anyone else to have to
suffer what my family do!
Q – What’s your motto
in life?
A – Another good question! I guess it's "Keep
smiling whatever happens", because it’s infectious and people
smile back, which then makes you feel better. So just keep
smiling! In my job in the army rehabilitation clinics, I'm
continually working with some seriously injured soldiers, who
have come back from places like Iraq and Afghanistan. When you
work with these young men, who have serious injuries and limbs
missing and yet still always manage to look happy and smile,
then it makes my problems seem irrelevant. They are
inspirational people.
Ok, a few quick fire questions to end with.
Q - So, who are you
jealous of?!
A - I admit that I get a twinge of jealousy
with any young sportsman who I treat, who is just at the
beginning of their career. With my sports having been being
rugby and karate, it tends to be worse when they are future
stars of one of those t wo!
Q - Who is your favourite
entertainer?
A – It has to be Hayley Westenra (who?!)
– she’s a great singer and she reminds me of being in New
Zealand in 2005, when I was competing out
there.
Q – Who is your
favourite comedian?
A – Well, fairly obviously, anyone who makes
me laugh! So I'd have to say people like Jasper Carrot in his
prime, or Billy Connelly.
Q – Your favourite
food?
A – It varies with my mood. Ok, let's be
honest, it's chocolate!!!
Q - What's you
favourite holiday destination?
A – I guess it would be Alberta in Canada .
I've been there twice and loved every second of it.
Thank you for your time!
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