Shihan Steve Arneil

• Kyokushinkai in Great Britain

  • Since the foundation of the British Karate Kyokushinkai in 1965 we have seen a steady progression in both size and ability of one of the most respected Karate Organisations in Britain. One major reason for this progression lies in the personality and drive of it's Chief Instructor Shihan Steve Arneil (8th Dan). His depth of knowledge and tireless efforts have developed the unity of the British Karate Kyokushinka.
    Shihan Arneil spent many years travelling the world, his journey culminating in Japan where he spent many years expanding his knowledge of the Martial Arts. He was also very instrumental in the British Karate scene in the 1970's where amongst other things he was coach of the successful British Squad that defeated Japan at the World Tournament.
    Kyokushin Karate started in London when Steve Arneil and Bob Boulton returned to Great Britain after four years of study at the Kyokushinkai Honbu in Tokyo. The first Kyokushinkai Dojo was the London Karate Kai and this club was soon to become the premier club of Great Britain. In 1965 they founded the British Karate Kyokushinkai.
    Within two years the British Karate Kyokushinkai had over 17 students who had qualified as British International Representatives. Steve Arneil became the British and English Team Manager/Coach and when the British Karate Team won the World Championship (the first country outside Japan to do so), he won the award for the World's Best Coach.
    The British Karate Kyokushinkai now has over 80 Dojos in Great Britain and in 1978 staged the largest Karate Tournament ever to be held in Great Britain at Wembley Stadium. Kyokushinkai is now known for its high standard of Knockdown Tournament fighting which is based on full contact. However, the British Karate Kyokushinkai also competes in Kata Tournaments, WUKO Tournaments and Clicker style Tournaments (which are a Kyokushinkai innovation).
    The British Karate Kyokushinkai is a founder member of the International Federation of Karate and through this organisation will continue to take part in world events with like minded Kyokushin Karateka.
    The British Karate Kyokushinkai is also a founder member of the English Karate Governing Body.
    The Grading Syllabus is one of the world's most comprehensive and is administered and controlled in Britain by a highly qualified Board of Examiners.

• What is Kyokushinkai?

  • Karate is both an art and philosophy, because each person has a different personality, this reflects itself in their interpretation. Therefore, karate masters founded their own schools, teaching their style or ryu.
    Kyokushinkai is the name given to our style.

• Meaning of Kyokushinkai.

  • KYOKU - means ultimate
  • SHIN - truth or reality
  • KAI - to meet, join, associate.
    It takes time to fully understand the meaning.

• The Kanku

  • The symbol of Kyokushinkai is the Kanku.
    The Kanku is derived from the Kanku Kata, sky gazing form. In this Kata the hands are raised to scan the sky and the symbol is formed . The points of the Kanku represent the fingers and imply the ultimates or peaks. The thick sections, represent the wrists and imply power. The centre represents infinity, implying depth. The whole Kanku is based and enclosed by a circle, representing continuity and circular action.

Kanku Symbol

• International Federation of Karate

  • The International Federation of Karate was established in 1992 by Shihan Steve Arneil and has branches through- out the world. Its purpose is to promote Karate on an international basis whilst still maintaining the individual countries own ideals, independence and philosophy. The International Federation=s badge has as its central symbol a rising wave. This symbol is taken from Saiha Kata. This wave symbolises the fact that no matter how great a task or problem before you B with determination and perseverance you can rise and overcome all obstacles.

Federation Badge

• The Route to Power in Karate.

  In order to generate applied power effectively, the student must understand the various steps of progressive development, explained briefly below:

  • Position
    The student should have a good theoretical and practical knowledge of the Karate stances and techniques.
  • Balance
    This is the means by which the student controls the actual body position of his or her body when it is both stationary and moving.
  • Co-ordination
    This is what enables the student to execute the various techniques with controlled balance in a given position.
  • Form
    The student can develop form by executing all the techniques with good position, balance and co-ordination.
  • Speed
    This is where the student increases the rhythm of performance without any loss of form.
  • Power
    Power is the strengthening of the techniques.
  • Reflex
    Having successfully understood and developed all the above steps, the student will reach a stage, through constant repetition, whereby the techniques become a natural movement.
  • Conclusion
    The student should not rush this learning process and should, as far as possible, establish and understand each individual movement.

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