Sensei Simon Thompson
3rd Dan |
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I started training in 1986 during my sixth form. As with so many other people, I first went along with a friend who was more interested than I was. We had been involved in a very large fight one night that we didn’t start, in which we hadn’t faired too well; so it was time to learn how to defend myself. At that time Aberystwyth karate club was training in the “Barn” centre. This was an old run down arts/dance building in the middle of town (now rebuilt as the job centre). It was dark, cold, the rain came through the roof and at the end of training you where left with bits of floor stuck in your feet. But there was something magically about this karate thing that made me return week after week. Anybody who had the pleasure of meeting Sensei Roger Sayce would know the energy and enthusiasm about karate that he distilled in you: who in their right mind would not go back?!
There are very few people from the barn centre days still training with the club. As far as I know there’s only Emma Rees, Cerin Rees, Johny Chung and myself.
A year after I started training, the DoJo moved to the gym on what is now old campus of Penweddig School. The club soon grew in numbers and this was the time when “the old crew”, as I like to think of them, were training. People like Emma Rees, Steven Humphries, Steven Southgate, Clive Davies, Darren Weaver, Johny Chung, Cerin Rees, Steven Thompson (my brother), Mathew Rogers, Rhiannon Rees (Emma and Cerins sister), to mention the few names that my memory allows. It was during this period that we all started training much harder and entered every available competition. These where good years, I enjoyed training with such good friends and was able to gain vast experience from training with such talented people.
My interest in karate had grown so fast that it now became all consuming. I started travelling with Sensei to everything I could, including KUGB AGM’s. It was during these trips that I was lucky enough to gain an insight into Sensei’s philosophy on life and karate. We soon became very good friends and I now look back, a little sad that did not ask all the questions I’d wanted too; I guess Sensei trusted me to try and work it out for myself.
My training had reached such a height that this time, I was training at least 5 to 6 times a week (everyday except Wednesday). This is probably the reason for not exactly passing my A levels!, well not revising is definitely the reason!. At this time I went for Welsh squad selection and was successful. This was definitely a defining time for me. Welsh squad in those days was a very tough experience. People like Sensei Tony Kiff and Sensei Kevin O’Neil where all training on the squad. Training sessions were more about survival than learning or improving and the squad was practically made up of the best south Wales clubs, who all trained for kumite all the time. So squad sessions were really about them trying out their kumite skills on the other clubs! At this time our club did hardly any kumite, we specialised in kata and although we were one of the best kata clubs in the country this did not help in squad training!
I went to Birmingham University to do a degree in Software Engineering. One of my biggest regrets in life was not joining the University club. I went along to watch when I started University but the standard, attitude and etiquette were poor, so I did not return after that one viewing. I returned every weekend to train with our club, only missing sessions to go to Welsh Squad or OTC weekends (TA Army Officer training). It was a year and a bit later that I started talking to this bloke in the bar about karate and he insisted that I come along to the university club and give it a go. I did and never looked back. It appeared that a few months after I’d been to check out the club, they’d chosen Sensei Sid Gordon as their instructor, who was instructor to Benson (one of the best clubs in Birmingham at the time). It’s fair to say that Sensei Gordon was insane, very funny and very good at karate. I soon joined the university squad and gained the nick name of “Inspector Gadget”, due to my ability to extend my arms into people’s faces. My training had now returned to 5-6 times a week and all was well with the world, plus the club had a very healthy social life.
I competed for the university in the British inter-universities championships, which involved inviting other universities to your dojo, beating them up and then going down the pub and out drinking them! Then other universities would do the same to you. After everybody had fought everybody else, the two top clubs would come together to compete for the top slot. We managed to get into the finals due to having one of the best all round teams. Unfortunately where beaten by half a point by London University, so we came 2nd. This in no way dampened our spirits, or the celebrations and in fact we all received “University Blues / University Colours” (University recognition of outstanding sporting achievement – in reality a free tie).
Upon my return to Aberystwyth after university I returned to full time training with the club. I started helping Sensei run the club behind the scenes and started teaching more and more.
I define this period as the “new crew”. We had clubs everywhere, from Cardigian to Aberaeron to Aberystwyth to Machynlleth to Towyn and out to Lampeter and Llanidloes.
We had regular squad sessions at Aberaeron and had a very strong competition squad, people from this era were Menna, Kelly, Liz, Yvonne, Duncan, Fergus, Phil Boughn Rhianedd James, Mike James, Phil Hughes and Andrew Jones, Euros Edwards, Kieren McDonald (now senior Dan grades, mere Kyu grades at the time). It is true that I used to teach Euros when he was no higher than a grasshopper, with only enough muscles to pick up his karate bag (Kieren was even smaller).
During these years I saw many changes in the club. But it’s fair to say that karate had started to take over my life, looking back now I think it started way before this. But now I decided that I would get a job in Aberystwyth, turning down job offers from bigger companies in order to stay with the club. I enjoyed being involved in the club, teaching and shaping the clubs future. Both Sensei and the club helped me through some hard times and have made me the person I am today.
In 2001 Sensei was taken ill suddenly, after returning from the children’s championships. He rang me on Monday morning and asked if I could teach the class that night. Later that day he was taken into hospital and unfortunately slipped into a coma. It was a shock to everybody. Sensei had asked that I take over for a while as he was going to take some time off as it can be very hard teaching everyday week after week. But no body expected this. Anybody who knew sensei would know that he was a strong and extremely healthy person who would never complain about anything. One of my favourite memories is of Wednesday mornings in Torbay, when Sensei would declare that he had to take photos and was annoyed to miss training, obviously it was not that he was tired and sore like everybody else, hell no, he was super human, its just one has a duty to take photos you know! Mmmm……
Sensei unfortunately passed away July 2001. This event obviously devastated the club and all the seniors where hit very hard by this untimely loss. The part of my life that I am most proud of is that I was able to pull the club together and help it move forwards. A few years previously, after a health scare Sensei had made me promise to do what I could for his family and continue the club as he had for the last decade and to maintain the spirit of Tekki.
It is this vow that has shaped my life over the past few years. Despite having to move away soon after sensei’s death, I continue to be fully focused on the club and willing to make any personal sacrifice in order to continue the club as it should be run. It is fair to say that the club has changed a lot over the last few years, but as I look back over the time I realise that since I’ve been with the club I’ve seen cycles of changes like this before.
Getting married last year to Rhianedd was a very big event I’m lucky to find somebody so compatible. It was a fantastic day thanks to everybody who came.
It truly is a joy to be at the head of this club. I think we have some of the nicest people in the world training with us. I am in the privileged position to have seen virtually everybody that has trained with Tekki develop from a white belt, into the fine karateka that they are today. One of the best things about seeing people train over time is to see the developments and the personal barriers that they overcome, not everybody can be Frank Brennan but everybody can gain so much from training and maybe only they know the full extent of what they have gained. I hope Sensei remains proud of his club and I’m sure that he approves of the decisions I have made for the club over the last few years.
As a white belt I read from authors such as Funakoshi that “Karate is a way of life”. At the time I never understood this, I agreed with it but never understood what that statement really meant. Taking a step back and looking at myself, it’s obvious that karate is my life. The impact of karate on my life is huge. When ever people ask what I’m doing at a weekend, I have to consult the completely full Tekki calendar to see if I’m available. It’s not until people try driving up to Aberystwyth every weekend, teaching four sessions, leaving only Saturday late afternoon & evening for your own relaxation, plus going to every competition and training course regardless of its location in the country, – its only then that you realise that Karate has become my life. I’ve got to thank my wife for being so understanding, that’s why you should only marry a Dan grade!!!
Thank you for taking the time to read my profile.
Here’s looking forward to the next 20 years……………………..
Sensei Simon Thompson, May 2004