KARATE ISSHINRYU IN EUROPE

The establishing of the European Isshinryu tradition started with Sensei Lars Andersen’s journey into the art of Karate back in 1981. The years prior to his Isshinryu training, he operated a Japanese style karate Dojo at the west coast of Denmark. He managed the task of being the Dojo leader as well as actively participating in tournaments in Denmark and Germany.

The first years of karate in Denmark were not really stylized, the main styles were; all-style karate, Budo karate, Shotokan, Kyokushinkai, etc. Everybody just did a mix of whatever was there. Lars Andersen got interested in Isshinryu through magazines, videotapes and such, but the main influence of interest was Jonni Jacobsen.

Jonni Jacobsen, another Dane, who had lived in the states, had been taught Isshinryu under the tutelage of Sensei Terry Creamer. During Jonni Jacobsen’s two year stay in the states, Sensei Creamer taught him the basics of Isshinryu, this was back in 1986. After Jonni Jacobsen had returned to Denmark, he started to train with Lars Andersen.

Lars Andersen was introduced to Seisan Kata, Seiunchin Kata, Naihanchi Kata and Wansu kata. Shortly after this Jonni Jacobsen stopped doing Isshinryu.

In 1988 Lars Andersen traveled to New York City to find an Isshinryu instructor and to establish the first real contact with the Isshinryu community. He met Professor Edward Brown 6th dan Isshinryu, who was no help at all. But Lars Andersen had gotten in contact with Sensei Terry Creamer through Jonni Jacobsen. He made the necessary arrangements, and returned, in 1989, to the States for one month of training with Sensei Terry Creamer. At this visit he also met Sensei Nick Adler and Sensei Steve Young.

In 1992 Sensei Torben Nørby, who is a student of Lars Andersen, trained in Holland under Sensei Fred Van de Vijver 6th dan for 3 days. Lars Andersen also trained in Holland later the same year, and was promoted to Nidan by Sensei Fred Van de Vijver.

In 1994 Lars Andersen and a group of students returned to receive further tutelage from Sensei Terry Creamer 6th dan. They stayed there approximately a month, during the visit Creamer Sensei took them to several tournaments, where they did quite an effort with several good ratings.

Later the same year Stig Bredsgaard joined the Copenhagen Dojo. Stig Bredsgaard trained Isshinryu under Sensei Bob Sherman 6th dan in California, where he was staying for several years during the eighties. Stig Bredsgaard is now an assistant instructor in the Copenhagen Dojo.

In 1996 Lars Andersen visited Okinawa and had the privilege to personally study with Uechi Tsuyoshi Sensei, during his visit he also trained with Grandmaster Uezu. Lars Andersen also trained with Sensei Peter Carbone 8th dan while on Okinawa. Returning with lots of inspiration and ideas for the further development of the European Isshinryu tradition.

Two years later Lars Andersen invited two of his students, Mads Nørby and Peter Hansen, to join him on his forthcoming visit to Okinawa. This was in 1998; the visit lasted for 10 days in November. They stayed at Uezu Sensei's house and were trained by both Uezu Sensei and Uechi Sensei. Peter Hansen was promoted to Shodan while on Okinawa; this séance was done in Uechi Sensei’s Dojo containing every needed element of promotion.

Back row from right to left: Alexis Morales, Greg Gudson, Unknown (Fukuhara). Front row: Lars Andersen, Peter Carbone, Tsuyoshi Uechi, Katsui Fukuhara

During Lars Andersen’s 1997 visit to Creamer Sensei, he was promoted to 4th dan; he stayed there and trained a month prior to his promotion.

Fred Van de Vijver 6th dan of the Netherlands visited Denmark for a couple of days in 1993. He taught several fighting combinations and principles.

In 1997 Stig Bredsgaards Sensei; Bob Sherman 6th dan, honored Danish Isshinryu Association with his visit. He showed them his version of Isshinryu and explained his lineage in Isshinryu, very inspirational. Stig Bredsgaard was promoted to Shodan by Sensei Sherman.

In 1997 the second Danish Isshinryu Dojo was established, in Holstebro / Denmark by Mads Nørby.

The first time Sensei Terry Creamer visited Denmark was in 1998, for 2 weeks. The main influence of the European Isshinryu tradition comes from Creamer Sensei, so the Danes had very high expectations for his visit. Creamer sensei fulfilled these expectations in full, by showing excellent form, timing, speed, incredible power and charisma.

Both Mads Nørby and Claus S. Petersen were promoted to Nidan during the 1998 visit. In 1999 Lars Andersen, once again, visited Sensei Terry Creamer in St. Louis. Together they attended the Isshinryu Hall of Fame in Gatlinburg, TN.

Stig Bredsgaard visited Sensei Sherman in California in 1999, and was promoted to Nidan.

Sensei Terry Creamer was back in 2000 for his second visit, by maintaining progressiveness in his teaching, he continues to push and develop Isshinryu in Europe to a higher level.

In June 2000 Lars Andersen visited Romania in Eastern Europe. Here he was going to meet his long distance student Sensei Andrei Trandaf. Sensei Trandaf contacted the OIKKA - Europe about 2 - 3 years prior Lars Andersen’s visit. This all ended up with the formation of the Romania Isshinryu Karate association under the leadership of Sempai Andre Trandaf.

Seminarparticipants during Creamer senseis 2000 visit

In 2001 Sensei Lars Andersen visited Sensei Terry Creamer 6th dan and together they went to Isshinryu hall of Fame and the world Okinawa karate championships, here they met Sensei Tsuyoshi Uechi 8th dan from Okinawa.

In March 2002 the leadership of the Copenhagen Dojo was temporarily handed to Stig Bredsgaard 2nd dan, because sensei Lars Andersen went to Kosovo to work as a civilian Police officer in service of the United Nations (UN).

Just prior to sensei Lars Andersen envoy, he promoted Mads Nørby to 3rd dan.
Sempai Stig Bredsgaard established a new tradition within the Danish Isshinryu Karate Association during 2002 - namely the Tolstrup camp. Serving as an annual summer camp to the Danish Isshinryu karateka´s - with lots of sweat, training, inspiration and fun.

Sensei Lars Andersen regained the leadership march/April 2003 after his safe return from serving within the UN in Kosovo. Ending the season with the 2003 Tolstrup Camp. Just after the ending of the 2003 Tolstrup Camp Sempai Stig Bredsgaard set off towards the states to visit his old Sensei, Bob Sherman.

Sensei Lars Andersen, Once again, went to see Sensei Creamer in the States (St. Louis, MO). During this visit he showed good form and was promoted to 5th dan.

In November 2003 Peter Qwist and Daniel Okuno was promoted to the rank of 1st degree black belt.

During the fall of 2003 The Isshinryu Karateka´s in Romania had the pleasure of a seminar with Sensei Lars Andersen. Isshinryu in Romania showed good form and progress, their Sensei, Andrei Trandaf, was promoted to 3rd dan during this visit.

From right to left; Sensei Terry Creamer 6th dan, Sensei Tsuyoshi Uechi 8th dan Okinawa, Sensei Lars Andersen 5th dan

During Shihan Creamer´s 2004 visit to Denmark, Stig Bredsgaard was promoted to the rank of 3rd degree black belt. At the same time Peter Castella Nielsen was promoted to the rank of 2nd degree black belt. Shihan Creamer gave seminars in Copenhagen, Elsinore and Holstebro. He stayed for a total of 20 days.

In 2006 Sensei Lars Andersen, while serving in Kosovo got in touch with Emin Osmani and David Pollock at the UN – Gym Grappling sessions. Sensei Emin Osmani had a background of more than 20 years in martial arts, such as Kick – boxing and Traditional Shotokan Karate and was in quest for furthering his knowledge in martial arts. He had his own gym and karate club and when introduced to Isshinryu karate by Sensei Andersen, got really excited and fascinated by the subtleness, practical approach and superb demonstration of Sensei Andersen. Unfortunately this event took place only one week before the end of Sensei Andersen’s mission in Kosovo. But prior to that, there were three trainings.

Sensei Andersen and Sensei Osmani (May 2006)

After that Sensei Osmani stayed in touch and asked for advices from Sensei Andersen.

In April 2008 Sensei Andersen got back in Kosovo with EULEX Mission, and started to teach Isshinryu karate, grappling and Kobudo to Emin Osmani, Andreas Mischkewitz and David Pollock. Trainings went really good and got shortly after got upgraded to instructors course. This course got internationally recognized by prominent Isshinryu Organizations throughout the world. On August 09th, 2008 Okinawa Isshinryu Karate Association was officially recognized by the European Okinawa Isshinryu Association.

Also on November 2008, Sensei Andreas and Sensei Emin got promoted to Nidan (Second Degree Black Belt) in Isshinryu Karate. The instructors’ course is still on, and its participants have the honor and golden opportunity to learn from a great teacher such as Sensei Lars Andersen.

The Patch of the Danish Isshinryu Karate Association	The Patch of the Kosova’s Okinawa Isshinryu Karate

The Kosova’s Okinawa Isshinryu Karate & Danish Isshinryu Karate Association (Dansk Isshinryu Karate Do Kai) use the Hidari Gomon Crest of the Ryukyu (Okinawan) royal family.

There are two stories of the crest. The first is that the Crest was adopted in order to mark the event, when the Northern, Central and Southern kings united to form one Kingdom.

The other story is about a man called Janne Eikata, who was a councilor to King Sho Nei-O. Janne was a strong supporter of Okinawa's strong cultural and trading ties with China. Therefore Janne refused to accept the treaty proposed by the Satsuma Clan

Because of that Janne was taken prisoner shipped to Kagoshima and sentenced to die by immersion into boiling oil. On the day of the execution Janne asked if he could be allowed to train a little Te (Karate).

After Janne had practiced for a short time he grabbed to Satsuma Samurais and took them with him as he plunged into the cauldron. The three bodies, stimulated by the movement of the boiling oil, floated on the surface and began to spin in a counter-clockwise direction, like an eddy in the shape of three large commas linked together.

To the people of Okinawa Janne Eikata symbolizes loyalty and courage.