剛柔会 The late Leo Lipinski 8th Dan – Founder of the Karate Centre
1946 – 2018 Born in Durban, South Africa, he holds the grade of 8th Dan Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai and 7h Dan JKF Gojukai. He actively and extensively teaches and travels giving seminars internationally to spread Gojuryu Karatedo. To date he organizes and teaches seminars usually twice a year in various locations in Europe together with Japanese instructors as well as trains annually in Japan [since circa 1967 to date]. Teaches, independently, a minimum of 20 seminars annually in various countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Africa. See the following outline for his specific Biography / Curriculum Vitae:
1962 – Began training in Judo and Shotokan Karatedo in Durban, South Africa.
Early years of Karatedo training included a variety of Martial Arts from teachers he met on cargo and fishing boats from Japan, Okinawa and Korea.
1965 He continued his training in Cape Town while attending University studies also training with Japanese and Koreans he met in the Port and some Kyokushinkai training.
1965 – Began training in Shukokai (Shitoryu) Karatedo.
1966 – Opened a Dojo in Durban, South Africa which would later become one of the first Karate Clubs to teach “non-Whites” openly which was contrary to the Apartheid Laws of South Africa at that time.
1967 – Trained Gojuryu Karatedo in Hong Kong and thereafter in Kobe Japan with Chojiro Tani,8th Dan, head of Shukokai Karatedo.Shukokai was/is a form of Shitoryu Karate.
1968 – Began training under the direction of Gogen Yamaguchi in Zen Nippon Karatedo Gojukai (Gojuryu Karatedo) concurrently with Shukokai (Shitoryu) Karatedo and continued with Yamaguchi through-out the late 1960’s and 1970’s and much of the 1980’s.
1968 – Graded to 2nd Dan by Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi, Zen Nippon(All Japan) Karatedo Gojukai in Tokyo, Japan. Graded 2nd Dan in Shukokai by Tani Chojiro Hanshi. Was invited to stay in Kobe for 6 months to help Tani Sensei with his new textbook. Declined, informing him Gojuryu was his new path. Trained at the Kobe YMCA Shotokan (JKA). Met Egami Sensei, Shotokai in Tokyo.Egami Sensei was one of the original senior students of Funakoshi Sensei, the founder of Shotokan. Had private training with Egami Sensei.
1968 Winner of the Style National Kumite open division and 2nd place kata. (no all styles National competition until many years later.)
1968 to 1982 – Appointed as the First Representative for the All Japan Karatedo Gojukai in South Africa. Before leaving South Africa in 1976 he had built the All Japan Karatedo Gojukai South Africa to 2500 members.
1968 – Formerly resigned from the Shukokai Karatedo organization.
1968 – Met Shuji Tasaki Sensei whom at that time was a senior student of Gogen Yamaguchi.
1969 – Appointed Branch Representative for the All Japan Karate-do Gojukai in South Africa.
1970 – Obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Natal University, South Africa.
1970 – Appointed Chief Instructor South Africa, All Japan Karatedo Gojukai. Graded 3rd Dan by Gogen Yamaguchi. Grading was together with various Japanese students.
1973- In November Graded 4th Dan. The test-panel consisted of Yamaguchi Gogen, Tasaki Shuji, Yamaguchi Gosen, Yamaguchi Goshi and others. This 4th Dan was recognised by JKF GOJUKAI in 1987. Awarded Renshi and title of Shihan the same year, 1973. Trained in the Japan Karate-do College during a number of visits.
1973 – Trained at the Seiwakai Dojo of Shuji Tasaki Sensei in Oshiage in addition to the Yamaguchi Honbu in Suginami-ku.
1974 – Brought a group of 20 students to the Japan Headquarters. Trained in Oshiage with Tasaki Sensei.
1976 – Graded to 5th Dan by Gogen Yamaguchi under the All Japan Karatedo Gojukan.
1983 – Acquired Bachelor of Science from the S.A.M.R.A University in California.
1983 – Certified Acupuncturist in California USA.
1984 – Appointed as one [1] of three [3] Chief Instructors in the UK for the International Karatedo Gojukai Association [IKGA]. Technical Director and senior of the group.
1987 – Resigned from the IKGA. (new name of the Yamaguchi organisation)
Joined Tasaki Shuji’s Goju-ryu Karate-do Seiwa Kai Organization and REJOINED the JKF Gojukai.
1987 – Appointed Chief Instructor and President of Seiwa Kai Great Britain.
1987 – Graded to 6th Dan Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai.
1993 – Gradeed to 7th Dan – Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai.
1993 – Graded 6th Dan JKF GOJUKAI and awarded title of Renshi, JKF Gojukai.
1993 – Since 1993 has been an active Member of the JKF Gojukai Examining Panel.
1998 – Organized the JKF Gojukai Europe organization.
1998 – Member of the EKGB Management Board.
1999 – Graded to 7th Dan – JKF Gojukai.
2002 – Acquired Shihan Menkyo license of Kyoshi; JKF Gojukai.
2005 May – Appointed as the first [and only] foreign member to the Board of Directors of the JKF Gojukai in Japan.
2005 June – Graded to 8th Dan Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai by Tasaki Shuji Hanshi 9th Dan.
July 2011 Appointed as one of two Vice Presidents Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai Japan.
Other credits include:
Highest Graded non-Japanese Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai Member outside of Japan.
Holds the position of President of the JKF Gojukai for all of Europe and as such position requires organizes seminars commonly two times per year in various locations throughout Europe with Japan based instructors.
Is responsible, together with Tasaki Shuji (Hanshi) and Fujiwara Seiichi (Hanshi) for the spread of Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai throughout the 90’s to present. Personally has been responsible for introducing Seiwakai to 20 countries.
Extensive training in Tai Chi Chuan and various Chinese Martial Arts. Taught sparring at many “Kung fu” and Tai Chi clubs during his many years in USA.
Trained in Boxing for five years in California including at times, the Mohammed Ali Boxing Club in Santa Monica California. Concurrently trained full contact karate and had a full contact group in California.
Many years a member of EKGB (English Karate Governing Body) Technical and Management committees.
Member of Karate England (2005) Board of Directors (management committee) and Technical Committee. KE was the last Governing Body for Karate in England.
President and Chief Instructor of Traditional Karate Federation (TKF), the English organization that consists of the SEIWAKAI GROUP in Great Britain. Currently in excess of 1800 members. The group is made up of Seiwakai, Goshukan, Shuseikan and Shodokan.