Two Great Masters
JWK Karate Byron Bay is linked to two of the greatest martial arts masters and their teaching. They are JWK Grandmaster Chan Keng Wah and founder of Hayashi Ha Karate, 10th dan Soke Hayashi Teruo. Here I provide a brief outline of these two amazing men who I was fortunate enough to meet and to train with Hayashi Soke. This BLOG was written with Sensei David Eckford who was one of only two people to be uchideshi (live in disciple) with Hayashi Soke.
Hayashi Teruo Soke
Born in Nara Prefecture in 1924, Teruo Hayashi grew to become one of the world’s best known martial artists. Hayashi Soke began the study of judo at age 14 and received a 3rd Dan black belt in 1948, which was the year he began studying karate in the Motobu Ha Shito Ryu Kai under Kosei Kokuba
Hayashi Soke travelled to Okinawa to further his knowledge of karate and studied under various teachers, including Shoshin Nagamine, Seiko Higa, and Kenko Nakaima. Kenko Nakaima was the lineage holder of the Ryuei Ryu style of karate and kobudo, a secretive style that was originally only taught to the successor’s son. The young Hayashi sat outside Nakaima Sensei’s house for hours each day, begging to be taught, and finally his determination to study saw Nakaima Sensei agree to teach him.
Hayashi Soke founded his own style of karate in 1971, the Japan Karatedo Hayashi-ha Shitoryukai with Okinawa Kobudo Kenshinryukai being the weapon style also created by him. The Hayashi Ha Shito Ryu Kai grew to have branches across the globe, bjut has always had its headquarters in Osaka, Japan. Hayashi Soke was constantly training in Japan, but also travelled the world demonstrating his skills and teaching his brand of karate and kobudo. In addition to teaching karate and kobudo, Hayashi Soke worked tirelessly as an administrator for the sport side of karate. He refereed and officiated at karate tournaments around the world at the highest level.
Hayashi Soke was a tough and uncompromising man. He always devoted himself to training, and this continued until his last days in 2004. As tough as he was, he had a huge heart and demonstrated kindness to all, especially those who devoted themselves to his beloved arts.
Grandmaster Chan Keng Wah
Jin Wu Koon (JWK) is a school of kung fu developed by Chan Keng Wan. A kung fu grand master at the age of 22, he was renown, for his skill with the deadly double butterfly swords and nunchakus as well as his brutal combat skills honed during the war against Japan. An orphan at the age of ten, Chan Keng Wan, was adopted by Tai San’s Sifu Serng, Master of the Hong Ga Fist Style. Sifu Ng Serng who taught Chan Keng Wah The Shaolin Buddha Fist Style, the Short and Long Arm back fist strikes, Single Head Dragon Pole, Broadsword, Spear and generations-old Shaolin Die Da medical skills for treating bone injuries.
Chan Keng Wan continued his pursuit of Kung Fu skills and knowledge in SunHui with Sifu Chan Ngai, Master of the Jin Wu Academy. Sifu Chan Ngai taught the traditional Shaolin Choi Lee Fut styles and the Six and a half step pole. Two years later, at 22 years of age, Chan Keng Wan established his own academies in Suihui, ZhongSan, TaiSan, HaiPing, YenPing and HocSun. He also learned the Northern Style of Double Dragon Fists, Double Flying Butterfly sword, the Willow Sword, and the Deadly Eighteen Step Spear from Sifu Ng Dak Sam of Guangxi Province.
During the 1930’s, while China was at war with the invading Japanese army, local military officers organised guerrilla fighters of their districts into the Chinese Army. Chan Keng Wan was recruited at this time into the 19th Army led by Zau Hon Leng of Sun Hui. Sifu Chan was soon appointed as the Broad Sword combat instructor, leading raids into enemy camps. When peace was declared in 1946, Sifu Chan returned to teaching his academies where he had been appointed as chief instructor. Later the same year, the Jin Wu Koon establishment was officially registered with the Canton local authorities at JianMen.
During the Communist revolution, Grand Master Chan Keng Wan moved to Hong Kong where he established the Keng Wan Gymnasium and Dia Da Medical Clinic for the treatment of bone injuries. Whilst living in Hong Kong, Grand Master Chan Keng Wan accepted the position of voluntary Die Da Medical Consultant for Hong Kong’s largest football association and the position of voluntary doctor at the headquarters for Hong Kong’s Department of Health and Hygiene. Grand Master Chan was so well respected in Hong Kong that he was invited to welcome the noble emissary, Prince Phillip, to Hong Kong in 1959. All his disciples joined in the formal demonstrations to commemorate the occasion.
In 1967 Grand Master Chan was employed by the Malaysian Karate Budokan Headquarters as medical advisor, and as instructor for the Chinese style of Double Dragon Pole, Broadsword, and Spear. As Master of the Buda Fist style, he often travelled back to Hong Kong to give public demonstrations of his unique Double Dragon Fists.
