Hey guys, I know that Kenshukai have a pretty bad reputation... But I was suckered into attending Kenshukai for 4 years in 2001 with my dad when the inevitable happened and a man came to my door, preaching that this club was the best blah blah blah... Anyway, I digress...

Are there any members here that have trained with Kenshukai?

Hollie xxx

Hi Hollie, i'm just writing becasue i saw your post and instantly became quite concerned, ive been thinking about joing kenshukai for quite sometime becasue my friends go but can you please tell my kenshukai has a bad reputation and why its deemed asbad. When i went their website all their sensei's seemed to be black belts so i dont really see how its bad. But im just a noob .

BTW im a first poster so sorry if breaking rules.

Hi Shen0val

I don't have any personal experience of Kenshukai but would assume, from looking at their website, that its basically Go Kan Ryu under another name. If you don't know anything about Go Kan Ryu (GKR) you can find plenty of information in the archives of this site and other forums.

Welcome to the forum.

Mike

Hehe, I'm sorry if I concerned you. Of course it's all down to personal experience, but... First of all, for my 8th kyu grading (orange belt) I tried light sparring, where I was against a black belt, a sensei at the time. He was way too rough for the grade he was against (me) and considering I thought that Kenshukai was a 'non-contact' club I was pretty shocked. I was only 13 at the time too. But he was fired and couple of months later, so I guess that was justice.

The main reason I had a bad experience with them was that I befriended one of the Sensei's and became his Sempai for his classes as my grades got higher. Due to financial difficulties with his boss, my Sensei left Kenshukai and started his own club. Ever since he left, I wasn't even allowed to join in Kenshukai lessons that took place local to me as I was 'his student'. Which I thought was pretty pathetic.

However, don't take what I say as bible. I was only the Sempai for that Sensei and I don't know the in's and out's of what happened, I was only a young girl at the time. All I know is that I wasn't allowed to join the classes in Kenshukai anymore because I was associated to my Sensei.

That was a few years ago - and I've heard of other bad experiences from other people. But I don't think that this problem with concern you as a new member, as long as you don't take sides and get involved with an argument involving staff then you'll be fine! Kenshukai was otherwise a good club and got me up to 3rd kyu. So have fun :-)

From what I have heard it is a spin off of GKR from a former GKR RM. It operates under the same practices I would call "intimidating" at best, "unethical" at worst. There are many more schools to choose from - finding the one right for you..... well thats the issue isn't it

(and don't worry about rules here - there really aren't many )

I don’t wish to get into a verbal stoush with any one here, but from a student of Kenshukai for over 6 years, some of these comments are irritating to say the least. I am based in Adelaide, and although some of these comments may be directed at Kenshukai UK – we have no association other than our origin.
True, our founder was a senior sensei with GKR, but where does GKR style come from? Is it not from the teachings of Funakoshi that Karate is based, so does that imply that GKR, and all other clubs for that matter are copying Funakoshi? Bring in something original, and the art is bastardised. Kenshukai Karate Club (Australia) is a non profit club, whereby all profits are returned to the students, vie training equipment or social activity. How many clubs out there are driven merely by profit, with such profit going only to the founder of that clubOur founder, and Sensei’ train in and teach this art with passion – NO financial reward. Our only goal is to better ourselves and our students.
We do not door knock, or proclaim to be better than any other club. New members are given the opportunity to attend a couple of free classes before deciding on whether this is for them.
Perhaps in the Dojo, there may be some form of intimidation. I cannot think of any student of any club that did or does not feel intimidated when performing Kata or doing Kumite at their gradings. And Karate is a non contact sport. Our Grading criteria is high, and we train to meet that standard.
Please don’t continue bagging our club through this forum. I could fill a page of bad stories I have heard about, or experienced with other clubs, but that is not the essence of our Art. I have total respect for any Martial Artist regardless of style and club who trains with spirit and humility. I have little or not respect for people who think they are Martial Artists.

Hi
I've been part of Kenshukai UK for 10 years now, and I'm currently 14. My parents put me into karate classes when I was 4 and to this day they feel that there choice was in my best interest. I really enjoy karate, and although many say that Kenshukai is extremely tough, I from personal experience, feel that it is not too tough. The sparring focuses on putting your mind at work, and although many may find it extremely tough, I for one feel that its only preparing you. I personally, have never been seriously injured or no of anyone who has been injured or finds Kenshukai too tough. Many have complained that Kenshukai is a "re-make" of GKR, and although GKR students have seemed to complain , I feel that it is important to leave the past behind us. Sclanders has since left Kenshukai, and Kenshukai is getting bigger and bigger. From what I know, the GKR and Kenshukai problem was long ago and therefore people must forget about the past. Kenshukai is merely sharing the art, though the intentions previously may have been different. People really need to stop complaining about Kenshukai. I understand why GKR students are annoyed but that was a long time ago. Also, if Kenshukai copied GKR, then who did GKR copy. They certainly didn't just make it all up. Lastly, why are GKR students complaining. They are making it seem like the several students that left Kenshukai only left for money, but then again that makes it sound like they don't like the idea of Kenshukai making money, which means that money does have some importance to GKR. It's not about money, its about sharing the art, that we all love. BTW I'm only talking about certain GKR who have complained on these blogs. I'm not trying to undermine GKR in any way, as they are very good at what they do. All due respect.
ABI