GKI Technical Panel
Appointed on the 22nd July 2019 by Shihan James Rousseau at the Belgium Technical meeting
James Rousseau (9th Dan) Leonard Sim (8th Dan) Jose Campos (8th Dan) Antonio Moreira (7th Dan) Kevin Nason (7th Dan)
Shihan James Rousseau (9th Dan)
J
ames Rousseau began his karate training in 1960/1961 and after training in Japan gained his Shodan in 1963. In 1966 he met Sensei Morio Higaonna and became hooked on Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate.
He came to the United Kingdom in 1974, as a 5th Dan, and established two Dojos in Oxford before returning to South Africa some six months later. After Sensei James returned to South Africa, his brother, Peter, led the British Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Association (BGKA). BGKA was the forerunner of the English Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Association (EGKA) which was formed under the guidance of Sensei James Rousseau.
In July 1979, along with Sensei Higaonna and Sensei Teruo Chinen, he founded the International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Federation (IOGKF) in Poole Dorset.
Sensei James had taken a back seat in EGKA whilst he built his Chiropractic business and it was being run by Sensei George Andrews, Sensei Ernie Molyneux and Sensei Len Sim. The inevitable tensions, on Sensei James taking on a more active role, led to a split in the organisation and the formation of Goju-Ryu Karate-Do International (GKI) in 1993. The founder members of GKI included Senseis Len and Henrieheta Sim, Gary Weber, Paul Stiffle, John Boyle, Paul Coleman, Steve Thomson, Craig Nevitt, Blaise Mellise, Kevin Nason, Tim Cooper and Dave Thompson.
Sensei Leonard Sim (8th Dan)
He began training in March 1967, and started Wokingham Karate Academy in 1984.
Sensei Len Sim has practised for almost 40 years, after staring in Dunfermline. He trained in Chito-Ryu, Yoseikan (Shotokan) and Goju-Ryu and collected a few trophies along the way, including British Karate Federation Kata champion. He competed in the BKCC championships from 1973 to 1976 as well as captained two international tours to South Africa.
After, he moved south to Havant and started clubs in that area, he met Sensei James Rousseau in 1974 and has been his student ever since. As a founder of the IOGKF, he spent many, many hours improving his Goju Ryu under Sensei Chinen and Sensei Higaonna. He opened the Wokingham club in 1984 assisted by Bill Cuzzocrea. Spin off clubs opened in Sandhurst, Owlsmoor and Sonning.
Sensei Jose Campos (8th Dan)
Sensei Antonio Moreira (7th Dan)
Sensei Kevin Nason (7th Dan)
I started Karate training 1972 in the wave of new recruits because of the popularity of Bruce Lee. This was in SKI Shotokan style at Stanford-le-Hope Essex. Trained for a couple of years and had a break until I found Goju Ryu in 1980 and was taught by sensei Gary Webber at Basildon Essex. This was with the English Goju Ryu Karate Association (EGKA) headed by Sensei James Rousseau affiliated to the International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Federation (IOGKF) headed by Sensei Higgaona Morio.
Competition Record:
England Goju Ryu Team Member 1989 to 1994.
2nd Place Ind’ Kumite and 2nd Place Team Kumite at Miyagi Chojun World Championship San Diego America 1989.
England Team and Individual medals at San Diego 1990, France 1992, England 1986 to 1994.
Martial Arts Biography:
Started Karate training 1972 in the wave of new recruits because of the popularity of Bruce Lee. This was in SKI Shotokan style at Stanford-le-Hope Essex. Trained for a couple of years and had a break until I found Goju Ryu in 1980 and was taught by sensei Gary Webber at Basildon Essex. This was with the English Goju Ryu Karate Association (EGKA) headed by Sensei James Rousseau affiliated to the International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Federation (IOGKF) headed by Sensei Higgaona Morio. After I gained my Shodan in 1987 graded by sensei James I trained regularly at the Camberwell Dojo called The Marble Factory and was taught by Sensei George Andrews.
This was very hard training indeed and matched by the hardness of the students who trained there. But as those who know, this type of training really did make people gentler in character. I trained alongside very good karateka such as Linda Marchant and Felix Nelson and lots of others all just as good. I did help sensei Gary when he first opened the Chelmsford Dojo in 1984 and eventually took over the running of the Dojo in about 1986. The club eventually moved to its present location in 1988 and has run continuously since then. My first student to gain his Shodan was Jeremy (Jem) Pateman and the Second was Sensei Keith Bishop who has been a friend and sparring partner since when he attended the first training in Chelmsford in 1984. I have taught many children and adults who have achieved shodan and beyond, too many for me to mention here. We have also as a club raised lots of money in sponsored events such as Tommy’s appeal and Children In Need, which makes me proud. I am also now teaching a child of one of my first child students. Now that really is a scary thought about getting old!
In 1994 Sensei Keith Bishop and I followed Sensei’s James Rousseau and Len Sim when the GKI was formed. The best thing about our association is that it is very friendly and everyone is made to feel welcome and is encouraged to be involved. I have been to many countries and places around this country and the world training with and meeting lots of friends and I would not have missed it for the world.