Established 1976

Shindo jinen ryu uk hombu

History of Zanshin

The dojo was started originally in 1976 by Simon Oliver Sensei at the Graylands Centre in the Bilborough district of the city. At the time Oliver Sensei had just decided to change from practising Wado Ryu and Shito Ryu to Shotokan with the KUGB.  The dojo was disbanded almost immediately as it started as Oliver Sensei felt he was not ready to commit to full time teaching.

Oliver Sensei travelled to both the USA and Japan to study for a short period of time before returning to his academic studies in Nottingham.  

It was a year later when Oliver Sensei and two friends from Asano Sensei’s dojo decided they needed a place to train that the Zanshin was reborn. They had met at the Basford Shinbukai Shotokan dojo under the tutelage of John Whyler Sensei and Mike Hufton Sensei.

The Hermitage Centre in Sneinton was booked for one evening a week. Following the fantastic response to local advertisement the dojo started with some very successful beginners courses. The dojo opened on two nights and eventually a junior session started on a Saturday. The other two Sensei where Cyril Cook and Chris Parker. Cook Sensei was the original Chief Instructor, Chris Parker was the original assistant instructor and Oliver Sensei was the dojo secretary.

This was to be the beginning of a history that has seen many interesting dojo stories, of challenge matches, tournament wins, hard training, blood in the dojo and many a personal battle won.

The Zanshin has become a legendary venue for training and has built strong reputation for quality authentic martial arts tuition.

Due to the mixed heritage of each of the seniors it was decided that the dojo initially would affiliate to Charles Mack Sensei’s Shinbukai Group. Until the early 1980’s this appeared to work fine.

In 1980 Chris Parker decided to pursue his studies in Pencak Silat which he had been studying since the early seventies and left the Zanshin. He has visited the dojo as a guest instructor on several occasions and has been a continued supporter of the Zanshin over the years. He is a celebrated author on many subjects including the martial arts. He was a regular contributor along with Oliver Sensei to Terry O’Neill’s FAI magazine. This was heralded as being the best martial arts periodical ever produced. Guru Parker is looked upon as the pioneer of Pencak Silat in the UK. Pencak Silat is a Malaysian martial art and very rare.

Oliver Sensei and Cook Sensei continued to run the dojo. In 1983 following the decision to re-affiliate the Zanshin to the KUGB. Cook Sensei left to continue his studies with the Shinbukai. Oliver Sensei took over as chief instructor assisted by Shaun Davis Sensei and eventually Dave Wagstaff Sensei. Cook Sensei returned to the Zanshin in 2004 to start training in Iaijitsu and Shindo Jinen Ryu with Oliver Sensei. Wagstaff Sensei who left due to relocation with work has also returned to training in karate at the Zanshin in 2005. 

During the early eighties Oliver Sensei made his second pilgrimage to Japan, China and eventually back via the USA. He has regular returned to Japan and the USA to study over the years, which along with inviting regular Senior Sensei to teach at the dojo has maintained a high quality of tuition for the Zanshin members and helped produce some outstanding students.

In 1991 following  one of Oliver Sensei’s visits to Japan with a group of senior UK karate-ka lead by Dave Hazard Sensei Davis Sensei decided to leave the Zanshin and form his own dojo, sadly this was to fold after a few weeks.  Davis Sensei was disheartened and never returned to training.

Oliver Sensei appointed Anna Parkin Sensei as assistant chief instructor and Andy “The Duke” Lee Sensei as assistant instructor. Sadly Lee sensei was to die in a motorbike accident in the late 1990’s. Parkin Sensei went on to become the KUGB national ladies Kumite champion.

Many local martial artists started their martial arts at the Zanshin and have gone to run successful schools themselves. Lee Livingstone the first ASK national champion now runs a Brazilian jujitsu school with another former student Dominique Wheelhouse. Gary Archer left to concentrate on Kendo.
All are missed at the dojo as they were instrumental in Zanshin success of the 1990’s.
 
In 2003 after many years with the KUGB and supported by Oliver Sensei’s original Shotokan instructor Terry O’Neill Sensei, the dojo decided to affiliate to Dave Hazard Sensei’s new group the ASK. O’Neill sensei still makes regular visits to the dojo to teach.

The dojo has become an established venue for teaching Japanese and Okinawan martial arts. Oliver Sensei did not feel he could support effectively two organisations within the Zanshin and 2006 resigned from the  ASK group to follow the  teachings of Kiyoshi Yamazaki Sensei 8th Dan Japan Karate-do Ryobukai and his group, to promote Kobujitsu, Iaijitsu and the Shindo Jinen Ryu style of karate.

The dojo now operates on a full time basis with classes throughout the week. Tuition in the following martial skills is taught: