History
of:
Turkun-do Shotokan Karate Club
The Turkun-Do Shotokan Karate Club has been
established at the Tottenham Green Leisure Centre since 1990. The club is
primarily located in North London but has branched out to two other successful
dojos located in East London and Dagenham.
Directly affiliated to the Japan Karate Association
England (J.K AE), the club adopts a very traditional approach to the learning
and teaching of Shotokan Karate. This great tradition of practice and
understanding is a direct following of original founder and karate legend Master
Gichin Funakoshi; a true legend to the karate-way and founder of the Japan
Karate Association in 1922. Upon Master Funakoshi's death in 1957, the late
Master Nakayama (Funakoshi's top student) took over as Chief Instructor of the
JKA and revolutionised the practice and teachings of JKA shotokan worldwide in
all its diversification.
Turkun-Do's founder and Chief Instructor, Sensei Celal Akgul
4th Dan JKA (a direct student to the late Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda 9th Dan JKA)
has evolved dojo's of great practitioners and continues to develop such
characterised students from all walks of life. The self-preservation of
well-mannered practitioners together with good spirit and determination are just
a few of the many attributes that Sensei Celal Akgul has pledged with his
teachings and his martial arts career.
The club has many highly ranked assistant instructors,
which have provided the fundamental basis to the club's progress and standard.
Of great successes; A two-time former BSKU Regional Champion and one of
the more recent success stories include one our top junior students to be
recognized as one of the youngest students to ever pass black belt in the
association's history...
The club is conducted in a friendly yet serious
manner.
The dojo "etiquette" is adhered to as per current J.K.A.E. rules and
regulations to
ensure that the standards of each and every student are achievable.
This applies to all students regardless of grade; the respectful nature
in which this
takes place is warmly received and forms the general consensus amongst
the club.
To quote a maxim "Karate begins and ends with courtesy"; the club expects
the
student to apply these studies not only in the dojo but also outside of their
training and
in their everyday lifestyles.
A structured training programme formulated by Sensei
Celal has helped to develop a
student's technical and physical capabilities, thus become more prominent
members
of society by a more personal and spiritual intervention.
Most students with the correct, determination and
effort can strive to successfully acquire the coveted "Black Belt" grade (known
m Japanese as "Shodan" standing for 1st degree) after much hard work.
The process usually takes three to four years for the individual with
regular training and dedication to one's progress.
The club caters for children and adults of all genders
and fitness levels. At the moment, the club has taken a recent influx of
beginners who after three months of training are taking the next steps with
their karate studies by preparing for their first grading/examination.
Turkun-Do Shotokan Karate Club has been in residence
at Tottenham Leisure Centre since 1992. Belonging to a larger organization
called Japan Karate Association England or (J.K.A.E.) for short, it instructs in
traditional Karate following the teachings of its founder, master Gichin
Funakoshi at the turn of the Century.
The Club is managed and taught by Sensei Celal Akgul,
a 4th Dan Grade assisted by various instructors, all Dan Grades and very
experienced. We are very fortunate to have such a wealth of experience with the
instructors available to us, all of them have been hand picked by Sensei Celal
and are of a high Karate Standard consistent with relevant J.K.A.E. Policies,
all have been CRB checked and hold the relevant Certificates for instruction.
Sensei Celal Akgul Karate C.V. is impressive. He has studied with most of the
senior instructors past and present from J.K.A. Masters such as the late master
Enoeda, xxxx,xxx,xxxxx, Sensei Ohta to name a few.
The Club instructs in a friendly but serious manner.
Dojo etiquette is strictly adhered to as are current J.K.A.E. rules and
regulations.
To quote a maxim " Karate begins and ends with courtesy ", so the Club
expects the student to apply these studies not only in the Dojo but outside as
well. A structured programme introduced by Sensei Celal has helped us to develop
the individual to improve themselves and thus become better members of society.
The club has had quite a few success stories so far.
It has produced a great number of Dan Grades and it recently had one of the
youngest Dan Grades passes in the J.K.A.E. history.
Most people with the correct training methods coupled
with determination and effort can strive to acquire the coveted Black Belt (Shodan)
after much hard work. The process usually takes three to four years for the
individual.
The Club caters for Children and Adults alike, at the
moment it has taken a recent influx of beginners who after three months of
training are ready for their first grading. We are also fortunate to have
tremendous support from The Leisure Centre particularly its Staff, without whom
we would find it impossible to run the Club as effectively as we do. We rely on
the Staff to have our Dojo ready for our training sessions every week.
'Do not think that you have to win; think rather that you do not have to lose' -
Master Funakoshi Gichin
