STEPHEN GRAYSTON
Founder of Shindo-Ryu Karate-Do.
President & Senior Master Sekai Shindo-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei.
President & Chairman Zen Eikoku Shindo-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei.
2003 Official Commendation from the Embassy of Japan (UK) for 40 years in Karate.
2004 Toured JKF Dojo in Tokyo, Wakayama, and Osaka (Japan) demonstrating Shindo-Ryu Karate-Do.
Member of the Okinawan 'Ashita Shakai' organisation (only three westerners have ever been allowed membership).
Chairman of the elite world masters organisation 'Hanshi no Iinkai'.
Member of World Head of Family Sokeship Council
Awarded 'Head Founder' award 1999 World Sokeship Council, Cleveland, Ohio (US)
Resolution from the State of Maryland (USA) 2003 for dedication to Karate and Anglo-Japanese relations
BNMAA 'National Award' 2001 (For Contribution and Development of the martial arts in the UK)
President & Chairman of Essex Anglo-Japanese Society
Life President & Chairman of Kodo Butoku Renmei
European Senior Master: Sekai Renmei No Bugeika
Senior Technical Advisor: World Federation of Martial Artists
Honorary Member Tokushima Budo Council
In March 2004 Grayston-hanshi celebrated 40 years in the martial arts.
Former Editor of 'Martial Arts Plus' magazine
Former Editor of 'Steve Grayston's MARTIAL ARTS' magazine
Freelance martial arts writer (articles published in 23 martial art magazines worldwide).
Has been featured 76 times in martial art magazines worldwide (including the UK's Terry O'Neill's FIGHTING ARTS INTERNATIONAL and the Japanese magazine's BUGEIKA and JAPAN KARATE-DO Fan, Koda Shimbun, plus Okinawa Times newspaper.
Regular columnist for Traditional Karate Magazine, Combat Magazine and Fighters Magazine (UK).
He was the first person to introduce the following masters to England:
Hayashi Teruo-soke 10 Dan (Osaka) Permanent member WKF Technical Board
Gakiya Yoshiaki-shihan 8 Dan (Okinawa) Senior Master Matayoshi Kobudo
Kinjo Masakazu-kaicho 8 Dan (Okinawa) Uechi-Ryu karate
Mitsuya Seinosuke-shihan 8 Dan (Italy) European Chief Instructor HHSRK
Shintaku Shiro-hanshi 9 Dan (USA) Founder of Tenshinichiryu
William Stockey-hanshi 10 Dan (USA) Seibukan Karate
Stephen Grayston first started training in Karate in 1964 aged 8, his
teacher, the late Tanaka Meiji-kyoshi 9 Dan was a Japanese by birth, yet had
lived for over twenty three years on the island of Okinawa. He taught
Kobayashi Shorinryu that he had learned from Choshin Chibana-hanshi and had
always felt that he was uchinan (a native) and that Okinawa was his real
home. Grayston had travelled to Fulham in south London twice a week until
Tanaka-kyoshi had to move to Belgium (Antwerp) because of a family problem
concerning his brother. Tanaka-kyoshi passed away in 1997 aged 82 and will
be sadly missed by the few students that he had in England and Belgium. When
Tanaka moved to Belgium, Grayston studied Shotokan Karate with David
Hassard-sensei and also Wado-Ryu Karate with Shinohara Yoshi-sensei and a
local Wado teacher. Although, neither of these ryu-ha were the same as the
Kobayashi-shorinryu he had learned as a child and the Japanese teaching
methods differed greatly from that of the Okinawan way.
In 1984 Grayston decided that it would suit him to combine certain elements
of Kobayashi Shorinryu, Shotokan, and Wado-Ryu - to which he did and started
to train in this newly formed system. Others wished to participate and learn
as they heard of its suitability for westerners and its Okinawan type
teaching. For the first year the Ryu was known as Washindo-Ryu, but was soon
to be called Shindo-Ryu because the 'reality' is what the style is really
about
Today the Ryu plays a prominent part in Anglo-Japanese relations in the UK
and regularly hosts international events with visiting Okinawan senior
ranked masters. On the Natsu Kosu 1996, Grayston was presented with his
hanshi (example teacher) menkyo by Minami Hiroshi-sama (former Deputy
Director Embassy of Japan on behalf of Sekai Shindo-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei.
This award makes Grayston-hanshi one of only a small handful of England's
most senior ranked masters of Karate. On May 20th (2001) Grayston-hanshi was
awarded his 9 Dan with the menkyo (licence) being signed by several of the
world's leading masters. The menkyo was presented to him by Dr Vernon
Bell-hanshi 10 Dan (first Englishman to introduce Karate to England and
first Englishman to gain a black belt in Karate). Bell-hanshi said at the
award presentation, "I've achieved a lot in my lifetime in Karate, and I
look to teachers like Mr Grayston to continue the growth of traditional
Karate in England."
As his notoriety spread, the Senate of Maryland were so impressed with his
achievements in the art and his dedication to Anglo-Japanese relations, they
passed an official Senate RESOLUTION to commemorate his lifetime's work. The
RESOLUTION was petitioned for by the Japanese master: Shintaku Shiro-hanshi
9 Dan, who along with the late Vernon Bell-hanshi 10 Dan , Carslake-hanshi 9 Dan, and
Whitney-hanshi 8 Dan, added their signatures to Grayston-hanshi's JUDAN
(10th Dan) Menkyo which was presented to him at the Kodo Butoku Renmei
Butokusai in November 2003. At the same event, Asano-sama (First Secretary)
presented Grayston with an official commendation from the Embassy of Japan
to commemorate his forty years service in Karate and his achievements with
Anglo-Japanese relations.
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A QUOTE FROM DR VERNON C. F BELL-HANSHI 10 DAN JULY 1, 2003
FIRST ENGLISHMAN TO INTRODUCE KARATE-DO TO ENGLAND IN 1957
(Hand-written comments when asked if his signature could appear on the award)
"It gives me extreme pleasure to inform you that I fully agree with the recommendation regarding Stephen Grayston, whom I would graciously approve of such an award [10th Dan] for his long and devoted services over many years in helping to spread the Japanese art of Karate-Do in the British Isles, in Europe, and the Americas and for his exemplary spirit and leadership in the noble and ancient art for the benefit of all persons young and old wherever they may be.
To this I give my word and pledge."
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A QUOTE FROM SHINTAKU SHIRO-HANSHI SEPTEMBER 28, 2003:
"Congratulations on your 10th Dan recognition. As Founder of Shindo-Ryu and the President of Kodo Butoku Renmei, you will be representing the highest quality of the system and the Renmei. The responsibility is extraordinary, but people recognised you as such and expect you to be the best example of true martial arts.
Please be proud of your achievement, efforts and devotion to the art. I am looking forward to seeing you become the true leader of Shindo-Ryu and the traditional martial arts Renmei while living up to the name of your system, Shindo-Ryu.
Congratulations!
Your true friend in martial arts
Shintaku Shiro
Ten Shin Ichi Ryu
Doshu
Shin Do leads to the complete peace."
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A QUOTE FROM COLONEL ROY J. HOBBS-HANSHI 10 DAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2003:
"My sincere congratulations to Grayston-sensei [on his 10 Dan award]. Well deserved and long-overdue. My only regret is that I will not be present for the ceremony, or have the opportunity to also sign the certificate"
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A QUOTE FROM GARY ALEXANDER-HANSHI 10 DAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2003:
"Mr Grayston,
I want to congratulation you on your promotion. You have all my support. If I can be of assistance in any way - please feel free to contact me. Again, congratulations Sir!"
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A QUOTE FROM RUDY CROSSWELL-HANSHI 10 DAN SEPTEMBER 28, 2003:
"Hanshi Grayston,
My most hearty congratulations [on your Judan]! My I add my thanks for all your hard work with the Hanshi No Iinkai."
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A QUOTE FROM JOE CARSLAKE-HANSHI 9 DAN SEPTEMBER 29, 2003:
"My sincere and heartfelt congratulations on your Judan (10 Dan).
It is without doubt one of the wisest and most deserved honours that I
have been witness to."