Instructors

Geoff Luker - JKA Nidan

Founder & Senior Instructor of SESKA

Above left Sensei Geoff Luker with Sensei Ohta and Sensei Tanaka

 

Profile

• Started training in 1981 at the age of 17
• Graded Shodan, 1986 under Sensei Kato and the Kodakai
• Graded Nidan in 1995, 1996 (twice), and 1997

Sensei Luker took his Nidan four different times and passed every time too! - all with different Sensei's - often, being polite extends a little too far. Sensei was a member of JKA (Asai faction) at this point and used to travel all over the world training and competing.

And sometimes it is the right thing to do. For example - At Sensei's own dojo after a normal training session with Sensei Sumi (who had flown in from Japan two days previous) everyone was getting changed afterwards when Sumi Sensei's voice boomed over the general din "Geoff - please, return to dojo floor, you take Nidan now" - Well, you don't say no do you!

Another time was while training in Brescia, Italy - Sensei didn't speak any Italian except the usual (something to do with beer ordering). Sensei was asked if he wanted to grade - replying "Si" without wanting to offend, or actually understanding what was going on Sensei was at the front of the class. Anyway Sensei graded Nidan again!!

The third and fourth times it happened, sort of confirmed to Sensei that he was truly a Nidan. The most treasured of Sensei's nidan certificates is his JKA Nidan.

Sensei is still a Nidan, but is beginning to be prompted by those above and around him to get ready for a try at Sandan. Sensei's answer to all this - maybe next year!

Sensei enjoyed competing a lot - When still a junior Kyu grade, Sensei used to travel allover the country to compete - any 'open' competitions were fair game (some were very unfair!). Sensei's best time as a competitor was between 1995 - 2000. Sensei was part of the JKA UK Team (Asai faction). From 1995 onwards Sensei has been blessed with being able to represent the country in European and world events. A great honour for him personally.

 

Scariest Moment in Karate

Sensei's scariest moment in Karate was in 1998, when he was judging and refereeing at the JKA World Championships in Switzerland. Sensei was badgered into judging for the children's tournament the day before the seniors events. This was not too much of a problem - sat as a corner judge with lots of help around and about was sort of ok. In the same arena as Judges were two seventh dans a Sixth dan and a fifth dan - panic - (one of the judges attained 8th dan a short while later).

So everything was fine - until the chief referee for the area needed a break from being in the middle and picked Sensei to go into the middle. Panic is probably a large understatement. Seriously scary - with over 4,000 spectators too!!

 

Best Moment in Karate

Sensei's best moment was without doubt when, as coach, the junior JKA UK kata team took on the reigning JKA European champions in the final of the senior kata in Holland which they won by 0.1 points. The team presented Sensei with the Kata trophy that evening at the team dinner - a very nice touch from the boys.

The JKA way has always been at the heart of Sensei's karate and he would like to thank Sensei Robert Sidoli, and more recently Sensei's Arthur Pollock, Sensei Ismail and last but by no means least Sensei Ohta for keeping him inspired. Long may it continue.

Sensei Luker with Sensei Osaka

 

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