robert SULLIVAN

Foundation of GO-KAN-RYU PART ONE

Robert Sullivan is a motivated man. With traditional teachings passed on to him by legendary masters of Karate, his art is now being taught to thousands. Jeremy Ta'kody recently caught up with the founder of Go-Kan-Ryu, and asked a few questions to discover more about the man who built an empire.

Blitz: Robert, thanks for your time (we will start with an easy one). How were you first introduced to the Martial Arts?

Robert: Well, my first introduction to the martial arts was in 1964. I was 17 years old at the time and was a NSW police cadet. A public servant within the police dept. who did Jujitsu told me of a miss Pat Harrington (a top Jujitsu lady) who could put me onto an instructor who'd recently come back from Japan. His name was Merv Oakley. The style he taught was Goju-Kai. I nervously called him hoping that I'd qualify as a student, and was invited to go along to see one of his classes. I was impressed by the class and wanted to join. I paid my 2 pound joining fee and started training with Merv Oakley three times a week in the Sydney suburbs of Wentworthville, Meadowbank and Drummoyne. In those early days and with public transport only I was so committed to my karate that I'd finish work at 4.30pm and catch a network of trains to the dojo. I'd wait on the steps for 1 and a half to 2 hours for the class to start at 7.30pm, train for 2 hours, and then make my way back to Bondi where I boarded at the time. I'd get borne about lam in the morning. To me these were the 'heady' early days of my karate - the memories still mean a lot to me.

Blitz: Why did you take up Martial Arts?

Robert: Until I saw my first class I strangely never knew karate was a fighting art. I understood it to be a 'power' whereby conditioning the hands, feet and mind one could break tiles, boards, bricks, etc. Just before I joined Merv Oakley's Goju club.

Blitz: What impact did Merv Oakley have on you?

Robert: As a 17 year old I thought he was fantastic (he was 28 at the time). He'd only just come back from Japan himself in 1963 as a 1st Dan Black belt. The 2-hour sessions were gruelling. The training was what I might call simplistic but strong, and today that emphasis on strong basics still effects my attitude. In fact many of GKR's basic techniques are now modelled on those early years in Goju-Kai. There was lots of 'mate-ship' and good times with a lot of people, such as, let's see if I can remember some names... John Morrison, Billy Haynes, Ron Coffee, Gary Wiggins, Paul Starling, Alan Wilson, Francois Andres, Ken Jones, and Brian Geoghan. Later on came such names as John Newrnan and Richard Bradford. Paul Starling became one of my best friends in karate and was in fact the 'best man' at my wedding. We were very good friends, particularly in my last few years in Goju-Kai. Paul and his wife Sandy are excellent traditional karate-ka and great people.

Blitz: What other instructors have influenced you?

Robert: Many! Hirokazu Kanazawa, Gon Yamamoto, Antonio Oliver, Morio Higgaona, Tino Ceberano, and Masayuki Takasaka among many more I could mention. The key ones are Tino Ceberano and Masayuki Takasaka. Tino had a profound impression on me. John Morrison and I (both from NSW Go Ju Kai) were sent to Melbourne to help Tino who had just arrived from Hawaii. John and I participated in a demonstration with Tino at the newly built Monash University. The object was to help Tino to develop an initial base of students on which to launch his classes in Melbourne.

Robert with Tino Ceberano (at Tino's house) in 1967

From that point on Tino and I developed a very close friendship. I'd Phone Tino as my inspiration probably 3-4 time per week from Sydney. I'd drive down 2-3 times a year and Tino would visit my family and I in Gosford. We keep in contact to this day and he is still an inspiration, an absolutely charismatic guy, and a true man of honour and integrity. Masayuki Takasaka was also my direct instructor whilst I trained in Keishinkan.

I first met Takasaka in Sydney whilst I was training in Budokan under Tony Chew. Takasaka was visiting Australia but living in Kuala Lumpur as the Chief Instructor of Keishinkan karate. He taught karate under the umbrella of the Budokan Karate Association of Malaysia. I later visited KL and had a lot to do with Takasaka and as our Sensei/student relationship grew I sponsored him into Australia. He lived with me in Gosford for a while before going to Melbourne to start Keishinkan. Pound for pound Takasaka was the strongest karate-ka I have ever known.

Blitz: Who was your last instructor?

Robert: Takasaka was my last instructor. I have been influenced by many since, attending many seminars and visiting Japan and training in Wado, Shito. Goju, Shotokan etc.

Blitz: What caused you to move?

Robert: Well it was a long time ago, close to thirty years' I wanted to 'see the world' so I resigned my job as a NSW police constable and trained in Keishinkan in Japan for a while where I attained my 2nd Dan and WUKO referees diploma. I then lived in Orange County, California for a while teaching Keishinkan. I returned to Australia to get married to my now wife Donna and to start our family.

Robert on duty as a police officer in 1969

Blitz: When did you first create / have a vision for GKR?

Robert: GKR was founded in January of 1984. My vision since its inception has grown immensely though. I'm a firm believer in setting goals and making plans for the future. I find it very exciting to visualize where GKR will be in the next 10-20 years.

Blitz: What obstacles did you face in those early years and how have you overcome them?

Robert: When I founded GKR in 1984 I simply wanted to build a karate club in Adelaide to give 100-200 students the benefit of my enthusiasm for karate and the value of my 20 years experience at that time. However, the obstacles were in the form of paradoxically the traditional karate world of the S.A. Karate Federation. They did riot know me purely because I had most of my experience either in NSW or overseas. I had a few supporters though one namely the (at the time) Karate Federation president Phil Bates from Mt. Gambier. He was a thorough gentleman; an open-minded man and a true karate-ka. When I began to build outside of Adelaide we had minimal obstacles to overcome, but there was no turning back. The way I overcame any obstacle whether personally or as an organization is that I know I'm an honest honourable person. I have strong belief in my self and my direction and once I know I'm right I will persist till the last breath.

Blitz: How would you describe the GKR style?

Robert: Totally traditional. We keep all or most Japanese etiquette. Whilst we have order and discipline in the dojo, Student and Sensei egos are kept in check. No over bearing or dangerous sparring.

We believe the dojo to be a happy, fun place of learning.

I'm also a spiritual person, and promote with in all of GKR the values of caring, respect, patience, tolerance, courtesy, understanding and inner security. I place high value on loyalty, friendship and deep relationships.

Paul Starling and Robert Sullivan farewelling Gon Yamamoto at Sydney airport (1968).

Blitz: What are your views on kata?

Robert: Possibly a little different than some traditionalists. We value kata highly and it is a substantial part of our training. Some people say 'kata is the heart of karate' and I believe I understand why they say that, but to me basics (kihon) is the heart of karate. I do see kata as living art or moving zen and as being beneficial to so much of our karate needs. However, karate is a fighting skill and if I was to groom a person purely for fighting skill, my training technique would be, strong basics and mini 2-3-4 piece combinations, maybe with some minor amounts of kata in. That's my frank view in the light that I have had 37 years karate and a third of my training being kata.

Blitz: What emphasis and importance do you place on the martial arts philosophy and etiquette?

Robert: By nature I love to live in honesty and openness, and so I reject mysticism and pseudo 'spiritual' things in the martial arts that I see sometimes as empty. I see people talking philosophy but not living in their words and that is empty and garbage. So for me, I love the etiquette and philosophy when others, and I do truly live in a humble spirit. That's what it's all about. On one hand developing greater physical skills and confidence and also learning, that we are only human and a big ego will he short lived. Death is the great leveller. I know that approached with the correct attitude our martial arts philosophy is a precious thing.

Blitz: Could you share your personal views on the direction of the Martial Arts in Australia?

Robert: Australians by nature are adventurous and sporty and like a challenge. I therefore believe that all good clubs can continue to grow and build a fantastic student quality base in this great country of ours. Certainly GKR are doing the best possible to influence a greater sense of basic martial arts values and I know we are not alone. There are many great martial artists in Australia who do a great job in promoting the arts.

Robert with Hirokazu Kanazawa at Kanazawa's Honbu in 1986.

Blitz: What are your thoughts on cross training - freestyle, kickboxing, grappling etc.

Robert: I try not to be closed minded, but after many years in traditional karate one can become a little biased. Whilst mixing arts is not for me, I believe more and more that all martial arts have great self-defence benefits. I've always said it's not so much the art but the person. If you have 'fighting spirit" maybe the style of art you practice is secondary. Over the years I have been exposed to great wrestlers, Jujitsu practitioners, Kung-Fu people, Taekwondo people etc. Whilst many martial artists (myself included) place high value on practical real self-defence skills, there is much more to gain from training such as the personal development. If a student has a lifetime study of karate just in case he/she is attacked and needs a self-defence, it would be a waste of time and effort if they never need to use it. Thousands of hours of training, sweat, and concentration is a high price of insurance to pay unless your training is multi purpose. For me karate is a lifetime pursuit. I say this a little 'tongue in cheek' but after 37 years of karate I still love to, and want to, perfect my punch, front kick and forward stance. Some people's philosophy is to train in many styles, kind of becoming a 'jack of all trades, master of none'. I would rather pursue the mastery of one, but hey, that's me.

Blitz: You have built a massive organization in Australia with some 20,000 students. It is common knowledge that you have some very innovative marketing strategies. How did you develop your marketing concepts?

Robert: Certainly a lot of people are aware that 'direct to consumer' exposure of a product or service has a long history and is growing even bigger and stronger today. It is a very respectable and simple method. The businesses that I was involved in during the early 70's involved the use of many forms of marketing, including direct to consumer techniques. In 1984 when I established GKR I had both my 20 years of karate experience as well as my diverse experience of marketing. Whilst I held traditional values I wasn't 'hung up' about utilizing my marketing skills to promote the karate. I have many students today even 1st, 2nd and 3rd Dan ranks who still tell me "If it wasn't for someone coming to me, eyeball to eyeball, and telling me about karate, I probably wouldn't be here today enjoying this fantastic art. Without the knowledge of what karate is all about I was just a 'tyre-kicker' and whilst I always had an interest, I never quite had the initiative to chase it up of my own volition!" That would be common attitude of hundreds if not thousands of our students.

Kancho Robert Sullivan with assistant chief instructor, Stacey Karetsian (left).

Blitz: In the early days, did you have any reservations about employing the direct marketing concept?

Robert: No! You see, I simply believe in my karate style, teaching system and philosophy so much that I wanted (and still do) to share it with as many people as possible. All karate clubs want to get more students involved and so all employ different marketing systems (Advertising in papers and magazines, posters, letter box drops etc.... ) All instructors 'sell' their style to their members - it's no big deal! How any instructor recruits his/her members is irrelevant if they do not have a good standard of karate/martial art.

Blitz: There have been a number of instructors who have tried to copycat your marketing strategy. Why have you succeeded where they have failed?

Robert. The success of GKR, doesn't just come down to a 'marketing strategy'. There are so many other factors, the most important ones being having a good standard of teaching and looking after your people (instructors, students etc.).

Any organization that relies on marketing strategy alone cannot succeed, unless at the same time their martial art and overall philosophy is of a high standard.

GKR has had 36 years of evolution. The marketing strategies that we use have given us great results, but it has taken a very long time to get the right mix. You just can't copycat any system these days without spending time studying and learning everything there is to know about it. It would be like a karate instructor watching 2 hours of grappling techniques from Brazilian Jujitsu and then introducing it to all their students as part of their style. It wouldn't work. You need to spend time learning, studying and going through all of the stages of growth before you can say you know how to use all grappling techniques.

Blitz: Just like most large and successful organizations you have had your share of breakaways. Tell us how you dealt with that?

Robert: We recognize that from time to time there will be breakaways., but that is a common feature in any large organization. What we focus on is not the few who break away, but the vast majority who stay and continue to enjoy the benefits of the karate. We aim to make the overall environment within GKR so attractive that our instructors and students want to fulfil their goals within GKR.

Blitz: A few people in the past have voiced their disapproval of your marketing methods, what would you say to them?

Robert: I really don't see why any martial artist would go against the ethics of the martial arts and spend time putting other clubs down. Common sense has taught me to not judge a book by its cover, and people in the martial arts community should work together in promoting the martial arts, not against each other trying to tear each other down and promote disunity. It seems somewhat strange to me that people would judge our karate (or any other organ is at ion for that matter) not by the quality of the karate, but by their perception of our management and marketing. I can only say that in recent years our tournament teams around the country have done extremely well in the NAS tournament circuit. The quality of the karate style and the standard of its practitioners can only, and should only, be judged in this capacity. I personally respect other clubs and what they bring to the martial arts community. I don't seek to judge, them on any basis other than their contribution to the martial arts. We know and have a great relationship with many instructors from other styles who judge what really counts, the standard of karate.

Blitz: GKR has produced many outstanding NAS tournament champions. What training methods, selection process and strategies have you used to achieve this?

Robert: Thanks for the compliment. Yes, GKR are highly successful at tournaments. In fact out tournament success began way back in the early days in Adelaide where we won team kumite and open kumite events for successive years in the Australian Karate Federation tournaments. I attribute that and our current success with the NAS tournament circuit as the result of our emphasis on basics (the heart of karate) and our simple 'no frills' approach to solid training in all three areas kihon (basics), kata, kumite. We use repetition drills and combinations in kumite training - all the usual stuff. There are certainly a few extra things for training that are special to GKR.

To me our tournament success, while not everything, is a strong indication of our basic quality.

Blitz: What is your vision for GKR Australia for the next 5 years?

Robert: My vision is for GKR to continue to develop good quality karate-ka through staying consistent in the way we run our organization. We always have new projects in the pipeline and set strong objectives to reach. The bottom line is that our students receive the best service possible and continue to enjoy all of the benefits that they are receiving through training with GKR karate.

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