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Kancho Robert Sullivan FOUNDATION OF GO-KAN-RYU Part 2 [By Jeremy Ta'kody] Kancho Robert Sullivan has established one of the most successful martial arts organisations in the world. Developed over 36 years, GKR has produced many state, national and world champions and empowers those who participate regardless of age or ability. In this the final of a two-part interview, Robert gives some insight into the world and future of Go-Kan-Ryu. Blitz: Your organisation has seen incredible growth over the past 16 years. How has this been achieved while upholding the traditional values of the martial arts?
Blitz: How do you ensure the control of quality in students and instructors? Robert: Everybody must train!!! All branch instructors must attend at least one 'sensei class' per week. All of the senior instructors receive senior training on a regular basis also. They are all taught by their instructor weekly or in some cases, at least monthly (distance related). No expense is spared in making sure that line of karate quality finds its way down the chain. It's not uncommon for one of our senior instructors to travel from Australia to the UK just to conduct seminars and train with his students. My priority is one person; Stacey Karetsian, GKR's first Shihan. Whilst I obviously teach others and run many karate seminars in my travels, Stacy receives his karate lifeblood directly from me. He then passes it on etc… The bottom line is, the quality and attitude of our students is GKR's strength. I only regret that it is impossible for me to know all of my students personally, but that's why I've entrusted others to represent me to my students.
Robert: If everyone were evaluated only on aptitude then not all would be successful. For example, we have people in their 50s and even 60s training, people in wheelchairs and people that have some form of disability who all train, and are just as valuable to the club as any other student. Someone in their 50s who has put in all of the sessions and is totally keen and dedicated, but their coordination and style is not as sharp as it could be, may take a little longer than the anticipated four years to reach Shodan-ho (provisional black belt). The attitude of the individual can really shine through at this point as they show their instructors that they are not just after a grade, but an overall improvement in their karate and all it has to offer. Taking everything into account, it may take this individual another six months to two years to reach their goal of black belt. Without truly compromising on quality, when someone is truly trying, ultimately they ought to be rewarded. I value attitude on a higher scale than aptitude. Blitz: With so many branches, instructors must be hard to find. I understand you have advertised in the newspapers for instructors, but claim that there is no experience necessary. How do you justify this approach to other martial artists who train for many years before they even consider training?
Blitz: Within each organisation there are those who shine for their competition performance. Who are those exponents of GKR, and what are their achievements?
Robert: Apart from our own tournaments, we've been involved in the National All Styles (NAS) tournament circuit for about five years now. Over the last few years our tournament success has multiplied in Australia, with the introduction of tournament teams in all states. This has brought rise to some outstanding tournament karate-ka, including the likes of our most prominent tournament champion, Alex Pereda (NAS Champion of Champions 1999 and the holder of two world titles in the 2000 WASO titles, Heavyweight and Open divisions). It's difficult to not exclude all worthy of mention. Of the many national titles that GKR students have won, I'll mention the ones that have won Black belt titles in the last two years. These include: Brett Babbicci (2000 NAS National champion, Heavyweight division), Gary Allsopp (2000 NAS National champion, Veterans division), Graig Lennox (NAS National Champion, Middleweight division), Viki Loje (2000 WASO World titles,17-18 years Kumite), Claudia Sweeper (2000 WASO World titles, middleweight division) and last but not least our 2 currently crowned World All Styles Organisation (WASO) World 'Champion of Champions' Renee Joyce and Vedron Lovric. Renee also won the World Middleweight title, and Vedron also holds the World Middleweight title.
Blitz: Can you tell us how you have managed to balance growth and continue to instil in students traditional values? Robert: Firstly let me say thank you that you see we have those values in a proper order. It's because I did 20 years of karate and had a 'heart' for karate-do many years before I discovered I had an entrepreneurial flare. The growth of the organisation and the management backbone that helps to run it work hand in hand. We simply do not allow the building of a karate organisation to affect the quality of karate - end of story! I'll put it another way though. I speak for myself, and all my people. If I taught karate and didn’t earn one red cent from it, my teaching and attitude to karate would be exactly the same as it is now. If anyone teaches martial arts purely to make money, then they should do their students a huge favour and stop teaching! Blitz: How do you balance your own training with running the organisation? Robert: I'm not sure what you mean by 'balance'. I've seen many senior karate-ka fall away from their own training, but I won't allow myself to do that. But I will say that at the age of 53, the muscles get a little tighter and sorer, and I require more loosening up. Because I train a lot at home by myself there is the self-discipline to get into it when I may not be in the mood. As a combination of home training, training and teaching my top instructors and visiting and teaching classes I train about four times per week. Blitz: If something were to happen to you (touch wood) who would continue leading your organisation in your place? Robert: Whilst we are in most cities in Australia, the UK and New Zealand, I have a key management team of international Instructors around me who are all responsible directly to one man, Shihan Stacey Karetsian. Stacy is a man of absolute integrity and has proven himself to me. He has shown loyalty for about 10 years now, and naturally he'd be the one responsible for continuing to lead GKR's students into the future. Any kind of organisation has to have a succession plan, and we're no exception. Apart from Shihan Stacey, we have a multitude of top quality instructors and a great management/administration team that help run GKR. I am more than confident that as a team they would all continue to represent my philosophies.
Blitz: What is the future of GKR and what are your long-term goals? Robert: As we are developing more and more senior Instructors in our ranks we can look toward expanding into countries like the USA and further into Europe. The future for GKR involves the continual development of students, instructors and full time instructors. With each new level of growth as a club new opportunities will open up and new ventures will present themselves. I'm excited about what the future holds, but at the same time I want to see G-K-R develop and grow strong in the karate and that our priority is, and always has been, to develop ourselves (my instructors, our students and obviously myself) in the karate and in personal development - to reach our potential as human beings whether it be in the dojo, at home as parents, husbands and wives, and in our chosen professions.
Blitz: What is GKR's greatest achievement? Robert: There are so many achievements that I'm very proud of. Thinking about it on a broader scale, I would have to say that our ability to keep communication and organisation in order while at the same time developing and growing as a club has to be what I consider our greatest achievement. Without a management and administration set up like the one we have, I can't imagine how many small things could go unnoticed each and every day. For example, I know that all of our students receive the same level of attention in teaching formats, training equipment availability, special classes and seminars, regular visits from the senior instructors and myself. The list goes on. As you can appreciate, it is so comforting and reassuring to know that we can have two classes running at opposite ends of the globe with the same training formats, the same dojo atmosphere and the same teaching philosophy etc. When I visit the different countries I see the karate being the same - that excites me! My main passion and goal is to share the karate I know with all of the students. Having all the systems in place to successfully do this is what I see as our greatest achievement.
Blitz: Would you like to make some final comments? Robert: Yes, thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts with your readers. I want to wish your readers success and fulfilment in their training. I'd finally like to say to my students and instructors reading this story that I'm very happy that you are all enjoying your training with GKR, and thank you for making this club what it is. Shihan Stacey and I truly value your loyalty. I look forward to seeing you in my visit your city during my trip in March. Whilst I cannot promise an instant reply, please fax me at any time to say 'hello'. See links page for contact details. |
Robert: It's been achieved through teaching good quality karate, a common sense, warm but disciplined approach in the dojo and our desire to share what we believe in so much with our students. There are two parts to any large organisation - the training itself, and what happens behind the scenes that ensures the club continues to operate in all areas. It's this 'behind the scenes' stuff that has given GKR the opportunity to grow out to where we are now, but as I've said before, without a quality martial art, the organisation will suffer. The management arm of GKR is unrelated to our traditional values in martial arts. We are karate-ka who also wear another hat, in that our daily job happens to be the management, marketing and administration of the organisation. There are probably hundreds of martial arts organisations around Australia and the world that have a well managed team of administrators that work behind the scenes to provide the support vehicle for their martial art to grow. GKR's growth has been a combination of good karate, smart management practices and looking after our greatest resource - people!
