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.
• Member of the Okinawan 'Ashita Shakai' organisation (only three westerners have ever been allowed membership).
• Life Chairman of the elite world masters organisation 'Hanshi no Iinkai'.
• Life President & Chairman of Kodo Butoku Renmei
• 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
• European Senior Master: Sekai Renmei No Bugeika
• Senior Technical Advisor: World Federation of Martial Artists
• Honorary Member Tokushima Budo Council
• Executive Council Member: International Warrior Foundation (Italy)
• In March 2004 Grayston-hanshi will celebrate 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 14 martial art magazines worldwide)
• Has been featured 63 times in martial art magazines worldwide (including the UK's Terry O'Neill's FIGHTING ARTS INTERNATIONAL and the Japanese magazine BUGEIKA)

He was the first person to introduce the following masters to England:
• Hayashi Teruo-soke 10 Dan (Osaka) Permanent member WKF Technical Board
• Hokama Tetsuhiro-hanshi 9 Dan (Okinawa) Kenkukai Goju-Ryu Karate
• 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
• Tim Winters-kyoshi 7 Dan (USA) Seibukan Ju-Jitsu


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 Vernon Bell-hanshi 10 Dan, Carslake-hanshi 8 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.


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."

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."

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"

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!"

A QUOTE FROM RUDY CROSSWELL-HANSHI 9 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."

A QUOTE FROM JOE CARSLAKE-HANSHI 8 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."

A QUOTE FROM HAYAKAWA SHURI-SAN JUNE 24, 2002:
"I haven't conversed with any other Gaijin (non-Japanese) with a better understanding of the (Okinawan) culture, and the language, which would include very well educated people living on the island as well. You are the only one knowing about the subtle social customs and traditions of the old people in Okinawa."


More about Shindo-Ryu Karate-Do and Mr. Grayston at www.shindoryu.org

Picture and information provided by Stephen Greyston.