S.A
One of my older students told me that she remembers seeing the tail end of a television program called 'Nationwide' in which Kanazawa sensei was performing some karate defence and counter attacks to several other karate-ka. Do you have any idea what this might have been about and could you possibly throw any light on this Nick?

N.A.
Oh yes, this was in 1974 when Kanazawa Sensei, Asano sensei and Kato sensei along with myself, my brother, Mick Randall, Eddie Whitcher and Steve Cattle appeared on the popular, 6pm television news program hosted by Sue Lawley called 'Nationwide'. As far as I could understand at the time, Kanazawa sensei wanted to show that the slow, graceful & health promoting moves of T'ai Chi have a self- defence application similar to karate techniques and that these self-defence applications would become evident when performed at speed. Anyway, Kanazawa sensei, who was facing us, lined us up in a semi circle as we stood in Shiko-Dachi stance. We all began to perform a very slow and gentle energising exercise called Chi-Gung.

After going through these moves very slowly we suddenly started to attack him at maximum speed from left to right. I was the last to attack using a head height roundhouse kick. Instantly, the 'Master' dropped to the floor counter attacking with a roundhouse kick to my lower abdomen after which he threw me to the floor. If you blinked you would have missed it, he was so fast. Incidentally, this was the first time that I had heard about T'ai Chi or Chi-Gung and it wasn't until around 1976, that Kanazawa sensei first demonstrated a T'ai Chi kata and began to teach us small sections of it at the Winchmore - Hill dojo.

S.A.
Am I right in thinking that this was the same year in which you established 'The Harrow School of Shotokan Karate' at the Harrow Leisure Centre and also, wrote 'Karate Basics for Beginners'. I mention your book as I distinctly remember seeing the words: 'Copyright © N.B.ADAMOU 1974' written in white print at the bottom of the first page which was completely red Nick?

N.A.
Yes that's quite right. It was at this time, in 1974 when I wrote 'Karate Basics For Beginners'. Mick Randall took photos of me performing the moves which lead up to the completion of a particular technique. These were taken in the clubhouse, which was where we did much of our own private training. The photos of Kanazawa sensei performing the final, completed technique were also taken by Mick Randall in his flat, the night before Kanazawa sensei and those who I've mentioned above appeared on 'Nationwide'. I then went on to print, publish and promote the book myself. In answer to the first part of your question, yes, it was also in 1974 that I established the Harrow School of Shotokan Karate at the Harrow Leisure Centre. This was the first karate club to be established there, as the centre had just been built and opened up to the public. Classes were held on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings and the manager was Keith Remfrey, the Olympic Judo silver medallist!

S.A.
And in 1978 you were graded to Yondan (4th Dan) within SKI?

N.A.
Yes, in 1978 Mick Randall and I were asked to attempt our Yondan (4th Dan) under Kanazawa Sensei and Asano sensei, and were both successful.

S.A.
When Mick Randall and the many other high grade instructors left SKI to form, English Shotokan Karate Association (ESKA), you remained in SKI. Why was this?

N.A.
It's quite simple really. I never felt mature enough or that I had learnt enough in order to leave Kanazawa sensei and therefore SKI. But I completely understood why Mick left and I respect him totally for all that he did within the KUGB and SKI and for all the help and support he gave to the many Japanese that came to stay with him in his flat and later on, at his house. When he left SKI, I felt as if I had lost a member of my own family. I was quite devastated.

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