Seishin Karate-doFounder & Chief InstructorSensei Matthew Charles 3rd DanCranbourne (Hombu) Dojo My very first martial arts experience was with a friend in my grade 6 class who did karate and I used to watch him perform kicks and punches in the playground, I was amazed and awed by his ability. I knew right then I wanted nothing more than to be a black belt! I had no idea that what I wanted so much would alter the course of my life in such a dramatic way. I begged my mother to let me go along with my mate to his karate class, not a small feat as I was grounded at the time for some sort of scallywag behaviour… When I walked in to the Dojo I saw the Instructor who appeared 10ft tall and didn't speak a word to me or any other white belt. As I stumbled through the class I watched the black belts performing complex moves and watched the Sensei Screaming words I had never heard. I watched the other kids at the back of the class looking terrified when berated by the Sensei and watching their fathers sitting on the sidelines scalding them for not performing correctly. As primal as it was, I was not deterred. I was drawn to the tradition of Karate, something that was so old and so practiced. I wanted the guidance of a master and to immerse myself in a code of etiquette, honour and respect. I wanted the approval of a true master and wanted, needed a role model. After that class I played in my yard and kicked everything I saw. I had broken just about every piece of timber my step dad had stored at the side of the house and started punching holes in my bedroom door, much to the anguish of my poor mother! After 6 months of nagging my mother finally got on the phone to search for a karate school in my area and found a Kyokushin school in Grovedale Victoria that had just opened at the local community centre. In the spring of 1986 I rode my bike to the hall and waited for what seemed hours for the place to open. I remember meeting my Sensei when he drove into the car park, his name was Vivian Avery. He was a 2nd Dan at the time and had a very calm and unassuming manner and I liked him immediately. The class had very few students, just a couple of kids and brown belt adults but the energy in that hall was electric. I was hooked. I felt as though I had found my calling and I never missed a class or an opportunity to train with Sensei Avery. It wasn’t long before I rose to the top of the class, being a full contact style meant I had to show a great amount of control, technique and style. I was asked to help out with a demonstration at my high school, an opportunity I jumped at, demonstrating my hard earned skills to my peers and hand out flyers for the Karate School. Not long after we had lots of kids joining up and the class grew substantially. Those years at the old hall gave me a great understanding of Karate fundamentals, the importance of respect and honour to not only my elders but more importantly to myself. When I was 22 I was involved in a work accident that left my partially paralysed. I had blown out 3 discs in my lower spine, causing immense pressure to my spinal cord. I was unable to walk for over a year waiting for the swelling to subside enough to operate. After the surgery I was back on my feet and determined to get back to karate. It would be another 3 years before I was healthy enough to realise my dreams but I was determined. I had moved away from Geelong to the South East and found Ishinryu Karate. Ishinryu was a blend of Kyokushin and Shotokan which suited my experience and l began training with Ishinryu in 1999. I soon gained a good reputation as a fierce and respected karateka. Twenty years had passed since I first walked into a Dojo and my dream of becoming a Black Belt was realised in the winter of 2006 when l was awarded my 1st Dan Black Belt. Now the real challenge of Karate had begun as I was then groomed to take over the running of the Cranbourne (Seishin) Dojo. One of my Mentors, Sensei Des Murphy who founded Seishin Dojo had passed away. His school was at the time being run by one of his colleagues. When I first took over we were operating in a local community hall with a hand full of students. I was reminded by my early experiences training under Sensei Avery in that old community hall and knew that this was my calling and knew my school was going to become a success. The early days were hard, getting my name out to the people and earning the respect of my students. It didn’t take long for the numbers to grow and before I knew it I had more than 80 students and our ‘little’ hall was getting far too small. In 2007 we moved into our new permanent home in Sladen St Cranbourne. I had spent all I had building it and created the biggest Ishinryu Dojo world wide. The same year I was awarded my 2nd Dan. In February of 2010 I founded SEISHIN KARATE-DO. I believed my students, and myself needed more than a sport based Karate style could offer. I wanted to become more progressive and better rounded. I believe that Karate should offer all the traditional aspects that I had grown up with - Honour, Respect, Loyalty, Self Discipline, Guidance and True Leadership, as well as offering reality based self defense applications to cater to a modern Martial Artist. The following year I was awarded my 3rd Dan. Today with over 150 students, I am so proud as I watch the school and myself grow. I carefully guide my students towards fulfilling their own goals and dreams. I watch as each child passes me with wide eyes and big dreams and I tell them that anything is possible. I watch them become confident young people and I look forward to seeing them become happy, successful adults. I watch as teenagers and adults take steps to bettering themselves physically and emotionally and I know that I have made a real difference. Osu. Sensei Matthew Charles is an NCAS level 1 accredited coach and holds a current level 2 first aid certificate. 
Seishin Karate-doVictorian Chief InstructorSensei Tom McMahon 1st DanNarre Warren (Shuzoku) Dojo I commenced training when I was 14 years old with Kyokushinkai under Shihan Eddie Emin. The first 2 years of training was in an old run down hall in East St. Kilda which we would sweep and mop before every gruelling 1 – 2 hour class! That was until Shihan built an all purpose Dojo in Elwood. I remember the training was hard and very disciplined but the atmosphere and the sense of belonging to an extended family was great. I continued training for another 4 years gaining the rank of 1st kyu, before moving from the area, but I never lost touch with those I trained with, including Shihan Eddie. It wasn’t until a few years later that I continued my training with Kyokushin in Warragul and Lung Fu Pai in Berwick. Unfortunately both dojo’s closed their doors after 2 years. Once I settled down with my family I began training in GKR with my 5 year old son, who wanted to be a Karate Kid like his dad. I trained with my son in this style for 4 years before finding Seishin Karate through a friend. As soon as I commenced training at the dojo I knew I had found the right place. I have been training with Seishin for a year now under Sensei Matthew Charles which brings a total of 16 years experience in Martial Arts. Through my desire, with assistance from Sensie Matt, I have now taken the opportunity to open my own Dojo in Narre Warren known as Shuzoku Martial Arts- ‘Shuzoku’ meaning Family. This dojo will replicate the atmosphere and sense of belonging to all my students that was given to me in my first years of my Martial Arts journey. I will strive for personal growth and enhance my knowledge in the Martial Arts so I can in turn pass this onto my students. Martial Arts has been an important part of my life and still is. It has provided Self discipline, confidence, respect and loyalty and I have met lifelong friends that continue to inspire and educate me. 
Seishin Karate-doInstructorSensei Paul Holtzinger 2nd DanCranbourne (Hombu) Dojo I started karate in February 2000, aged 7. Karate was introduced to me by a friend who had recently joined himself. I saw karate as an avenue for self defence, discipline, confidence building through a high degree of physical and mental training. I spent my first 5 years training with Go-Kan-Ryu karate, and in 2004 reached the level of Shodan-Ho (black belt). To further enhance my karate and to learn more on karate itself, I decided to train with other karate clubs. This meant at times I was affiliated with more than one karate club. I trained at - Alan Murdoch’s Shukokai Dandenong dojo for 4 years and at Ishinryu’s Cranbourne and Mornington dojos for a further 5 years. It was at Ishinryu karate, where I graded to 1st and 2nd Dan and took up a senior roll in teaching and coaching. In 2011 (after taking a year off) I decided to join Seishin Karate Cranbourne Dojo under Sensei Matthew Charles. I’ve known Sensei Charles for many years and were once training partners back in the early 2000’s. I’m aiming to continue teaching and pass on my karate knowledge in the specialised fields of Kata and Kumite. Major Accomplishments : 10 x Victorian State Champion - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 4 x Australian Open Champion - 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009 4 x Australian National Champion - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009 Oceania Champion (Fiji) - 2004 Victorian State Team Junior Captain - 2009 World Karate Championship (Morocco) - 2009 ( Ranked 17th - 55kg/61kg division) Advice on Karate : My main advice for anyone that has recently taken up karate or is thinking about starting karate, is not to be afraid and to ask questions - no matter how insignificant they might be. I found karate to be a sport that will 'give back’ what ever you put in. If you train hard at the dojo and continue your training at home - your skill level will improve dramatically. Once your skills have improved you will notice grading to your next belt will be easier, thus giving more and more confidence within yourself. Karate for me wasn’t how quickly I could achieve a black belt status, instead I saw it as a sport of total perfection - always asking, always learning and always training. Each individual will achieve their very best at their own pace and if it take a little bit longer - it doesn’t matter, don’t just be good at your belt level - be great!! As the late Sensei Des Murphy 3rd Dan (of Cranbourne Seishin Dojo) use to say to me and the rest of his students back in 2001......... ‘Practice makes Perfect, but Perfect makes Excellence’ | 
