This is one of an occasional series of portraits of karate leaders from Aotearoa New Zealand taken from martial arts magazines from the 1970’s and 1980’s.
MARY A. STURM, SHODAN, TRACES THE LIFE OF KEN McLENNAN
Ken McLennan was already training at Judo and held a green belt rank when he began his study of karate in 1958 along with Ray Frederickson and Paul Harris. Together they formed what is believed to be the first karate club in New Zealand.
They had no set style to their training but were able to pool together their abilities to interpret from karate books written by Masutatsu Oyama (‘What is Karate’) and by Hidetaki Nishiyama and Richard C Brown (‘Karate: The Art of ‘Empty-Hand’ Fighting’).
The three gentlemen thought nothing of travelling any place to further their knowledge of the art, they also took the opportunity whenever possible to learn from Japanese and Chinese seamen who visited the port of Napier from time to time.
I n November of 1963, after five years of intensive training, Ken, along with Ray and Paul, reaped the rewards of dedication and hard work when he obtained his first Dan black belt from R. Johnson, third Dan – a visiting karate exponent and, in 1969, Ken’s black belt rank was recognised by Kyokushinkai Kan after undergoing a grading by John Jarvis.
Sometime later Paul and Ray left New Zealand to take up residence in Australia while Ken continued instruction at the Na pie r Club which at that stage had 40 students. Ken was then following the Mas Oyama style Kyokuishinkai.
The growth of the Napier Karate Club continued to flourish under his instruction resulting in many of his students achieving high ranks in the art. Many of the students unfortunately have left the Napier district, some have left the country to live and train elsewhere.
To mention but a few:-
- Marshall McDonagh -Sweden – 3rd Branch Chief and personal representative of Mas Oyama. Vice-Chairman of Swedish Karate Kyokushinkai, Chairman Technical Committee S.K.K. National Referee and also the National Coach of the Swedish Karate team since 1972.
- Paul Harris – Germany – 2nd
- Fred Coulter – Hamilton, N.Z. 2nd Dan.
- Andy Griffen – Napier, N.Z. -1st Dan and first Maori to obtain this rank in Kyokushinkai Kan.
- Derry Mclachlan – Na pier, Z. – 1st Dan and Senior Instructor.
- Mary Sturm – Auckland, Z. – 1st Dan and first woman in Australasia to obtain this rank in Kyokushinkai Kan.
- Graham Basher – Napie N.Z. – 1st Da n.
- Brian McLennan – Napier, Z. – 1st Dan Junior and youngest in Australasia to obtain this rank in K yokushinkai Kan.
- David Moyes – Napier, Z. Retired.
Ken was also responsible for grading Mr Doug Holloway of Invercargill who now holds the rank of 3rd Dan to 1st Kyu, Brown belt prior to Doug’s first visit to Japan.
On the 16th day of April 1971 Ken received his Nidan Certificate from Japan verifying his elevation to nidan by Mas Oyama.
On the 5th day of July of the same year he was again elevated, this time to the position of Branch Chief and personal representative of Mas Oyama. A certificate verifying this was also obtained from Japan. This, of course, entitles him to teach the Martial Art and his gradings to be internationally recognised.
Sensei McLennan’s teachings over the past 17 years have been, and still are, of great value to past and present students and respected by many high ranking Karate exponents.
Though he now resides in Auckland he continues to have the interest of the Napier Karate Club at heart and still maintains a watchful eye on its progress travelling down wherever possible and in conjunction with Jarvis Sensei 5th Dan, conducts gradings in both Napier and Auckland city where he now extends his teachings.
The Auckland Club was a very young club founded by Graham Wallace, a 4th Kyu green belt in April of 1972. When Sensei McLennan arrived there, however, through his instruction and guidance the club, a branch of Rembuden in Wellington, has grown in strength and has resulted in yet another first – the recent elevation of Graham Wallace to 1st Dan black belt at a grading in Wellington conducted by Jarvis Sensei and a panel of 2nd Dan black belts on the 8th of March, 1975.
Karate clubs affiliated with Rembuden Wellington and other karate personnel who have been associated with McLennan Sensei have extended to him heartfelt congratulations on his recent elevation to 3rd Dan by Jarvis Sensei at Wellington on the 17th June 1975 and it is hoped by those who have been honoured by his instruction and guidance that Sensei McLennan continues to render his valued knowledge and instruction for the betterment of those who seek to follow the true meaning of the Martial Art.
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