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.
A LOOK AT THE LIFE AND BACKGROUND OF RENZIE HANHAM, 8th DAN CHIEF INSTRUCTOR OF SEIDO KARATE IN CHRISTCHURCH
By Gavin Lowe, Shodan
Hanshi Renzie Hanham QSO 8th dan
The Head Instructor and President of the Seido Karate Club in Christchurch is Renzie Hanham.
Hanham Sensei, born 1945, was influenced in all forms of physical activities at an early age by a family which had accomplished much in their chosen sports. His uncle was a prominent professional boxer and holder of several Australasian titles; his cousin was captain of the Mid Canterbury rugby team and also a South Island rep.
Mr Hanham’s involvement in the martial arts began at the age of 14 years, studying Judo at the Canterbury Amateur Judo Club.
At the age of 17 he unsuccessfully tried for shodan but succeeded a year later by Batsugan. At that time he was the youngest black belt holder in the country.
The person who influenced his Judo most was Scottish Judoka Adam Linning, a former New Zealand lightweight representative.
Hanshi Renzie Hanham – front centre
In competition, Renzie Hanham won numerous Canterbury and South Island titles including the South Island Open Weight Title in the same year he also gained the South Island middleweight title and in the following year repeated the performance, but lost in the finals of the Open to former Scottish International Dave Aspinel.
I n 1968, he was placed 3rd in the middleweight division at the Nationals and was unbeaten in the New Zealand trials that ·year. His favourite techniques were Hidarisunkomi goshi, ko and o-uchi, o solo yari and uchimata.
Renzie was at one time head instructor for Can-Am-Ju and Canterbury University Judo Club, the latter of which he is a life member.
In 1969 a promising Judo career was given up so that more time could be devoted to karate which he started under D. Holloway in 1965.
In 1961 he captained the Canterbury team which won the inaugural New Zealand Kyokushinkai champs and was runner up in the open. The following year he was placed 3rd in the open and was promoted to shodan.
Hanshi Renzie Hanham (left)
No competitions were entered in 1969 as during that period he was training in Japan. During his stay in Tokyo he was used as a model in Mas Oyama’s book ‘Advanced Karate’ and trained with Air Japan Open Champions Mr Yamazaki-Hasegawa and former captain of the British team, which last year won the WUKO world champs, Brian Fitkin.
Mr Hanham along with other members of the group also had tuition in weaponry under the guidance of Mr Sato, a Goju Black belt. Also, along with others, he studied under kick boxing exponents and was offered professional contracts.
Upon his return from Japan he took over as head instructor of the club.
In 1970 he was a member of the New Zealand Kyokushinkai team to compete in Australia placing 3rd in the open weight division and defeating the highest ranked Kyokushinkai exponent in Australia in the teams event.
1971 saw him graded nidan.
1974, together with Mr Andy Barber, he underwent private tuition under 7th Dan Shihans Nakamura and 0yama.
1975 was another eventful year with Hanham being appointed Branch Chief by Shihan Nakamura and promoted to 3rd Dan.
Hanshi Renzie Hanham QSO with the Governor General Sir Jerry Mataparae
Later the same year he headed the Canterbury team which travelled to New York. The team trained under Shihans Nakamura and Oyama and with American and Japanese team members during their preparations for the world tournament.
It was unfortunate, however, that Renzie missed selection for the New Zealand team as the eliminations were held during the team’s absence. It is worthy to note that it was the general opinion that his appearance at the tournament would have provided a higher placing for the team.
Having trained not only under, but as an equal, with some of the undoubted background of experience in teaching and passing on knowledge of the martial I n doing so he is able to produce loyal students demanding in the1 the same dedication and application he expects of himself.
In the club’s ten year history it has held New Zealand, Australasian, New Zealand Universities and Danish titles and one of his former students is a member of this year’s New South Wales Kyokushinkai team.
With the resignation of Mr Nakamura from the Mas Oyama organisation, this club has now joined Seido Karate, the organisation formed by Mr Nakamura.
It is obvious to those who know him well, inside and out of training hours, that the approach to his workouts has a leaning toward the Zen teachings and philosophy He constantly urges his students to broaden their outlook on karate emphasising that no one style is superior and that karate is, and should be, an entirely individual means of expression.
Additional
Shortly after the 1st Mas Oyama World Karate Championships last year in Tokyo, Shihan Nakamura who is based in New York, forwarded his resignation to Master Mas Oyama.
The resignation was on a matter of principle and involved policy and the direction being taken by the body headed by Master Oyama.
Mr Nakamura has formed a new organisation which has been called Seido Karate Do
It is far from certain at this stage how many Kyokushinkai organisations throughout the world will follow Mr Nakamura and how many will remain with Master Oyama, but here in New Zealand the Mas Oyama group of clubs headed by Sensei Hanham in Christchurch and Sensei Barber in Nelson have already been accepted into Seido Karate Do, headed by Mr Nakamura.
As more information becomes available about the new organization, South Pacific Martial Arts will report it to readers.
Hanshi Charles Martin, Hanshi Renzie Hanham QSO, Hanshi Andy Barber QSO
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