Senbukan 先武館 Karate Dubai
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​History

Respect

Senbukan 先武館 Karate club was created by Colin Slade in February 2012 and first opened at Semmer Villas, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai.

"Life is about learning, growing and developing and one hopes, that the individual grows into a loving, caring and respected person.

Karate is no different. It is like life, it grows and develops and one hopes that the knowledge learnt is passed on, in a loving, caring and respected way.

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As Sensei (Teacher) it is our responsibility to help guide our students in the right direction or more commonly known as ‘The Way’

Like a tree, the roots spread far and wide. All in some way connecting back to the original stem". 



Like the tree, one of the ‘great stems’ in Karate was Master Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate. One of his students was Master Shigeru Egami who studied, researched and developed a softer more fluid style of karate.

As the roots grew and branched out further Master Mitsusuke Harada trained with  Master Egami and further developed a soft Karate style. Shotokai karate

Both men met Master Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, undoubtedly having a significant impact on their training.

 

Sensei William Clark (The ‘Wee Man’) trained at a variety of places, including Grange Farm with  Master Harada, being graded by him.

Sensei Clark had also trained with other important figures throughout this period, Sensei Jack Euart, Sensei Robert McBirnie, Sensei William (Billy) Coyle ( Chief Instructor of
Makotokai Aikido ). All of whom had an impact on the direction and development of this style of Martial Art.

Around 1970 Sensei Clark accepted an offer to set up a Karate club within Stirling University, Scotland. Simply known as Stirling University karate club. 


Sensei Colin Slade first started training at the University Karate Club, in 1982 whilst studying Physics at Stirling. In the mid 1980's the club was subsequently renamed Sen-No-Kai karate  先の会 

After leaving University, Sensei Slade remained close to Stirling and still under the direction of Sensei Clark, trained with and assisted Sensei Stewart Marshall, in establishing his club in Cambusbarron, Makotokai Karate gaining his black belt in 1988.


Throughout this period in both clubs, regular appearances from the likes of of Sensei McBirnie and Sensei Coyle would be made especially during the infamous weekend and weeks' courses.


Sensei Slade moved to London and later served around 16 years as a front line Police Officer with the Metropolitan Police in London, UK before changing careers and becoming an Airline Pilot.

Now settled in Dubai, where there is a large  ex-pat community from all around the world, Sensei Slade wanted to provide a local ‘club’ environment where he could teach things learnt from Karate, Life and the years as a Police Officer.


To reflect this and the fact that Dubai Silicon Oasis has such a dynamic, mobile and diverse multi cultural and religious community, the club was named by a Japanese friend and colleague Sensei Natsuko Mineghishi of  Karyukai Karate Melbourne, Australia.

Obviously, the teaching of Sensei Clark and Sensei Marshall, have had the greatest impact on the Way that is being followed. Consequently Senbukan 先武館  closely mirrors Sen No Kai and Makotokai karate.

In 2013 the club moved premises and trained from Fitness4Llife studio in Cedre Villas, Dubai Silicon Oasis for two years, until 2015 when Fitness4Life cancelled the rental contract at extremely short notice. 

The club has now moved back to it's origins in the Community Function Hall, Semmer Villas, Dubai Silicon Oasis.
Sensei Slade was later joined by another pilot who assists when available, Sensei Patrick Macchi.
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Sensei Slade and Sensei Macchi are both long haul Captains, so at the beginning of 2016, Sensei Hamdan Apolona was invited to join the team and take the role as Lead Instructor, and later in the year Sensei Marcy McIver became the clubs Manager, in order to provide greater stability and grow the club.


After almost 6 years training and providing a community club within the DSO area the club has had to close.

The main reason was a reluctance or plain refusal by Emirates Facility Management to authorise and allow suitable access to the Semmer Community Hall.  In addition,  the increased the work commitments and unsocial hours experienced by Sensei Slade and Sensei Macchi, are preventing their regular attendance.

The club has explored other venues but this requires the club to go down the route of a business and obtain the relevant licences which is and has never been the ethos of the club.

We train not for money, prestige or power but for the discovery of the self as we follow ‘The Way’
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