About 500 years ago, karate as a martial art was cultivated in Okinawa under the reign of their famous hero, King Shohashi.
300 years later the development of karate as a means of unarmed self defence, received tremendous impetus when the use of weapons on the island was prohibited by the Japanese rulers.
Because of this national policy the self defence techniques developed into the unique Okinawan martial art of karate, as it is known today.
In 1922, Master Funakoshi Giichin, President of the Okinawan Association of Martial Arts, introduced karate-do to mainland Japan, during the first National Athletic Exhibition, held in Tokyo.
The demonstration was a great success, due to the inspiring personality of Master Funakoshi, who cultivated the typical Japanese aspects of this ancient martial art of self defence.
Because of Master Funakoshi’s emphasis on the spiritual aspects of karate, such as courage, courtesy, integrity, humility and self control, karate became known as the martial art of the “True Gentleman” and gained nationwide popularity. Especially among university students
Master Funakoshi was not only a genius in martial arts but was also a literary talent. Authoring some key texts on karate-do as well as studies of classical Chinese history and calligraphy.
In 1949 the Japan Karate Association was established, with Master Funakoshi as the Chief Instructor. Through his exquisite skills and guidance the Japan Karate Association developed into a strong organization of international repute.
Carey’s Martial Arts Brief History
Andrew Carey Sensei 5th Dan Western Australia
Andrew Carey’s introduction to the art of Karate-do was in August 1977 when he began studying Budokan style.
In 1982 Andrew travelled to Kula Lumpur, Malaysia to train and grade with other International karate students. By 1983 he had achieved the rank of Brown Belt in the Budokan style.
The dojo where Andrew was training then decided to change their style of karate from Budokan to Shotokan. This dojo then studied Shotokan under the umbrella of the Karate Union of Australia (KUA). In 1985 Andrew achieved his Shodan Black Belt in the Shotokan style under Sensei Sumi.
During 1986 Andrew competed in the Western Australia All Styles Karate Tournament, FAKO (now AKF) and achieved a second place in this tournament. This achievement earned Andrew a place in the WA State team. The team travelled to Sydney to compete in the Australian All Style Tournament where Andrew was awarded a third place.
In 1988 the dojo where Andrew was training decided to join the Japan Karate Association (JKA). This is the largest single style authentic Shotokan Karate organisation in the world. With this change all the students from this Dojo were required to re-grade.
Andrew was re-graded in 1989 in this newly adopted style and received
his Shodan Black Belt under Sensei Takahashi.
During 1989 Andrew competed in his first JKAA (Japan Karate Association
of Australia) National competition and seminar in Sydney.
In 1990 Andrew participated in the JKAA Nationals in Adelaide. He was also part of the Australian team that travelled to Hisai City, Japan. The team spent two weeks training then competed in a Tournament. Andrew did well but did not feature in any of the major placings.
Andrew participated in the 1991 Nationals which were held in Brisbane. He advanced to the quarter finals in this tournament.
In 1992 he participated in the 20th Anniversary of JKAA tournament and
celebrations.
Andrew was a member of the 1993 West Australian team which travelled to
Auckland, New Zealand for the first Australasian Championship and seminar.
During 1994 Andrew was a member of the Australian team that travelled to Sendai, Japan. This team spent some time training then competed in a tournament. Andrew did well achieving a third place in the kumite event. The only other Australian to do well in this tournament was Michael Ettingshausen. Michael was living and training in Tokyo at the time and achieved a third place in the kata event. After this competition Andrew Carey, Michael Ettingshausen, and Pasco Costantino stayed in Japan for a short period and trained at Aoyama University, Tokyo.
During Sensei Takahashi’s 1995 Australian visit Andrew was graded to the rank of Nidan (2nd Dan). He then participated in the 2nd Australasian Championship and seminar held in Kiama NSW. After competing well in this tournament, Andrew was selected for the Australian test match team.
In 1996 the Nationals were held in Brisbane. After a solid performance at the Brisbane Nationals, Andrew was selected as a member of the Australian team. This team toured Japan and competed in the 6th Shoto World Cup, held in Osaka.
The team participated very well at the 6th Shoto World Cup. They then travelled to Sumoto town for more training then onto Minamata for another competition where the team again performed well and Brad Hoffman won the Kumite event.
In 1997 JKA Western Australia hosted the National competition in Perth. Andrew performed creditably getting through to the finals and was again selected for the Australian test match team.
1998 was a big year for Andrew personally and for Karate-do in Geraldton. This was the year Andrew founded Carey’s Martial arts. Andrew built a dojo on his family property in Geraldton, Western Australia.
The dojo began slowly in a large shed behind the family home. After many
extensions to the building and the inclusion of training aids such as
punching bags and weights along with specialised flooring and competition
mats it now looks and feels like a true karate dojo.
The Nationals were also held in Melbourne during 1998; Andrew again performed
well and was selected in the Australian test match team.
In 1999 New Zealand held a Goodwill Championships at Taupo. Andrew once again performed well and was selected in the Australian test match team.
The 2001 Nationals were held in Adelaide. This was a good championship for Andrew as he came third in the Kumite event and fourth in Kata.
In 2002, Carey’s Martial Arts took their first team to a National championship at Sydney Australia. Andrew finished in third place for Kumite and fourth place for Kata. Other team members also participated very well in this tournament.
During Sensei Takahashi’s second 2002 visit to WA, Andrew had his ranking upgraded to Sandan (3rd Dan); this grading was completed in the ‘Jim Wood Dojo’ at Mandurah. Jim Wood is Sensei M.B.E 5th Dan from JKA Scotland; he opened his dojo in Mandurah with some help from Sandans visiting WA from Scotland. Jim Wood and these visiting Sandans assisted with the upgrading of Andrews ranking.
Early in 2003 Andrew received confirmation that he was again selected
in the Men’s Australian Team to compete in Tokyo in September 2003.
This tour was then postponed until September 2004 by the Japanese Government
due to the SAR’s Virus scare.
In 2004 Andrew took a team of ten students to the Gold Coast, Queensland
to compete in the National championships. The team brought home twelve
medals with two National Champions. Andrew also competed and finished
in the finals for Kumite and kata.
During Sensei Takahashi’s second visit to Australia in 2004, Andrews
Eldest daughter Jaimee-Leigh achieved her black belt.
Andrew was again selected as member of the 2004 Australian team the Taipans which compete in the 9th Shoto World Cup, which was held in Tokyo. It has been said that this team was one of the best prepared teams that Sensei has taken away and they performed extremely well.
The 2005 Nationals where hosted by Western Australia in Perth. Carey’s Martial Arts took a very strong competitive team. The team brought home 22 medals and within that team there were several Australian Champions and runner ups. This was also a very good championship for Andrew as he came third in the kumite event and fourth in kata. His biggest highlight was winning the “Jeff Green Encouragement Award”
2006 was a big year with the Nationals being held in Adelaide. Carey’s
Martial Arts took another strong team away with several Australian champion
titles and placings coming back within the junior team. Andrew performed
well once again getting into the finals for kata and kumite but was beaten
by the Japanese University captain.
Andrew was also selected in the test match team against Japan, the team
lost 3-2 but Andrew won his bout.
Andrew came third in the men’s open kumite at the NSW State titles, which were held in Sydney.
The Funakoshi Gichin World Cup was also held this year in August at the
Sydney Olympic Park Stadium. Countries from all around the world participated
in this great event. Carey’s Martial Arts had five junior representatives
who all participated extremely well with Jamiee-Leigh Carey getting through
to the final 16 in the 14 year old age division.
Andrew was also selected in the Men’s Taipan team; this team had
been training together all year with training camps at the Sydney Sports
Academy and at Michael Ettingshausen Sydney Dojo.
During this week Andrew did examinations which he passed to become a level
D JKA Instructor and Referee. Andrew performed extremely well with his
first fight lasting 38 seconds. His next fight was also going his way
when he had a slight accident where he dislocated and damaged his right
shoulder and A/C joint, these injuries put him out of the world cup.
The 5th Australasian Championships where held in Taupo, 2007. CMA team
took thirteen competitors and seventeen spectators/family. The CMA team
brought home 12 medals, some of these being Australasian champions (Samantha
Reeves, Ben Rolston) and runner ups (Tyler-Jane Carey, Cassidy Rolston,
Jaron Reeves, Todd Anderson & Jaimee-Leigh Carey). Andrew did well
and got into the finals before being beaten in Kumite by Noriyuki Nakazawa
a Japanese university graduate living in NZ. Andrew captain the WA State
team who came second to QLD and he also captain the test match team between
Australia and New Zealand where Australia won. During the weeks competition
Andrew also graded to his Yondan (4th Dan). Due to Andrew efforts this
once again earnt him the “Jeff Green Encouragement Award”
The 2008 Nationals were held in Dandenong, Melbourne. The CMA team took
15 competitors along with a strong support group. They brought home 9
medals and Samantha Reeves brought home the “Jeff Green Junior Encouragement
Award”. Some of the medal winners are now Australian Champions (Cassidy
& Ben Rolston, Jessica Ellis & Samantha Reeves) and runner ups
(Jocelyn Reeves & Hayley Milovitch). Andrew performed well finishing
in third place for Kata and Kumite. He was the Captain of the test match
team between Australia and New Zealand where Australia won. He was also
named Coach/Captain/Player for the Australian Men’s team who will
be competing at the Shoto World Cup in Tokyo, Japan next year.
Andrew came second in the men’s open kumite and third in the men’s
open kata divisions at the QLD State titles which were held in Brisbane.
The 2009 28th JKAA Nationals where held at the Gold Coast, Qld. The 17 member team from CMA along with a strong support group of parents and family members participated very strongly in this great event. The CMA team brought home 7 individual medals. Some of the medal winners are Australian champions (Samantha Reeves) and runner ups (Shaye McDonald, Cassidy Rolston, Tyler-Jane Carey and Jocelyn Reeves). Andrew did perform well finishing in third place for Kata. Andrew captain the WA State team who came third and he also captain the test match team between Australia and Japan where Australia won. Due to Andrew’s efforts during the week he was awarded the “Clem Soppa Excellence In Karate-Do Award”
Andrew was lucky to travel to Gladstone Qld in September to train at the Shotokan Karate International (SKI) Shotokan week under the watchful eye of the great Kanazawa Sensei.
CMA took a small team to the SKI state titles in Perth late August with some people having some good success, the Reeves family all participated very well bring home medals each and the CMA Men’s took second place in the Dojo kumite.
Because of the folding of the JKAA Association that year, Andrew and the CMA Dojo joined the Shotokan Karate Coalition (SKC) under the Instruction of Sensei Keith Geyer in October.
2010 was a very different year for the Dojo with our first visit from Sensei Keith Geyer and close friend Sensei Ray Morcombe. We had a tough introduction to SKC with a hard weekend of training and grading in early March. Craig Payne and Hayley Milovitch graded to their Nidan and others also graded to their Shodan.
CMA took another team to the SKI state titles in Perth early August with
people having more success than the previous year. This event was a great
step for the SKC Nationals which were held in Melbourne late August. It
was a small team that went away and because it was our first year with
SKC we had lots to learn. All Members participated and trained very well
with Sensei Andrew Getting a 1st place in Kata and 3rd in kumite in the
men’s Veterans divisions. There were three international travelling
Sensei’s (Stan Schmidt Sensei; Technical adviser to the SKC, Shinji
Akita Sensei from Germany and Richard Amos Sensei from New York) that
took the Seminar which was very hard and intense.
2011 Started with Sensei Keith Geyer and close friend Sensei Michael Ettingshausen
coming to Geraldton for very hard weekend of training and grading in March.
Dwayne Martin and Samantha Reeves grading to their Nidan with Tyler-Jane
Carey and Jessica Ellis obtaining their Shodan.
CMA took a team to the SKI state titles in Perth in August with some people
getting placings.
The SKC Nationals where held again in Melbourne July with all team members
participating and trainning very well with Sensei Andrew Getting a 1st
place in Veteran’s Kumite and 2nd in kata, while several other team
members getting placings. There were two Great Sensei’s conducting
the training, Stan Schmidt Sensei and Mikio Yahara Sensei from Japan.
In 2012 we had our visit with Sensei Keith and Michael and members from
SKI also attended which was Great. Ben Norris received his Nidan and Jordan
Manuel and Cassidy Rolston received there Black belts.
The CMA team travelled to Perth for various AKF tournaments and members
performed well. We also attended the SKI state title which was pretty
big with members doing extremely well (Ben Rolston 1st Junior Male kumite,
Tyler-Jane Carey 1st Colts Kata, Jessica Ellis 1st Junior Female Kumite,
Andrew 1st men’s open kumite and kata). In this competition we made
history with our first ever SKC kumite team (Andrew, Tyler-Jane &
Wayne) took out 1st place in the team sparring event!!
A CMA team also travelled to Melbourne for the SKC National titles and
again everyone perform very well with Sensei Andrew winning 1st in three
different events. We had Sensei Tobita and Kokubun from Japan carrying
out some great hard training during the week. Sensei Andrew also graded
to his Godan (5th Dan).
Once again 2013 started with Sensei Keith Geyer, Sensei Michael Ettingshausen
and members from other Shotokan groups coming to Geraldton for another
Great weekend of training and grading which was held in March.
The World Karate Coalition (WKC) Championships where held in May in Melbourne
and the CMA team of Andrew and Tyler Carey, Cassidy Rolston and Erin Lucas
participate in the event and perform very well!! Andrew was part of the
SKCC team kata which came 3rd and he was also in the Ippon kumite team
which also came third. A CMA team later travelled back to Melbourne for
the SKC National titles and again everyone perform very well. We had all
the SKC Sensei’s Instructing and carrying out some great hard training
during the week.
The CMA team travelled to Perth for various AKF tournaments and members
performed well. We also attended the SKI state title which was pretty
big with members doing extremely well.
2014 had a great start with Sensei Keith Geyer and Sensei Jim Wood coming to Geraldton in March to hold another Great weekend of training and grading. The SKC group joined back with the Japan Karate Association (JKA) which is Great. An All JKA Australian Championships where held in Melbourne in March with members of the CMA team performing very well. Sensei Andrew was part of the SKC Senior team Kate which came 1st which earnt them a spot in the Australian team to compete in Japan at the 13th
Funakoshi Gichin World Cup, Tokyo.
Again The CMA team travelled to Perth for various AKF tournaments and
the SKI State titles where members again performed well, for some of the
CMA member’s this was there first time competing in Perth. We also
held a JKA WA State titles in Mandurah, this event also went well.
As a Sensei JKA 5th Dan (Gondan) black belt, Andrew is dedicated to the
art of Karate-do and works tirelessly to enhance not only his own ability
but that of his students. Andrew does this with integrity and with the
knowledge that in achieving all his goals this will also increase his
own knowledge, ability and skill in this art.