Teaching karate still a passion for sensei Barnett

Dressed in his white GI and sporting his black belt on his waist, sensei John Barnett stood proudly in front of his students as the sounds of ‘os’, ‘ni’ and ‘san’ echoed through the New World Shotokan (NWS) karate dojo in Rynfield.

The students, also dressed in their Gi’s, lined up according to their rank, each sporting brightly coloured belts around their waists. As Barnett continued his demonstration, each count was accompanied by punches, kicks and blocks.

The sensei’s career highlights aren’t his own achievements, but rather those of watching karatekas develop from newbies to the best students.

Barnett has been teaching karate for decades but before then, he was an avid karateka whose passion led him to dojos in the UK and Japan.

In his illustrious career, he graded to eight black belts and was one of the leading figures to embrace and lead the introduction of karate on the Western Bloc.

Beginnings

Barnett started martial arts as an 11-year-old at the Benoni Karate Judo Club in 1959. He did judo for a few years before joining the Japan Karate Association (JKA) under sensei Stan Schmidt at the Orange Grove Dojo in Johannesburg.

After grading to first kyu brown belt, he moved to Europe “intending to train wherever I could and gain experience”. He lived in Edinburgh and trained under JKA UK chief instructor, sensei Keinosuke Enoeda.

“What an experience. This sensei was a real powerhouse,” he said.

The Benoni High alumnus graded to shodan in Scotland in 1972 and continued his training at various clubs in the UK, including the Cardiff JKA and Red Triangle Club in Liverpool.

“I attended the summer Crystal Palace Karate event in 1974. At the end of this event, I graded to second dan. When I came back to SA in 1974, I rejoined old clubs and started the Dan Triangle with my good friend, Chris Anthony.”

Pioneer

Together with Anthony, they joined the Shotokan Karate-Do International (SKI) under senseis Nigel Jackson and Hirokazu Kanazawa and later formed the World Shotokan Karate-do Federation (WSKF) with sensei Hitoshi Kasuya and Jackson.

After almost 10 years as a nidan, Barnett graded to his third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh black belts in Japan at the WSKF World Championships.

“I was also privileged to judge and referee the championships,” he said.

But travelling to Japan became expensive and this led to the formation of a purely South African organisation, the Shotokan Karate SA, which subsequently became the NWS.

“The Japanese control of the international arena became expensive and unnecessary. Westerners embraced karate and other martial arts. A typical example is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,” said Barnett.

“The so-called Westerners have taken karate to new heights. I’m not saying the Eastern block is weak but that doesn’t mean they should control karate worldwide.”

He was promoted to eighth dan and serves on the NWS’ senior shihankai panel.

“Our clubs in Benoni, Boksburg and Kempton Park allow everyone to train in this wonderful discipline,” said Barnett.

Also Read: Senseis Barnett and Potgieter grade up

Also Read: NWS karatekas grade to shodan