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So I've put a kimono on for the first time during an evening of January 1982 at the Shotokan karate club Arlon where I stood until 1989. Afterwards, because of an internal political decision, concerning a well-known national instructor who used to come once a month from Brussels to Arlon to give classes, that I couldn't agree with that I decided to quit ! I still firmly think that it was the best decision I could possibly take, this based on my beliefs in the respect of values such as honour, loyalty, discipline, to cite a few, in everyday's life as well as in the dojo. In other words, I wasn't in phase anymore with the Shotokan KCArlon politics.
After many months testing other activities - body-building, jogging, tennis, dog training – which were not very conclusive, I had a visit from Sensei François Van Binst. After a few hours of friendly discussion, I decided to take up again the lessons, to pass my black belt exam and to open my own club. This is how is born the Sei-Sen karate club Arlon.
What is karate for you ?
I simply want to answer "my life", because, considering what practising karate has brought to me during all those years, nothing would have had such an importance.
Karate is, according to me, more than a sport. It is also a school where values like honour (self-respect), loyalty, discipline, regularity, perseverance and self-motivation are developed. A physical activity but also a "school of life", karate can be practised by every men and women and fits to all ages.
Codified by Masters who devoted all their life to it, karate is an ancestral martial art which is perpetuated through ages thanks to disciples who have continued to transmit the knowledge. Each one adding his contribution to the edifice.
Your best souvenir ?
Without any doubt the all federations « kata » junior Belgian Champion title won by Katia Jacoby in 2005.
Indeed, although competition represents a tiny part of our training program, several years had passed since "Mister Alex Caudron's title" return to our town. It hence is indisputably the best souvenir I can have.
Your worst souvenir ?
It is hard to say, maybe the loss of young students because of studies or because of professional or private life...
What pleases you the most and how do you always keep enjoying the teaching of karate ?
Having lessons with reputable instructors like Sensei Kase - Shiraï - Fugazza - Heene - Van Binst - Petrella and more, and discovering or re-discovering the Shotokan karate is for me the best driving force.
Without any doubt, sharing my passion with my students contributes to make the teaching of karate even more intense.
And what disappoints you the most ?
Difficult question. Perhaps, the abdication of many parents in the education of their children. How many times do we hear: « instructors have to do this, coaches have to do that ». According to me, the role of parents consists, first of all, in raising their children by taking car of them. It happened on several occasions that parents brought their offspring because they didn't know what to do with their kids, they don't listen anymore.
According to you, how must one choose a club ?
I'd simply say by going to the course to see the reality and the seriousness of the teaching, the experience and the certified diplomas of the instructors.
We recommend you to ask the following questions and think about the answers you're being given :
Ask the sensei (master) what is his grade and who gave it to him/her. Unfortunately, in Belgium and maybe elsewhere, there is no real legal rules for creating a school of martial arts. This means that Mister X can create his discipline, for example the « Shoto-Judo-Fu-Kaï » and claim himself 7th Dan or more ! Said isn't it ?
When you're being told that the club has gathered so many medals, that's fine ! But ask yourself : « How many participants were there at the Cup of Small-Village ? », or even « What is the reputation of such competition ? ».
In Belgium, there are two competitions dominating all others: the Championship of the French Community (le championnat francophone de karaté ,FFK) and the National Championship of Belgium (FBK) putting together the sub federations recognised at national level.
Now, we don't pretend that competitions of so-called less importance are useless. On the contrary, they are essential. We encourage keenly the organisation of those competitions and we congratulate all the volunteers spending so much time for it. So, don't be fooled by clubs blinding you with competition results…
Moreover, when you meet an instructor who is, at the same time, 2nd Dan of this, 3rd Dan of that, 1st Dan blabla and, or if you meet a young instructor with a high grade… We don't pretend it is impossible… On the other hand, and according to you: « How is it possible to become 8th Dan (all together) while the Great Masters spend their entire life training and studying every day at fulltime to become maybe, after 40 or 50 years, 9th Dan of one and only discipline ? ».
What is the line of conduct or how does your club make the difference ?
Although, Karate is stay humble, and I stick with it, I think we must show off a bit to advertise our Club. Especially because all our statements may be verified and because if we don't do it ourselves, no one is going to do it for us.
I hence can claim that coming to the Sei-Sen karate club Arlon, it's the certainty of practising a "Shotokan" karate in a as complete as possible manner, in all security and enjoying of the experience of teachers formed and qualified by Master Taiji Kase (9 th Dan).
At the Sei-Sen's, there is also a strong team spirit where everyone is involved in the practice of karate and also in the life of our small but dynamic club.
I'm pride to say that my karatekas really feel concerned.
My students also know that at the Sei-Sen's, there is a time for laughing and a time for training. I'm sorry but entertainment has not its place at during trainings. An accident happens so quickly because of a lack of attention ! By the way, and I'm talking to the parents : "how do things go in professional life? It's the same ?"
One must be able to show self-discipline, perseverance, … We live in times where it becomes difficult, even forbidden, to compel children to follow certain rules of good behaviour. Now, we think that children have enough time to play at school and at home. For this reason, we believe that kids are able to assume a "sport" that requires concentration as well as physical effort like the way we teach karate.
We are also convinced that today's "losers" might never become tomorrow's "winners". And we are convinced that if one hopes to become a "winner" tomorrow, it is preferable to prepare oneself as soon as possible.
Karate can contribute to give you the necessary faith to succeed. Beware; we don't talk here about making winning machines !
Clubs which push forwards competitions think first of all at their own reputation before thinking about the development of their karatekas. It is not a generality but it's often the case… At our club, competition is not obligatory. Despite that, we are proud to claim that we've had many good results at official competitions at the level of the French Community as well as at national level, with a double title FFK Champion and Belgian Champion FBK in 2005. Our results prove that it is not mandatory to exclusively train for competitions in order to obtain good performances. Doing such, we would probably miss many other interesting things that karate offers. For example, at the Sei-Sen's we want that our trainees know why they do such technique in a kata by putting the several movements of the kata into practice (bunkai) with partners. Otherwise, the kata would loose its importance and would become simple choreography.
On the other hand, and our detractors won't hesitate to argue that we haven't participated at many kumite competitions (fighting). It is simply because my karatekas didn't ask for it. Nevertheless, I wish to remind that we've had, with Laurent Gatto, a Belgium vice-Champion in kumite, a few years ago. Once again, I don't force my people to participate at kata or kumite competitions. Of course if my today or tomorrow karatekas ask me for it, I'll do my best to teach them and then we will enrol !
Although I don't insist to participate at competitions, I'm inflexible about the regularity and the discipline during training courses ! In other words, no Club Med, no tourists.
Finally, karate is also composed of realistic techniques seen in exercices of self-defense, close to reality.
The word of the end ?
Not yet ! The end means that there will be nothing more. And for the moment that's out of the question, unless the Grim Reaper passes by !…
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