Ged Dolan is a professional Karate instructor based in Warrington. He is affiliated to the British Karate Association. The following is an interview by Danny Connor for Traditional Karate Magazine in 1996.
Danny : Ged, when did you start training?
I first began studying the martial arts when I was 10 years old. I trained at a Judo club in Warrington but at 13, began training in Shukokai karate. The instructor was usually a brown belt but occasionally we had a black belt named Carl. If we were lucky, Peter Consterdine took the class. The classes were always very crowded because at that time, Bruce Lee mania was at its peak.
Then one evening, a friend invited me along to the Orford open style club where Brian Curbishley taught. At that time, Brian was a second dan Wado ryu instructor and one of the first in the North West to teach professionally. He taught a mixture of Wado and Goju ryu – the Goju he learned from Gary Spiers and Tony Christian. Brian also trained with Steve Cattle at Kirby Sports stadium at Liverpool. Brian had tremendous technique! His training was very intense and at first. I thought he was teaching street fighting, not karate. Between practicing katas he taught head butts, gouging, knee strikes, makiwara training, and bag work.
Danny: When did you come into contact with Greg Wallace?
After a couple of years with local associations, Brian joined the British all styles Karate Association and this is where I was introduced to the mighty Greg Wallace. I was so impressed with Gregs dynamic Renshinkai (translates ‘strength in unity`) style that I travelled all over the country to train with him. I was a first kyu at the time, and in 1984, I took my shodan in front of Greg and the Baska grading panel. Brian had no name for our style so I did my basics with the Wado students and performed my katas on my own. I passed my grading and after a long conversation with Greg, I decided to change over to Renshinkai. I trained with Brian twice a week for another two years though by now I had already opened my own club and we wore Gregs red 'shock! Horror!' Karate suits. Greg taught me his katas in a private lesson before the courses I attended. Renshinkai uses Kyokushinkai and Goju basics / katas, all of which I picked up quite quickly. Gregs boxing drills and combinations were more difficult.
Danny: Tell me about your tournament experience?
I took part in Baska`s big open competitions and was Baska national champion 3 times and Renshinkai champion twice. I also won many of the large open tournaments which Baska ran in London and Sheffield and was awarded competitor of the year in 1991. These tournaments attracted many top fighters from different countries and associations and always had a fantastic atmosphere. Another bonus especially for the referees was Greg Wallace`s total control over the coaching and behaviour of the spectators around the matt areas.
Danny: When did you meet your good friend Tony Christian?
I have known Tony Christian since my earliest training times. I call Tony 'the truth' because he teaches practical and effective karate, based on his experience of growing up in Liverpool. Tony has his own particular style of Goju and although this is very traditional, he uses some very creative karate kata applications.
Danny: I believe you have come into contact with someone the magazines call a living legend.
One of the most interesting training sessions was with Goju Karate master Steve Morris. Steve`s dojo is in a converted stable in the grounds of his beautiful home in Surrey. I visited Steve after an introduction through Steve Cattle. I taped our session and wanted to publish it for Traditional Karate magazine but he`s asked me to put it on hold, and I`m not going to argue with Steve Morris! For five and a half hours Steve demonstrated and explained his karate. It was there where I witnessed some of the most powerful karate in my life.
Danny: Who taught you Shotokan?
Another great instructor I have been influenced by, the late great Steve Cattle. I was introduced to him during a class in Birmingham. That was in 1986 and afterwards, I trained with him as often as possible. Steve taught many classes for my clubs and the Shotokan he taught me was not the K.U.G.B type but the more circular style taught by Sensei Kase. Steve also taught me Okinawan katas from the Shorin ryu and Shito ryu. Those classes were possibly the happiest of my Karate studies and I miss him more than words can say. We have a picture of Steve along side the great Okinawan Karate masters in our Academy dojo.
Danny: Have you trained with any Japanese Instructors?
I've trained with most of the UK's resident Japanese Wado and Shotokan masters and also many times with the outstanding sensei Morio Higaonna. Sensei Chinen also visited my Dojo last year during his UK tour. Another memorable class was with sensei Keiji Tomiyama. This was a private lesson with just me, Steve Cattle and Derick Ridgway, in Dericks home dojo. Sensei Tomiyama taught Sanchin and the Naihanchi Katas. Steve and Derick obviously loved this kind of quality tuition. My enthusiasm had been slightly dampened due to the fact that I was still in shock! I had just been driven down the M6, at high speed by Steve in his old left hand drive Mitsubishi. Steve's driving was on par with his atrocious eyesight! As I had commitments and a young family to support I dodged Steve after the main course on Chinto and begged a lift home with Pete Collins.