Interview with Peter Passis, Renshi-Shihan
Director & Chief Instructor; Greece

Can you give us a little bit of your background here (as you feel comfortable):

• Godan (5th Dan) Certificate no.2408, 28 July 1999. Signed by Goshi Yamaguchi Saiko Shihan.

• Rokudan (6th Dan) Certificate no.ST006, 22 September 2005 awarded by the Hellenic Karate Federation (W.K.F.)

Year Started: 1962
Where: For three and a half years in Germany and then in South Africa.
Birthday: 4 November
Family Info (Any): Two daughters and a son. My eldest daughter Alexandra is an English teacher and has 3rd Dan, my son Michael studied Business Management and also has 3rd Dan and my younger daughter Tessa studied architecture and has 1st Dan.

Could you tell us, a little bit about HOW and WHY you decided to learn Goju-Ryu, and in particular the Yamaguchi Way?
I began karate in the days when it was stilllittle known and karate dojos were few and far between. I remember that I often traveled long distances to train. In 1965, after three and half years in Germany, I left for South Africa as a Technical manager Mechanical Engineer.

After searching I found a karate dojo in Johannesburg called “Budokan” - a mixture of Goju-Ryu and Shito-Ryu. I trained there until I got my black belt, learning the small fantastic stances and the mixture of soft and hard of Goju-Ryu.

I was very enthusiastic and wanted to meet the Great Teacher, Gogen Yamaguchi, about whom I had heard so much. When presented the chance, I traveled to Japan in 1974 together with others from Budokan for a month's training with Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi, Goshi Yamaguchi Shihan and other well-known instructors of the time.
The days that I spent there in addition with the various training sessions have been engraved in my mind. My pleasure and love of this style of karate was the reason that on my return to South Africa my dojo immediately became a member of Goju-Kai South Africa. Since 1974, I have been to Japan a number of times. All these visits are fondly remembered.

What were your impressions at Hombu Dojo when you first arrived there, and was what the training like?
I clearly remember our arrival at the airport of Tokyo from South Africa. It was midnight and we had to spend the night there but due to our excitement at our forthcoming meeting with the Great Teacher we couldn't get a wink of sleep.

The next morning, loaded with our suitcases, we took buses and the underground and walked a lot in order to finally arrive at the traditional home and dojo of Gogen Yamaguchi. At the main entrance we were speechless when we say all the various statues in different combat positions with harsh expressions in the yard as though they were ready to attack us. They reminded us of the old times of the Samurai.

After a while the door opened and there stood the Great Teacher, The Cat, Gogen Yamaguchi. At our great joy and tension of finally meeting this man most of us didn't know what to do-some kneeled, some lowered their heads and muttered various greetings.

Our training sessions with Gogen Ymaguchi Hanshi were out of the ordinary- it wasn't about which technique you'd learn, whether it were big or small, it was the way that he taught it to you, his movements and concentration. He was totally immersed in what he was doing: The light movements of the Cat then the sudden movement: His gaze, body and mind were all focused. Everything came from inner passion.

At that time, who were the main instructors at Hombu Dojo?
We were taught by Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi, Goshi Yamaguchi Shihan, Wakako Shihan, Konomoto Shihan, Yamada Shihan

How regularly do you go back now?
Now I don't go because every year we have the European Seminars, which take place in a different European country every year. Gogen Yamaguchi Saiko Shihan, Ingo de Jong Shihan, Yamada Shihan and other Shihans from Japan and Europe teach at the these seminars.

Could you please share with us, some of fond memories you have of your training at the Hombu Dojo? Maybe even some with Gogen-Kaiso?
In 1978 we slept on the 3rd floor of the then dojo which wasn't being used since they were using the ground floor. On the 2nd floor there were 3 to 4 rooms to accommodate those who came alone to train (usually from the States and Australia). On the 3rd floor there were 13 of us. Gogen Yamaguchi had his presents and souvenirs on a stage at the end of the 3rd floor dojo.

We slept on hard mats on the floor. The pillows they gave us were like stones...they didn't dent at all- I had heard that the Japanese slept on hard pillows but I didn't expect them to be that hard! It was July and very hot which made it hard to breath during our daily training sessions of 6-7 hours .

I remember getting in the shower still dressed in my karate suit which was sopping wet. In our free time between training we would go upstairs and, dressed only in our underwear, relax.

There's one incident I'll never forget: One day, Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi came upstairs while we were chatting. He walked past us like a phantom cat without our noticing him at all. He took some things, walked by us again and we only noticed him when he was about to go down the stairs. We were astounded. One ofus shouted out Gogen Hanshi Rei and shamefaced we greeted him.

Another day we had arrange to train with Goshi Shihan in a park in Tokyo which was 6km away (We would jog there). At the agreed time we were downstairs and waiting for Goshi Shihan. The first thing he did was look at our bare feet. In the limited English he spoke then, he motioned to our bare feet and asked us “Shoes? A? A?” We looked at his feet and saw he was wearing trainers. What could we say? That we didn't have trainers with us?

We assured him that we were ok, that assumedly we were used jogging through the city barefoot. He threw one last puzzled glance at our feet and patiently said “A! A! Ok.” On jogging to the park and arriving we realized why Goshi Shihan was surprised at our insistence on bare feet: The park was full of sharp stones on which we had to train, running to and kicking at the trees around us in a combination of techniques. We returned to the dojo with bloody feet. The next day we all woke up at the crack of dawn in order to go and buy trainers!

Could you share some memories of your early days…training in South Africa, development of the IKGA branch in Greece?!
In South African training were longand hard. I remember that often we would hit
each other hard in the stomach up to 50 times. Furthermore, we often did sparing without gloves. We would jump up and down the stairs of a 3 story building like rabbits. We also trained in breaking techniques. Nearly every time I did a demonstration I would break tiles, bricks or wood.

In Johannesburg before we went to work in the morning we instructors would often train with Pikkas Windell and Peter Brandon from 5am-7am.

At that time, the strongest and best organized styles were Shotokan with Stan Schmidt and Goju-Kai with Pikkas Windell and Peter Brandon. I was a Board committee member and Area Head in Johannesburg.

Once, during the years of apartheid, 6 of us white referees went to Soweto to referee at a Championship organized by black instructors from all different styles. Because I had heard a lot about Soweto, I went out for a breath of fresh air during a break and to check that my car was ok.

Looking at the cars, I saw 3 men fiddling around but when they saw me they hid. I went to my own car and was surprised to find it unlocked. I informed the other referees only to find that their cars were unlocked too. By pure good luck I had saved our cars from being stripped because we'd never have recovered anything. After that we got 3 karate participants to guard our car until the end of the championship.I returned to Greece December 1986 after a discussion with Goshi Saiko Shihan who suggested I organize and teach Goju-Kai Karate in Greece. So, after 25 years abroad, 21 of which were spent in South Africa, I returned to my homeland married with 3 children.

After my return to Greece, I spent a lot of time and energy opening 3 dojo almost simultaneously. I had to travel long distances, got little sleep and taught many hours. I did many demonstrations with my daughter Alexandra, who despite being a university student also taught at the various dojos.I'd like to tell you about something that happened at the time of my return when I was dashing to and fro between dojos. I arrived home one afternoon in the small city where I were living. As soon as my wife saw me, she made me a cup of coffee. As I was sipping the coffee I suddenly jumped up, grabbed my bag and started running out the door.

My wife saw me and started shouting: “Peter! Peter! Where are you going?”
“To Larisa (another city)!” I answered. “And I'm late!”
“No! No!” she shouted back. “You've just come from Larisa!”

What does Goju-Kai in Greece look like today? Please give us some facts about your branch of the IKGA.
Today after 20 years in Greece since my return, all this work I've done for Goju-Kai and generally for karate, I can see the results. For instance, we have been recognized as a powerful style and organization. In addition, my students have opened their own dojos. Our students win medals at national and international championships in both kata and kumite. This makes me proud because I set up and organized Goju-Kai in Greece.

It is my understanding that you are very actively involved in WKF and other All style events…care to elaborate? Due to the many years of karate and the work I've done for this sport, the respect I've gained and the experience I have I now hold some Board positions in The Greek Karate Federation which is the only one recognized by the Greek government and W.K.F. 
I am a member of the Board Committee, Chairman of the Technical Committee, a member of the Examination Board for black belt grading for all the styles (Certificates of the Greek Karate Federation), a member of the National Tournament Organizer Committee and a Sport Committee Member in Greece, A! Referee for kata and kumite and for a few years I was an international referee for W.K.F. 

What kinds of things do you pay attention to when you are instructing or explaining?
When I teach I try to have my mind on my training. I want my students to understand that the most important thing is to concentrate on what I show them. They must learn to use their hips without bending their bodies. They should twist their hips when striking with the back hand and kicking with the back leg. Body stances must be correct-they shouldn't lean towards the left or right when moving. The body should be neither too stiff nor too loose but have kamae.
I don't pressure the new students too much by correcting them continuously. I give them some time at first so that they can get into the feel of things, so as to understand where they are and what they're doing.

Your favorite Kata and the reason?
I like all the Katas of Goju and I teach them all without discrimination because they all have a meaning, a purpose. Perhaps I like Seisan a little more because I do this kata in demonstrations with Sai.

Do you have any last words of advice? I'd like to say to those who participate in Martial Arts not to jump from style to style or from one form of Martial Arts to another because they may end up not knowing any of them well.

• My advice is that you should stick to the style you began with so as tounderstand the full meaning of the specific Martial Art, to get your black belt and then if you'd like, to participate in seminars
  organized by other styles or other forms of Martial Arts.

• Don't do many different types of Martial Arts simultaneously before reaching black belt.

• Don't for example go to learn how to use martial weapons if you're still a novice at karate. You should first learn all the stances and the movements of karate well before attempting to learn how to use martial weapons.

• Pay attention to which dojo you decide to join. Choose a traditional form of karate and not some fake system with a strange name.

• Check out the instructor. If you see him walking around acting like a “big boss”, suddenly punching new students, wearing a strangely colored suit instead of the traditional white karate suit it's better to pack your things and leave.

• A proper karate instructor should be dressed in the same karate suit as his students (same color). He is respectful, smiles and is pleasant. He has no need to tell everyone who he is and how many Dan's he has because those who come to the dojo will soon learn.

• He is careful and doesn't hit the new students. He encourages them and is patient so as to encourage them psychologically. He demonstrates the techniques to the students, goes in the front of the class and does the techniques with the students a few times so that the students can follow his example.

• He should do kata together with his students many times.

That, dear friend, is the karate instructor you should choose. I'd like to thank all of you who read this as well as Sensei Eugene for this interview.

Thank you so much for your time and your effort to promote the vision Gogen-Kaiso had and Goshi Saiko-Shihan has, for the organization we all love.

 

Eugene Kitney-sensei
Administrator – IKGA Fan Page aka "The Goju-Kai Fan"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want to find out more about IKGA Greece and/or Peter Passis Shihan?
Then check www.goju-ryu.gr for more.

 

Copyright © Peter Passis, Renshi-Shihan & Eugene Kitney, Sensei, All rights Reserved

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