Background:

Sensei Shaun Burgess was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on 2nd June 1979.

From 1985 – 1997, Sensei Shaun attended both the King Edward Primary (K.E.P.S) and King Edward High School (KES) in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sensei was a keen sportsman at school, who played all sports. However he excelled mostly at track/ athletics and cross – country, and went onto receiving his colours blazer in both sports while at KEPS and later again at KES.

Sensei’s athletic abilities have carried on through the years as he has completed one ironman event (2006 - with the next to follow in 2010) and one Comrades Marathon (2008 - with the second to be completed on the 24th May 2009). Sensei hopes to complete his third next year (2010) with many students from his dojo.

In 1984, as a young boy, Sensei started karate at a local Shotokan karate Dojo. But in 1986 Sensei then turned his attention to Kyokushinkai Karate thus after meeting Shihan Steven Helm. Shihan Steven would become Sensei Shaun’s teacher for the next 16 years (1986 – 2002). In this 16 year period Sensei Shaun obtained his 2nd Dan black belt before leaving the I.F.K.

However, whilst a member of the I.F.K Kyokushinkai Karate, Sensei Shaun spent much time traveling back and forth to Europe to compete, while, also regularly attending training camps and seminars conducted by Hanshi Steve Arneil as well as attending other such camps and seminars conducted by various I.F.K Country Representative Instructors in their own countries. It was during this time spent with Hanshi Steve Arneil that Sensei developed his interest as to become a full time karate teacher.

As a keen karateka growing up, Sensei Shaun enrolled himself into Seido Karate. Originally only to fill up his nights during the week that could not be spent training with the Kyokushinkai Karate dojo. However, Sensei was soon pleased to meet both Kyoshi George Wong and Shihan Solly Said who would become teachers to Sensei Shaun and who made a positive impact in his life as a karateka and later as an instructor. In the many years spent with Seido Karate Sensei also received his 2nd Dan black belt grade before resigning from Seido Karate in April 2004.

Before leaving Seido Karate Sensei had the opportunity to compete in Sydney, Australia and also trained under Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura in New York, USA for the month of December, 2003 which was a wonderful experience.

In April 2004, Sensei contacted Kenshikai Karate’s 7th Dan Shuseki Shihan William Oliver whom he had met in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1999. Shuseki Shihan invited Sensei to New York, USA to meet with him and the Kenshikai Karate board. The board members were made up of 6th Dan Shihan Mankod “Monte” Allen; 6th Dan Shihan Leighton Barker and 6th Dan Shihan Paul Sookdar.

Sensei was quickly drawn to Shuseki Shihan, the Shihans and the Kenshikai karate Organization so much so that he asked for permission to open the first Kenshikai karate dojo in South Africa.

Once Shuseki Shihan William Oliver and the Shihans gave their approval, Sensei Shaun returned to South Africa immediately and opened the first Kenshikai Karate dojo in April, 2004.

Present:

S.A Kenshikai Karate was established by 3rd Dan Sensei Shaun Burgess and 2nd Dan Senpai Bernadine Moorcroft in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2004.

Being an active karateka for over 25 years now of which 12 years have been spent as a full time teacher, Sensei Shaun with much help and support from Senpai Bernadine, together, have established more then 30 dojo’s in Johannesburg and its surrounding areas and have developed S.A Kenshikai karate into a reputable style of karate in the Country.

Since becoming members of the Kenshikai Karate Organization, Sensei Shaun and Senpai Bernadine have frequently visited New York, USA to train at the Kenshikai Karate headquarters and with them have also taken more then 20 of their senior graded students to New York, USA over the years so that they too may enjoy the experience of training under their Shihans.

Over the past 5 years, Shihan Monte; Shihan Leighton and Shihan Paul have all visited South Africa and have conducted regular training camps for the South African Kenshikai students.

July 2008, saw S.A Kenshikai Karate represented in Sao Paulo, Brazil whereby Sensei Shaun and his team of 6 girls received in total 7 medals at this prestigious and widely attended international tournament event. On a national level S.A Kenshikai Karate continues to dominate in many tournament events held across the country. This is a true reflection of the great standard of karate shown by its members, with many such members who consistently perform well at tournament events and for many years have been dominating karate in there own divisions, such karatekas being Senpai’s Stephanie Barnes; Zandalee Pillay; Julia Ridderhof; Charndre Patel and kyu graded karatekas such as Charmio Fick, Annelize Havenga and Johan Erasmus to name but a few.

Besides being leaders within the dojo our Kenshikai members continue to show great discipline outside of the dojo with many youngsters becoming prefects or head boys/ girls of their school, for example; Black belts Sanchia Britz (Head Girl Dalmondeor School); Mitchell Ridderhof (Prefect Dalmondeor School); Julia Ridderhof (Prefect Dalmondeor School); Charndre Patel (Prefect Mondeor School); Zandalee Pillay (Prefect Mondeor School) and Kamohelo Molefi (Prefect Mondeor School).

This month (April 2009) sees S.A Kenshikai karate celebrating their 5th year as members of the Organization and we look forward to the future as we continue to strive for many more successful years.

Osu!