Hi All
I just wanted to add some info on Gary Wasniewski's Ty-Ga Karate (If anyone was still interested!) and his Dan gradings.
The last physical GRADING he took was 5th Dan sometime in 1989 if I recall correctly. I was told by Gary Wasniewski (UK only?) that after that ALL grades (6, 7, 8 etc. Dans) are AWARDED on merit/devotion to the Arts and no further grading or physical testing is required. 6th Dan was awarded to him in 1996/7(?) and the last OFFICAL grading he was awarded was 7th Dan.
ALL those grades were/are recognized from various official English Karate Bodies such as EKC EKB MAC etc. (some of the no longer active, but at the time were "The Management") and I was told (by GW again!) the corresponding Japanese groups would recognize them as well.
From about 2003 Ty-Ga's promotional material had him as a "7th/10th Dan" Shihan (some indecision over whether to go all out with his own Grand Mastership?) and now he is of course 10th Dan according to World Head of Family Sokeship Council!
This "organization" will recognize you for a humble fee to be a Soke (Grand Master) in your OWN style as long as you recognize ALL of them (everybody who joins the WHFSC) as Sokes (10th Dan GM) as well, cue lots of back slapping, self congratulating and traveling the Globe to give seminars to each other (another requirement) for a small profit, I notice some of the more modest members only give themselves a 9th Dan (perhaps waiting for Christmas?) while still being a Grand Master in their own style.
It is a Wado based style - (the original Logo included the Dove-Fist symbol) that renamed the Pinan Katas Nidan, Shodan etc. to Ty-Ga Nidan, Ty-Ga Shodan to further distance itself from Wado-Ryu in the Early 90's, all Katas are done at full speed and power.
Any claims of Dan gradings in "other" styles are based upon being recognized by similar striking styles and not a profound knowledge of Kata or other techniques and methods.
Gary Wasniewski was a successful competition Karate fighter in the late 1970's - early '80's in Semi-contact WUKO stuff, known for his kicking ability. Ticky Donovan could attest to that.
Which brings me to Wayne Otto and Geoff Thomson (shaolinsoke mentioned them earlier) BOTH excellent competition Karate-Ka who came on the English scene later.
The 10K clash competition featured Ty-Ga Karate National Kumite Team Coach Tony Leslie 5th Dan (the Ty-Ga website has him training for 21 years but 1989/90 is when I remember him joining) himself a 5 times Ty-Ga national champion - he was Beaten by Scottish Karate-man Scott Gemmell 8-0.
elementkid mentioned TKD, which is apt as Ty-Ga prides itself on Kicking ability, although high kicking is utilized more than jumping/flying kicks. Traditional Karate-Ka will also compare the 2 styles by saying they have no "core" and are sport orientated.
I could ramble on for several more paragraphs, my initial reason for writing was to post some facts on Ty-Ga Karate. I take nothing away from Sensei (how I knew him) Gary Wasniewski's abilities as a Karate-Ka. His kicks are very fast and powerful. He was an inspirational teacher when I trained under him for a number of years (a long time ago) and a decent human being.
As for Dan Gradings, the man I first met in 1986 was seemingly happy to be called "Gary" by all his students. It was sometime in 1988 he made a point of instructing senior students to call him Sensei.
Oss  |