Dojo Disciple
A longtime student of karate, Member Greg Story explains the appeal of the martial art.
Dressed in a crisp, white karate gi, a black cotton belt tied snugly about his waist, Greg Story deftly whirls his arms above his head before adopting a menacing stance, his fingers poised like arrows.
A sixth-degree black belt and member of the Club’s adult karate class, Story says the position is the first movement of the seipai kata, a jab to the throat capable of crushing the larynx.
“Karate is the ultimate equalizer,” says Story, 63. “In the dojo, you understand where you are in this world. Your wealth, privileges, status are stripped away, and only your ability and character separates you from everyone else.”
Story took up the martial art at age 17 after he heard about a 10-week class at the local YMCA in his hometown of Brisbane, Australia. He was hooked, and began taking two lessons a day, jogging from dojo to dojo between classes.
In 1972, after 19 months of training in Renbukan karate, Story became the youngest black belt at his school. He began assisting with classes, eventually becoming a qualified instructor. In 1979, he arrived in Japan on a postgraduate research scholarship. Karate, though, was at the forefront of his mind.
“I realized if I am ever going to master this art of karate, I have to understand how the Japanese think,” he says. “Coming to Japan and learning the language and understanding the culture, my eyes opened up.”
For four years, Story took the bullet train every month from Tokyo to Himeji, the city in Hyogo Prefecture famous for its World Heritage-listed castle, to study with the founder of his karate school in Australia, Katsumi Iba.
Returning home in 1983, Story became the head of Renbukan in Australia. He continued teaching and competing in national competitions until moving to Japan permanently in 1992.
Five years ago, Story’s son, Riki, now 15, took up karate at the Club. Last year, the youngster earned his black belt under the tutelage of Gojuryu karate master Goshi Yamaguchi, who recently retired after 40 years of teaching at the Club.
Story joined the adult class, now taught by Yamaguchi’s protégé, Anthony Palumbo, two years ago after more than a decade of training on his own.
“You can’t practice sparring very well by yourself,” says Story. “[Yamaguchi] is a real master, who is the epitome of humility, and who walks the talk. I was very pleased that my son could train with such a man.”
Story says karate—like all Japanese arts—can never be truly perfected, illustrating his point with the sage words of karate master Kenwa Mabuni: “Going to the island of karate, the rowing of the boat is the pleasure.”
Through karate, Story says he has learned skills that have proved useful in business and beyond, including composure in high-pressure situations, adaptability and vigilance.
“It is a tremendously powerful art,” he says. “And you can become tremendously powerful.”
Online registration for the next session of Wednesday evening karate classes begins December 6, from 8:30am.
Words: Nick Narigon
Image: Enrique Balducci
