Interview with Fujii sensei

[blackcat]

This is taken from a magazine called 'Fighting Arts' and was published mid-70's.

The following interview is with a prominent Wado-ryu Karate
teacher and former All-Japan Champion, Fujii sensei, who taught in
Europe for some years and then disappeared quite suddenly from
the Karate scene. The interviewer is llpo Jalamo, a Finnish
karateka who is presently training at the Nichi Dai Karata Club in
Tokyo.

Fujii Sensei when and where were you born?
I was born on March 29th 1938 in Kyushu.

When did you first start Karate?
Not until I came to Tokyo to study at University. Prior to that I had practiced
Judo for two years but I soon changed to Karate as I found it more powerful
and useful.

Who was your first teacher?
As I was studying law I first trained in the law department's dojo under Mishima
Sensei. When I moved to Nichi Dai (Nihon University) in 1958 my teacher was
Arakawa Sensei. Also Otsuka Sensei, the chief instructor of Wado-ryu
sometimes visited and taught at our dojo. lncidently the captain of the Nichi
Dai Karate club was a teacher you might have heard of, Mr. Kono. He is now a
Karate instructor in Europe - Germany I think.

When did you get your Black Belt?
ln 1960, after two years training.

Was the training at Nichi Dai different in those days to what it is today?
Not really, the basic training is pretty much the same. The free-fighting was
much harder though, because there were nearly one-hundred of us training
at that time - now there are only thirty or so.

What are your most outstanding memories of those days?
Outstanding memories . . . well, I thiink my worst was of the great many students
who gave up their Karate training after only a short time. Maybe it was because
we trained very hard . . . I don't know. My best memory is winning the All-Japan
Championships in 1962. I can still remember my fights very clearly.

How did you prepare for those Championships and what were your fighting
tactics?
No special preparation - I trained as I usually did. My style was mainly
defensive -- I would wait until my opponent started his attack and then try to
get my counter-attack in first. Of course, sometimes I attacked also. My two
favourite techniques were Gyaku-tsuki (reverse punch) and Mawashi-geri (round-
house kick).

Who was vour most difficult opponent in this Championship?
A Mr Yoshisoki from Kansai University .. . he was a very strong fighter and I
met him in the final. I eventually beat him with two half-points, one each from a
Mawashi-geri and a Gyaku-tsuki.

When did you go to Europe to teach?
I went to Amsterdam first in 1967 and taught for eighteen months and after that
I taught in Germany for a few more months before settling in England - I spent
almost four years there.

As a teacher what did you feel was the greatest difference between European
Karate and Japanese Karate?
I believe that the Japanese learn waza (techniques) more deeply than the
Europeans, On the other hand, Europeans try to learn waza more widely. For
Example, in Japan, the Gyaku-tsuki is taught in one way and after hard
training it becomes very strong but the Europeans tend to learn many different
ways to deliver this punch and sometimes they use it quite surprisingly. The
first way, whilst very powerful, lacks variety and the second way, whilst variable
often lacks power - it is a matter of the time spent and the particular emphasis
placed on a movement. lt is very difficult to say which way is the better.

What is the main principle that you teach to students?
I always tried to explain, in both theory and practice, the difference between
sport and budo. Also that a strong mind is as important as a strong body.

Many Japanese Karate teachers have stayed in England - why did you leave?
Well, I returned to Japan in 1971 because l was getting old and when l got
married, I thought it would be better to live with my new family in Japan. Since
then I have been back to Europe privately three or four times.

What are your fondest memories of the times you spent in Europe?
My best memories are from England - I had good times there and have many
friends whom I often think about.

Would you return to Europe again to teach?
Oh, l'd like that very much but my family and work is here and it would be very
difficult to leave.

What about your own training?
I still train with my friends from Nichi Dai but not as often as l would wish
because I am kept very busy with my work. lt is a pity because l am very fond
of Karate but there is just not enough time for me to spend on it as I would like.

What is your business that keeps you so busy?
I import stones and the like and working alone I have to be in many places at the
same time. At present I am trying to find business companions in Europe
because there is very good granite there.

You have a beautiful wife and two strong children and seem to be a very happy
family.
Yes, we are very happy. I have been married nearly four years now, my daughter
is nearly three and my son is six months old.

Would you like your son to follow in your footsteps and become a Karate champion
Well,l would like him to train in Karate when he is old enough but it is not so
necessary to become a champion. To become a good person is much more
important.



Finally, would you like to send a message to all your friends and students in
Europe?
Yes! I hope that they are all getting on well and I want to thank them for all the
help and kindness they gave me during my stay.

Sensei, thank you for the interview.

[oneya]

Would you like your son to follow in your footsteps and become a Karate champion
Well,l would like him to train in Karate when he is old enough but it is not so
necessary to become a champion. To become a good person is much more
important.

Thanks for this Ben, .... his answer here is typical of the man.


oneya

[blackcat]

suzuki otsuka fujii.jpg (18.56 KiB) Viewed 7604 times

Just a quick photo to go with the interview. This was taken at the 1968 Championships held in London.

Ben

[blackcat]

Would you like your son to follow in your footsteps and become a Karate champion
Well,l would like him to train in Karate when he is old enough but it is not so
necessary to become a champion. To become a good person is much more
important.

Thanks for this Ben, .... his answer here is typical of the man.


oneya

I never met him unfortunately, but certainly what you've said reflects what others have told me. He was based in Birmingham at one time as the senior instructor amongst Sakagami, Hayakawa and Takamizawa. The three of them shared a house and Fujii lived separately, but apparently he used to be around every morning at 9.00am kicking at the door to get them out training calling out something like "other people work and your work is karate!"

Back at Sakagami's old Heath Town dojo, there were two guys used to come over from Birmingham every couple of weeks who had started out under Fujii. I've not seen those two now for many years. If Kate is reading this she may remember them. I'm sure Peter May or Frank Johnson will recall them too.

Ben

[jacob]

Hi Blackcat, thanks for posting that seems he was a very modest man.