Sports reporter Oliver Kidman dons his gi and tries out Wado Ryu karate under the expert tutelage of chief instructor Ryan Lambotte
WE switched things up for Tryout Tuesday this week, trading the racket for the gi as I tried a bit of traditional karate at Jersey Wado Ryu.
Having long been a fan of MMA, with fighters such as former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, former UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson and one of the sport’s all-time greats in two-weight world champion Georges St-Pierre showing just how exciting karate can be on the big stage, I was super keen to give it a go.
Now, it wasn’t as if I was going into the session thinking I’ll earn a UFC contract, but I was prepared to make the most of the opportunity by soaking up as much information as possible. One would be a fool not to, as Jersey Wado Ryu hold an incredible roster of coaching talent, with over 120 years of combined martial arts experience.
Chief instructor Ryan Lambotte heads the group, boasting an impressive résumé of achievements and accolades. Beginning his martial arts journey at five years old, Lambotte has truly shone in the field, achieving 1st Dan just two weeks after his 12th birthday to become Britain’s youngest full black belt at the time.
The club’s chief instructor added a bit more detail to his personal journey, saying: “I first started because I was a very hyper-active child, not naughty or anything but just full of energy. So, my parents brought me down to the karate club to try focus and channel that energy, and it was just perfect for me.
“At a very young age, I knew that I wanted to be an instructor, not just a black belt. I’m an all-or-nothing kind of person, so that dedication has been a big part of my life, and March this year will my 45th year of karate.
“For me, I do this because it’s all about the empowerment of others, that’s the gift of teaching. One of my most senior instructors – Sensei Robert Cragg – has been taught by me since five years old, so I’ve seen him through his entire life, being there for him as a big brother, a friend and an instructor.”
Wado Ryu
Wado Ryu is one of the four major karate styles, officially registered with the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (Japan’s largest martial arts organisation pre-WWII) by founder Hironori Otsuka in 1938.
Similar to Shotokan Karate, Wado Ryu employs linear striking, but instead of the former’s more aggressive approach, the latter opts for tai sabaki – which translates to “body management” – as it’s true principle. This refers to body manipulation, so that the defender moves as well as the attacker out of harm’s way. To achieve this, harmony is prioritised over physical strength, so that the attack’s energy is diverted and evaded to then simultaneously throw a counter.
Although Wado Ryu is a highly effective form of self defence, its benefits are felt far beyond competing and practising. Lambotte says that it’s “a way of life”.
“The beauty of karate and Wado Ryu is that the aim is always to be the best version of yourself, so everyone is supporting each other and striving to better themselves,” Lambotte continued.
“Karate really is a way of life, it’s the Bushido way. It’s a way of conducting yourself and others with respect while doing the right thing, even when no one’s looking. It’s not just about protecting yourself, and you don’t need to come to the club and try be a world champion, it’s just about bettering yourself and others.
“I speak for not just myself, but other instructors in karate when I say you never really understand how many lives you’ve touched and improved. Often, I’ll come across students in their 30s all grown up, even their kids will come to me and say how karate helped them through a difficult time. At the time you have no idea, you’re just always looking to do the right thing.”
You also pick up a host of skills to further aid your day-to-day life, as the chief instructor added: “Through training for so many years, I’ve gained a great understanding of my body, and I can assess individuals because I’m reading body language all the time. When you’re stepping out and bowing in front of someone, you have to read their facial expressions and movements within a 100th of a second. That’s just what you have to do, and those skill sets help aid success in everyday life.”
Time for me to give it a go
At long last, I stepped into the hall to join one of Jersey Wado Ryu’s two weekly sessions, both held at Bel Royal School on Monday and Thursday evenings.
To say it got off to a good start would be an understatement, as I had the delightful surprise of being named an “honorary black belt” for the day. With this honour, I had to stand with the rest of the black belts while going through the routines, so the pressure was on!
What came as an instant learning curve was the fact that all of Ryan’s commands were articulated in Japanese, so there I was standing in confusion while everyone punched the air. Fortunately, everyone was very understanding, as the chief instructor – as well as the other black belts – took the time to explain the commands as we went.
We started with basic movements, such as punches, kicks and changes of direction. Sounds easy enough, right? That’s what I thought, especially since I’ve been practising Muay Thai for a good few months, so surely my punches and kicks would be fine.
But, under Ryan’s watchful eye, he constructively picked out small tweaks in an instant to drastically improve technique, from foot placement to even how you curl up your fingers when clenching your fist for the punch. And, without the bag, it was even harder to perform the kicks, let’s just say my hips were feeling it after the session!
After that segment, we moved on to executing techniques while on the move, throwing different punches, kicks and blocks together. That was before being divided into groups, where I was then paired with 3rd Dan black belt and junior instructor lead Keri Murrell.
With Keri, I was able to really slow everything down and learn at my own pace, which made for a great experience. Many would probably be intimidated by training with a black belt, as you’d probably think that they’d want to work at their own pace, but fortunately it was the complete opposite. She was just so understanding and incredibly patient, I instantly felt comfortable.
What really hit home for me was the club’s supportive and welcoming community. Yes, I made a few errors and my mind got a bit mixed up with some of the routines, but someone would always be there to offer a helping hand, which went such a long way in terms of my experience.
Ryan Lambotte was glad that I picked up on the club’s culture from just one class, saying: “At my karate club, we attract like-minded people who always look to do the right thing when no one’s looking, as that’s the role modelling that we project.
“Wherever I go, I want the culture to be like that. I work for Investec, heading up their financial intermediary business, and they too have a phenomenal culture. Out of all the banks I’ve worked for, they have the best culture by far, which is what has kept me there for so long.
“We’re here to support everyone, as everyone is different. Everyone’s on a different journey, at a different point while going at their own pace. You never know what people are going through, so you allow them to take things at their own pace and support them the best you can.”
When the hour session came to a close, I was ecstatic with what I had achieved in that span, which was mainly a testament to Ryan’s incredible coaching and the club’s supportive members.
To have such an experienced martial artist in Jersey is a great privilege for the Island, so to benefit from that was a real treat. The amount of attention he was able to give me, a complete beginner, while managing to spread his time fairly and give everyone the tutelage they required really just went to show what a great instructor he was.
How can you make a start?
Personally, I couldn’t recommend this sport enough. The immense benefits it brings not just to your health and fitness, but also your life as a whole, really are hard to match and carry over incredibly well.
You don’t have to be like Jean-Claude Van Damme or anything like that, as the club truly is open to everyone. Local star Grace Greenwood, who’s achieved great things in martial arts with cerebral palsy, is a testament to this statement, proving that karate has room for all.
Lambotte went through how beginners can make their start with the club: “We have quite a robust welcome pack that can be downloaded from our website, which has everything from etiquette to instructions or club do’s and don’ts.
“So, they have that before even turning up for a class, because some people feel comfortable doing the research before attending the class. We then teach the basics, such as showing respect through bowing in and out of the dojo. In terms of karate, we always teach one how to defend themselves first before striking, as it’s a self-defence art.
“I’d always recommend anyone and everyone to try a session, but it would be good to research all the clubs in Jersey first. In terms of Japanese karate, Jersey is really blessed with some fantastic coaches and clubs who are also quite flexible. If our timings don’t work for you, I’d always be happy to recommend other clubs, so try some out.”
Jersey Wado Ryu hold sessions between 6.30-7.30pm on Mondays and Thursdays, so if you’re interested, feel free to contact the club through their Facebook page.
