A HISTORY OF SOKE PROFESSOR DR IMRE LASZLO HARNOS “HANSHI”

I am a recognised Grandmaster of Martial Arts in a quite a lot of World Federations for many achievements over the years proving that I’m very dedicated Martial artist. Some of my grading dates back to “ADD DATE” and the Grandmasters whom I had the pleasure of learning from have passed away! But their signatures on my grading diplomas are still here and give a full acceptance of my grading.

At a very young age I started wrestling under the keen eyes of Sandor Soos an excellent wrestler and Olympic representative from the team of Hungary. He was very well known wrestler, with a very big history of this kind of fighting. I was also coached by another well known wrestler by the name of Dr Laszlo Papp coach of the famous KINZSI HUSOS CLUB and Mihaly Matura and Master Lajos Keresztes of Vasas Club who was also an ex Olympian team member in the Hungarian wrestling team. All those men were incredible human beings; the nicest, fairest, full of knowledge and their workouts and methods in freestyle and Greco Roman were hard!

As a junior I entered all the tournaments in Europe as well as International events and training camps mostly at Lake Balaton Siofok for the Institute of Sports Camps. I excelled in all tournaments I entered and soon developed an excellent attitude towards fighting arts.

Come 1956 I escaped to Austria and soon went to France, where I run into an ex Olympian Heavy-weight. Kovacs Jozsef and persuaded me to go and train where he works out. The coach warned me the techniques I used were were too rough and while legal in Hungary and among the first techniques I learned as a junior were deemed illegal and too dangerous in France.

At the same time I began some serious training in Karate and Ju Jitsu. In 1957 on 15th March, I went for a grading in both of those styles and received first Dan by Master Jaques Blanche and graded to Sho Dan Grade in Shotokan Karate and Sho Dan Grade in Ju Jitsu.

Then to Australia, I had to appear in front of the Australian panel, in both styles to prove myself. I was successful and was got officially accepted in Shotokan Karate in the Australian Society of Ju Jitsuans Black Belt Council, in front of 40 black belt masters of all styles of Ju Jitsu!

All this being said I‘m not chasing recognition. Zen Bu Kan style is founded on skills I taught to my students that works on the street. I have my idea of things like all the true grandmasters and am happy to lay my head on the pillow with a good feeling that my students can stand up for themselves in most situations.

There is no way I can guarantee my method work in all of the situations, because there are a lot of different situations that can and will make the difference. Within reason I am happy to give black belts to my students but if they are not deserving they will not receive one from me.

From 1957 to today I have only graded 140 to the Dan grade students only in three continents. I know each and every one of my black belts extremely well. They are caring human beings. One of the main reasons for forming my own style was the way of Japanese Sensei’s teaching was far too strict for Australia. I always taught the Zen Bu Kan style from a more relaxing stand point where by if I I’ll show once and you’re interested you’ll learn it but if you not then go and practice tennis. It seemed to work well!

Our children need someone who will bend down and meet them at their own level, not looking down at them from high above. Our kids are different, our life is different, so naturally if I always try to explain something once to a student in language that they can relate to and understand. If they don’t grasp the concept then I’ll explain it over and over until there is no doubt in my mind that there is a full understanding of that technique. Time must be given to the student to comprehend all what I am teaching to them. I encourage all questions from my students as not everyone learns the same way. Teaching kids in these ways allows them to learn faster and a deeper understanding develops between the teacher and kids.

QUALIFICATIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS:

• A.S J-J. 4th Dan Graded by the late Grandmaster, Len Noyes.

• OKINAWAN KARATE DO 7th Dan on the 25th April 1993 by the Karate Do Federation.

• DAE MYONG YUDO 3rd Dan, on the 27th Oct 1969 by Grandmaster Syd Neil

• South Pacific Ju-Jitsu New Zealand 5th Dan, Graded by Master Oliver in 4th October 1975.

• Koyosho Karate Shinkokai gave me the title of HANSHI with the grade of the 10th Dan on December 1993. By grandmaster Dr F Absher!

• United States karate association “Yudansha” 7th Dan on April 25th 1993 by the late grandmaster Pachivas!

• United States Karate association “HANSHI”i title and 9th Dan on May 1st 1998

• “Eurolucta Medievel Martial Arts Given me a Chief of Instructor Status. Graded by grand master Dr Mihaly Szacsky Technical University of Budapest

• Zen Bu Kan Kempo Karate 10th Dan “HANSHI” on December 15th 1993. Graded by the black belt panel of grading authority

• KEMPO KARATE DO 5th Dan on 4th November 1976 by the late Grandmaster Tom Slaven

• Australian society of Ju jutsuans 5th Dan in January 15th  1976 by the late grandmaster Tom Slaven

• Ryukyu Kenpo Karate 7th dan in jan 14th 1994, by R. Urban Grandmaster

• “Lenchus legend”SHOTOKAN KARATE 10th Dan Feb 14th 1997, by Grnadmaster HANSHI Rick Lenchus

• HANSHI Title was awarded on November 15th 1997

• USKA YUDANSHA BAND OF 7th Dan April 25th 1993

• THAN NINTH DAN and HANSHI TITLE in May 1st 1998

• To teach and as a CHIEF INSTRUCTOR in EUROLUCTA Medievel Maertal Arts. 8th Jan 1986 graded by Master Mihaly Szacsky

• Zen Bu Kan Karate 10th Dan December 15th 1993

• Australian society Ju Jitsuans 5th Dan Grandmaster Syd Neil 15th Jan 1967

• Kempo Karate Do 5th Dan Master Tom Slaven 4th November 1976

• Bun Bu Ichi Nhon Ju Jitsu 8th Dan graded by Dr J Mayle 1st October 1993

• KWO” BOP DO” TAE KWON DO 10th Dan on July 15th 1997by GrandmasterJoe Onopa!

• GRANDMASTER TITLE in the GRANDMASTERS OF THE ROUND TABLE 1st Feb 1997 by the Panel of the other grandmasters

• KYOKUSHNKAI KARATE 3rd Dan July1st 1969 by Grandmaster Neil Attkinson

• As a professional fighter I had 74 fights in the ring, won 72 (I only lost 2 in an unfair fight of 10 x 5 mins) across 15 different countries

• Name is placed in the world Christian martial arts hall of fame on August 3rd 2000.

• I begin to train in Kung Fu also and in SHORINJI RYU KEMP 3RD DAN GRANDMASTER “Len Noyes” 10th November 1967

• Korean art of Dae Myong Yudo 3rd Dan Graded on 27th October 1967 by Grandmaster Syd Neil.

• Graded in the south pacific Ju Jitsu New Zealand 5th Dan on October 4th 1975

• Okinawan Karate do 7th Dan on April 25th 1993 by grandmaster John A Pachivas

• Kojosho Karate Shinkokai “Kyoshu” in the first of December 1993 Titles given

  COACHING:

• Instructor of the year Plague was presented to me on the 19th May 2000 and pace my name in the black belt fame.

• Level 3 coach and special trainer for handicapped children

• Teaching in Australia and overseas in Hungary Zen Bu Kan dojos since 1957

• Recognised & official member of numerous world organisations including:

  • European Martial Arts Federation

  • Japan Martial Arts Federation

  • USA Martial Arts Federation

  • International Budo Sport

  • International sport Karate Association

  • Notable clubs North Sydney PCBC

  • Leichhardt PCBC

  • Armidale PCBC

  • University of New England

• Chief referee across Martial Arts organisations

• Active member of the Martial Arts community since 1947

• Taught in several primary and high schools across the Central Coast including Wyong high, Woy Woy and Umina High school.

• Organising and run several fundraising for many notable charities across the Central Coast. 

• Instructor of the year in International Sport Karate association in 2001

• Inducted to the hall of fame for International Karate Association and the Christian Brothers in Martial arts.

• Trained in AIKIDO, and in Unarmed combat close up manoeuvres

• Weapons training

• Weapons defence and attack

• Tae Kwon Do

I hope you enjoy the Zen Bu Kan Kempo Karate Style and will see you in our Central Coast dojos and at Grading.