Rembuden Kilbirnie Karate Club

About Us

A martial arts organisation originally founded by Patron Sensei John Jarvis over 40 years ago to teach Karate, Kendo, Iaido and Jodo. The name was given to it by Kuroda Sensei. a leading teacher of the Martial Arts and Calligraphy. The name is made from the Japanese - Rem, to train with the heart and spirit, Bu meaning the martial ways, and Den being the place of practice.

The Rembuden name is used by a number of clubs run by Yudanshakai Black Belt students of Jarvis Sensei. Rembuden Kilbirnie was the last Dojo that Jarvis Sensei taught at prior to him retiring.

Sensei John Jarvis

Jarvis Sensei spent 2 years in London (1965) studying Karate with Steve Arneil (the then Head of UK Kyokushinkai Karate) before travelling to Japan to train under the late world famous Master Mas Oyama. Jarvis Sensei was the 5th person in the world to complete the 100 man fight and was graded 5th Dan by Oyama Sensei. Refer www.masutatsuoyama.com/100mankumite.htm

He also graded 2nd Dan in both Jodo (Japanese Staff fighting) and Iaido (Defensive Swordsmanship) having studied both at the Tokyo Riot Police School during his time in Japan. In 1977, Jarvis Sensei resigned from Kyokushinkai because of philisophical differences and on the advice of martial arts friend, writer, author and mentor Donn Draegar visited the Yoyogi Dojo of Okinawa Goju Ryu Master Higaonna Morio. Shortly afterwards Jarvis Sensei's Rembuden organisation aligned itself to Higaonna Sensei's network.

In 1987 Jarvis Sensei retired as Chief Instructor of Rembuden. By then, Jarvis Sensei had also been graded 5th Dan in Okinawa Goju Ryu, with a total of 14 Dans to his credit, certainly the most qualified Martial Arts instructor in Australasia. At its peak Rembuden had Dojos throughout NZ, Australia and the South Pacific. Now only a handful still operate under the Rembuden badge, while the others have affiliated to overseas Goju Ryu associations. Although retired from Karate, Jarvis Sensei still retains an interest in his Karate links, and the Classical Martial Arts.

Jarvis Sensei was succeeded as NZ Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Head by Dennis May Sensei of Auckland. Sensei May originally belonged to the Rembuden Organisation under Jarvis Sensei, but now heads his own Okinawa Goju Ryu organisation.

The Head Instructor at Rembuden Kilbirnie is William Young who started training under Jarvis Sensei in 1975 in Kyokushinkai Karate when the Dojo was based in Wellington City in a building overlooking "Pigeon Park".

1983 Sensei Young (far right) visiting Chojun Miyagi's grave Okinawa Japan, with Sensei Higaonna Morio

1983 Higaonna Makishi Dojo Okinawa Japan

From 1977 to 1995, Sensei Young trained in Higaonna Morio's Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate before leaving to practise independent of him. He has furthered his own training with visits (the last of which was in July 2006) to the Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-Do So Honbu Jundokan, the Dojo founded by the late Miyazato Ei'ichi Sensei who was a senior student of Master Chojun Miyagi. While in Okinawa, Sensei Young has received advanced Kata training from Senior Instructor Yasuda Tetsunosuke Sensei 10th Dan.The Jundokan is where Sensei Higaonna (Sensei Young's first Goju Ryu Instructor) received his Okinawa Goju Ryu training.

Jundokan Okinawa Japan

Rembuden Kilbirnie is a completely independent Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Dojo. It is not associated with any other Rembuden Clubs, or individuals purporting to be "Chairman" of such. We operate as a non profit club. Our primary goal being to teach students the art of Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate. The Dojo continues to subscribe to the teachings of Master Chojun Miyagi, with a complete absence of Karate Boardroom Kumite.

Brown Belt training session at Kilbirnie

Sempai Peter leading a group of Juniors in Ido

All lined up ready for action!!

Scott Young and Rebecca Moriarty in Kamae

If you have any enquiries, please contact us at the phone number below or by email (point cursor to email address and left click mouse)

Enquiries To: Rembuden@Yahoo.co.nz

or Phone (04) 383-6348  (No Mobile Numbers please)