In the winter of 2017 an idea was hatched to write the biography of Tino Ceberano Hanshi who opened our dojo at North Balwyn in 1970, relocating it from Canterbury after it began in 1967.
At that time the style or organisation was called Goju Kai under the leadership of Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi. In 1990 Tino Hanshi created his own organisation, the IGK, and our dojo continued to this date under the new label.
While the club’s history was documented in part in martial arts magazines and newspaper articles of the era, the work to document and preserve the stories of the club and its many dedicated members over decades never took place.
IGK Victoria, led by John Ross Shihan and Lambros Kallianiotis Sensei started the process of compiling the history and appointed a student, Dr. Michael Black, to assist in gathering the required resources and interviewing Tino Ceberano Hanshi. First starting as a website, the project rapidly grew in size until it became clear that only a book would do the story justice.
The first three years involved scanning many aged magazines and newspapers for content on club tournaments, camps and other activities. Tino Hanshi was always active with public demonstrations so there were plenty of old news clips to draw from.
Hundreds of old students were interviewed, opening up a Pandora’s box of memories, photo albums and tales. It was a mammoth task to transcribe the many recorded conversations and draw the best stories to use in the book.
John Ross Shihan and Lambros Kallianiotis Sensei began their training in the dojo in the 1980s. They share a pedigree of excellence in Goju karate training under Tino Hanshi. They both feel immense pride to continue the legacy in the same dojo and share the skills they’ve honed over many years.
John Shihan says, “This dojo has stood for 53 years. Training continues at North Balwyn as I knew it back in the day. It’s an honour to be able to pass it on to the next generation”. He looks back on the many years he trained within the same four walls and proudly describes how hard the training was. He attests to the value of karate in his life and how it has shaped him.
Lambros Sensei recalls, “Our training was rigorous and disciplined. We worked hard with our seniors who went through the same experience and took their training seriously. I feel the youth of today will benefit from the same regular training for the discipline and fitness it imparts to them, with improved study, focus and mental health.”
The biography, titled “TINO The Father of Australian Karate” was published and launched in late 2023 with Tino Ceberano Hanshi and Dr. Michael Black as co-authors. Michael spent his early years at the club from 1971 and returned at stages in his adult life to train.
The book has been very popular, especially with club members, past and present, and other of Melbourne’s martial arts instructors and students who attended various workshops with Tino Hanshi to have their books signed. It is a limited edition print and will be a collectors item when books are sold out.
Books are priced at AU$54.95 and remaining stock will probably sell out in the Autumn of 2023. Orders can be placed at www.tinoceberano.com.au .
John Ross Shihan and Lambros Kallianiotis Sensei recommend all club members have a copy to fully appreciate the club’s history and, of course, the adventures and life of the founder and Chief Instructor of the IGK, Tino Ceberano Hanshi.