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Soke Norman Sangwin - A Life History

This article gives an insight into the life of Soke Norman Sangwin - 10th Dan M.A. who is the founding member of the United Martial Arts International Guild.

Soke Sangwin started to learn the Art of Ju Jitsu at the age of 12 in 1940. His early teachings were by the son of a missionary who had returned to England from China and Japan just prior to world war two. Then later by two Canadian Merchant seamen who were Dan grades in judo and ju jitsu.

In 1947 he started to teach Judo and Jujitsu at the Hull Young Peoples Institute and went on to attain his 1^st Dan in Ju Jitsu in 1949. In the late 1950s he attained his 1^st Dan in judo. It was during this time that he was introduced to a Mr Harry Arman a 4^th Dan well into his 70s who had studied under Japanese Masters in the early 1900s. It was he who introduced Soke Sangwin to the Arts of Katsu and kwappo (the Arts of resuscitation).

By 1960 Mr Sangwin was training under Mr Norman Grundy 7^th Dan and has become a member of the Amateur Judo Association and the British Judo Council of Europe.

Over ensuing years he has taught the Airborne Forces, East Riding police and has been employed by the East Riding Of Yorkshire Education Department.

In 1974 he formed the Martial Arts Associated Clubs a multi style Martial Arts Organisation.

By the 1980s after many years of training and teaching Martial Arts Soke Sangwin accepted the Title of kyoshi 8^th Dan Master of Budo in the Nippon Dai Budo Kai Federation. He was also presented to Soke Innoue of Japan and recognised for his contribution to Martial Arts

By forming the United Martial Arts International Guild under the Martial Arts Development Commission, and Also the Guild of Healing Practitioner under which the Martial Art related therapies of Zen Shin Katsu and Japanese finger pressure therapy gain recognition. Soke Sangwin continues now well into his 70s to promote Martial Arts and ethical standards in teaching. Supported by his wife Hilda Sangwin 3^rd Dan in Judo she became a National Champion in the 1960s for the A.J.A at Swiss Cottage , London.

His family play a prominent part in continuing Soke Sangwins work .His eldest Son Colin Sangwin attained a 7^th Dan in Ju jitsu and 4^th degree in Kung Fu after a distinguished career in the army 16^th Parachute Regiment which gave him the chance to study Martial Arts and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong and Brunei. He now teaches in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Colin’s daughter Jennifer Sangwin Also attained a 1^st Dan in Ju jitsu.

Richard Sangwin his youngest son attained a 5^th Dan in Ju Jitsu and has won competition Silver and Gold medals in numerous Championships.

Soke Sangwins daughters are not without notable achievement Kathleen attained a 1^st Dan in Judo and studied Zen Shin Katsu has also gained qualifications in Reflexogy and Hypnotherapy to enhance her knowledge of traditional Eastern Therapies.

Angela attained a 6^th Dan in Ju jitsu, 3rd Degree kung Fu and 4^th Dan judo and immigrated to Australia and together with her Australian Husband Wayne Short 4th Degree Master in Sha olin Kung Fu & Tai Chi Ch’uan. Angela & Wayne developed the World Budo Kai to promote unity and high teaching standards within the Martial Arts in Melbourne, Australia for over 12 years. Here they also taught Self Defence in over 22 secondary Colleges throughout Melbourne as a part of the year 10 School Curriculum. Then returned to the U.K in 1997 to assist Soke Sangwin in his work. Angela attained Master level in Zen Shin Katsu, Diplomas in Acupuncture (Acupuncture College of Melbourne) & Aromatherapy and has taught Alternative Therapies for local Authorities (E.R.Y.C.C) and The U.M.A.I.G. Sadly Wayne died suddenly in March 2000 this lead to the amalgamation of the United Martial Arts International Guild and the World Budo Kai.

Although now himself in his 70s Soke Sangwin remains a practising exponent of the Martial Arts and Healing systems allied to the martial Arts. He is an inspiration and a mentor to three generations of Martial Artists in the United Kingdom & Australia and will continue tirelessly to promote united Martial Arts Ideals.

Wayne Norman Short - A Life History

This article gives an insight into the life of Wayne Norman Short - Si Goong & Master of Shaolin Ch'uan Fa Kung Fu & Tai Chi Ch'uan who was one of the founding members of the World Budo Kai.

Wayne Norman Short was born in Melbourne, Australia on 14^th March 1957

Wayne grew up in a suburb of Melbourne called Pascoe Vale. As a teenager Wayne found the TV series of Kung Fu and the exploits of Bruce Lee an inspiration and soon found himself learning the Chinese Martial Art of Shaolin Ch’uan Fa Kung Fu in the City Centre School of Kung Fu under Serge Martich –Ostermann, who had studied under Master Chang Shih-yung. To the bemusement of his family Wayne spent most of his time there, 4 nights week arriving an hour before the class to sweep the floor of the practice room, and soon became totally engrossed in the Chinese culture. Learning the Cantonese language through his headphones at night to the annoyance of his brother who was trying to sleep. He spent most of the time with his Chinese friends travelling to Hong Kong to learn more of the Chinese ancient Arts of Tai Chi and healing systems. On one of his visits to Hong Kong Wayne met a Buddhist Monk silently practicing his Forms on Lantau Island. Wayne, recognising them as part of his system, showed the aged Monk what he had learnt. Surprised by the Australian youth’s understanding of his system the Monk agreed to teach him what he knew and in consecutive visits Wayne spent many hours and days with him learning more of this internal system. During these visits he also learnt the more subtle approach and fundaments of the Tai Chi Ch’uan system.

His enthusiasm undaunted by travel to Hong Kong lead him to meet Carter Wong the Chinese actor of Big Trouble in Little China fame and to train and be photographed with him.

Hong Kong 1980 Basil Basery, Wong Carter, E Moko Nandi & Wayne Short

Wayne’s father Norman died suddenly in 1985 of a heart attack and Wayne, who had worked with his father since the age of 15 in his foundry, found that he had to run the foundry which was not his ideal of a future career. He did not want to loose track of his Martial Arts dream he had fought so hard to acquire.

In 1986 at a night club in Moorabbin in Australia, Wayne asked a girl to dance, she was an English Nurse. During that song Wayne tried to impress her by telling he was a Martial Arts Instructor – she was not impressed. Her Father Norman Sangwin and her Mother, Sister and two brothers were all Martial Arts instructors in East Yorkshire, and had taught Angela Sangwin Martial Arts since she was 6 years old. By then she already held a 3^rd Dan in Ju Jitsu and Kung Fu. However she did marry Wayne 5 months later at Holy Trinity Church Leven in England so the initial reaction was soon over come as both shared a unique dedication towards the way of life Martial Arts systems had brought to them.

Back in Melbourne Wayne and Angela – began teaching the Chinese and Japanese systems of Martial arts and the healing systems of Katsu under the name of The World Budo Kai – teaching for 10 years with a growing Multi style organisation. His reputation as a teacher grew, teaching in 22 different High schools and secondary Colleges - self defence training over 2000 students a year and teaching his Chinese Martial Arts full time now. Wayne devoted his time and energy at the Traditional Chinese New Year celebrations assisting the Lion Dance charity activities of the Chinese Masonic Lodge for many years.

Wayne and Angela began their family with David in 1989, Holly in 1991 and Keziah in 1994.

In 1997 Wayne & Angela returned to England to help establish the healing systems of Katsu and to promote the gentler theories of Tai Chi for health and well being. After living in Leven with Angela’s parents they bought a home in Catwick.

Wayne taught his classes of Tai Chi & Kung Fu in Leven, East Yorkshire, then found that Tai chi was required to help relax clients of Her Majesty's Prison in Hull.

Soon his Classes extended to Hornsea and Keyingham under the East Riding County Council where his popularity grew. Then in early 1999 he was approached to teach Tai Chi by the Ministry of Defence in Leconfield, where his ability to relieve aching necks and backs was infamous.

Wayne attained an understanding of the finer workings of the Internal Chinese Martial Arts systems rarely found outside of the Chinese community. His gift was in the ability to teach it with enthusiasm and flair. The effect that he had on the people around him was that of deep respect and admiration. To lose such a Master at such a young age of 43 years leaves a void in Martial Arts in the United Kingdom and Australia that cannot be filled. It is in his memory that we will continue to pursue his dreams.

Angela Short - A Life History

This article gives an insight into the life of Angela Short - 3rd Degree Kung Fu, 3rd Dan Judo, 7th Dan Ju Jitsu, Master Zen Shin Katsu, Cert Ed Diploma of Acupuncture, Diploma Of Aromatherapy.

One of my first memories as a child is of going to sleep at night over a room at my parents house to the sound of resounding crashes, thuds and muffled gasps. Perhaps an this could have been an alarm bell to potential domestic disputes downstairs and as a three year old I had become accustomed to them. Though what I did not know then - that it was unusual to have a Victorian terrace house in a seaside Yorkshire town where the entire downstairs been knocked through to a encompass a Martial Art’s Do Jo. In fact in 1963 to have Martial arts in any home in East Yorkshire was not exactly normal.- but my family wasn’t normal !!

My father, Norman Sangwin had been introduced to Kung Fu and Ju Jitsu at the age of 12 in 1940 and it had become more of a way of life. My mother had taken up Judo after meeting my father, and both my older brother and sister learnt Judo before me. By the time I arrived on the scene learning Martial Arts was a forgone conclusion for us. The " judo room" was an excellent place for us to play as children (like a padded cell!) and when we didn’t play – and we fought, but to strict rules ( of the kodokan variety ) My brothers, sister and I rarely disagreed - it wasn’t worth it !

In East Yorkshire, Judo was the in vogue Martial Art then and my father belonged to the Amateur Judo Association, Karate was not well known and Chinese Martial Arts were unheard of. Though, by the mid sixties I used to remember my father teaching my brother something called Kung Fu - but he was 9 years older then me so I did not take much notice, I was too busy trying and mostly failing to win Judo competitions. I managed to come second once at an A.J.A championships in 1967, - they awarded me a bar of chocolate I refused to accept it and sulked – I wanted the medallion on the coloured ribbon !!! Still my mother pacified me by giving me her medallion that she had won that year, I still have it now.

By 1972 my father had stopped teaching judo, Organisational politics of Judo had left him in temporary retirement, we moved to the countryside and my younger brother Richard and I watched the unfolding series of Kung Fu on TV. I remembered my father teaching my older brother Kung Fu years before and Richard and I begged him to teach it to us, he agreed and set up classes firstly in Hornsea in the Church Hall, then Sutton Park in Hull the popularity of the system my father taught led to the Formation of the Martial Arts Associated Clubs in 1974 a Multi style Organisation with my father at the helm. This paved the way for my first Black belt in 1977. I worked hard and found a greater freedom in Kung Fu then I had done in Judo - but in achieving this it made me review what I had already achieved in Judo and I went on to take my black belt in Judo and then Ju Jitsu in 1979.

My Martial Arts career took a back seat while I studied Nursing then Midwifery in the early 80s. I always went home on my days off while I studied in Scarborough and continued practicing Kung Fu and Ju Jitsu. By now in the early 80s Karate and Aikido Instructors and their classes and had united under the banner of the M.A.A.C and joined my father and were keen to cross train and learn new techniques So I often accompanied my father when visiting member Martial Arts Classes. I remember once visiting a Wada Ryu Karate school, and my father was demonstrating a combination move of strikes and locks to the line of karate students – I was the uke ( fall guy) Karate schools practiced on wooden floored halls and had no need of Judo mats. I I had no idea of what my father was going to do until it was too late and I flew through the air to a resounding crack and I executed a loud breakfall on the wood floor to the gasp of the karate students who liked to keep on their feet. Dad smiled as he knew I would land well - my hand stung – but I just narrowed my eyes back at him - thanks!!

In 1982 we were wanting to run an week long training course outside of Hull, and so I walked in to the Grand Hotel in Scarborough and enquired as to the possibilities of running it there. It turned out to be an epic that lasted successfully for almost 20 Years firstly in Scarborough for 8 years then Southport and Skegness. It was at these training courses that we started to teach the revival system of Katsu to the Dan grades that graduated on these courses. Katsu (some times written Kuatsu) had been traditionally taught to judo and Ju Jitsu dan grades for centuries. My father had taught my brothers sister & I all the moves and points required to revive from knock outs, how to push energy ( Ki) and to relieve pain from acute trauma occurring during Martial Arts training activities for as long as I could remember. It was the beginning of structured training in Katsu and it found many eager students wanting to learn the Healing systems of the martial Arts. Later to develop into Zen Shin Katsu –a system much less aggressive but able to help a wider variety of health problems not just what befell Martial Artists!!

By the mid eighties I had finished my nursing and midwifery studies and my desire to travel had overtaken me - I decided to take a year or so out and work in Australia, that year out turned into 12 !! I started teaching Ju Jitsu almost as soon as I moved to Australia - a small class in Frankston Victoria. It was not long before I met my future husband, Wayne Short. Who had enthusiastically studied Shaolin Ch’uan Fa Kung Fu for eleven years and immersed himself in the Chinese language and culture. Speaking Cantonese and a love of Chinese cuisine Wayne later told me that he always thought that he would marry someone from an Eastern Country - Well, from Melbourne if you headed North and turned east from Japan I suppose that you would get to East Yorkshire eventually ! We were married 5 months later and worked together teaching and promoting Martial Arts in Victoria for 12 years.

We developed the World Budo Kai in Australia, as a sister organisation to the U.M.A.I.G in Great Britain and soon attracted instructors of Karate, Kick Boxing, Weaponry and Wing Chun who shared common ideals in Martial Arts. We returned regularly to England to attend Budo courses during this time. When in 1991 my father visited Australia and The World Budo Kai Australia hosted a Multi Style event in his Honour . I was awarded my 3^rd Degree in Kung Fu. And 5^th Dan In Ju Jitsu.

As a female Martial Arts instructor I wanted to promote sensible self defence for women and developed a popular program which Wayne and I taught to over one thousand 15 –18 year olds each year, in over 22 Secondary Colleges in Melbourne from 1991 – 1997 As well as our normal Ju Jitsu and Kung Fu classes.

In 1996 we returned on holiday to England I was awarded 6^th Dan in Ju Jitsu.

I found that my fathers success in teaching and practicing the healing and revival system of Zen Shin Katsu had become legendary and the potential within this system was obvious as the climate and public feeling towards eastern philosophies and Complimentary Therapies was positive. I felt certain that it was right for me to return to the UK. Firstly I needed to consolidate my background knowledge of Kuatsu and on our return to Melbourne, I undertook a post Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Acupuncture College of Melbourne 1996.

Wayne and I took our three children and moved back to England and continued to teach Martial Arts developing The Tai Chi system that Wayne had learnt alongside the Internal system of Shaolin ch’uan fa Kung Fu. It proved to be very popular and more successful then we could have imagined. I concentrated on the Healing systems adding qualification in Aromatherapy and Teaching Certificate of Education aiming to bring a National recognition into the Teaching of Zen Shin Katsu. Though was still heavily involved in the Martial Arts teaching at Budo courses and the Annual training event for the UMA and World Budo Kai.

I had not anticipated the events of March 2000, When Wayne died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 43. I had 3 young children and all Wayne’s classes and Students were frozen in numbed shock. Wayne was in the Process of trial ling a Preventative Health program for the Ministry of Defence involving Tai Chi and Zen shin Katsu it had been more successful then we could have possibly imagined – but Wayne had gone. I had a job as a Nurse Assessor at N.H.S.Direct and taught Alternative Therapies for the East Riding of Yorkshire Education Department taking up all my spare time . My immediate thought was that the MOD program would be lost but I reconsidered almost immediately and decided to continue on with all that he left - I was approached to continue teaching Tai Chi Ch’uan for the Ministry of Defence’s School of Transport as they did not know of anyone else who had the range of capabilities that they had seen in Wayne. Before his death Wayne had spoken of my knowledge base and expertise in these areas ( I think he set me up!). From there I took over teaching Wayne’s Kung Fu & Tai Chi Ch’uan Students and continued on with the World Budo Kai independently. Now in association with my sister Kathleen we have become the event organisers for the United Martial Arts International Guild after our father retired from running the Annual Training week in 2000. This event will now continue in Scarborough October 2002.

Which brings me up to date I am continuing teaching, practising and promoting a lifetime of Martial Arts and the allied system of Zen Shin Katsu. To be honest I do not know much better, Martial Arts has and always will be part of my life.

Pictures from the past