Steven Bellamy
Encyclopedia
Steven John Bellamy is a British
martial artist, author, and lecturer.
and boxing
at school. He began studying karate in the early sixties, crediting the seminal book Karate the Art of Empty Hand Fighting by Nishiyama and Brown as his inspirational source. His first formal lessons were in the Wadō-ryū under Masafumi Shiomitsu later changing to Goju-ryu under Brian Waites.
In the late sixties and seventies he won numerous national, European, and World titles in karate. He was a British All-Styles Karate Team Member from 1970 to 1973. During 1974 to 1977, he won several full contact and kick-boxing titles in Japan and in the USA. He has lived and trained in Japan
for more than 35 years.
In addition to instructor ranks in karate
, jūdō
and aikidō
, he holds advanced teaching licenses in several classical martial arts
of Japan, notably Shindō Muso-ryū Jodō
, Musō Shinden ryū Iaido, and Kasumi Shindō-ryū Kenjutsu
He is a member of the Kansai Japanese language council (関西国語審議会) and has passed both the Japanese Language Proficiency Test
(日本語能力試験) and the Japanese foreign service translators examination at level 1 (the highest)
He was made a freeman
of the City of Sheffield in 1992.
In July 2009 he was appointed to the Nihon Jodo Association (日本杖道協会) Board of Directors.
In September 2010 he was appointed to the All Japan Iaido Federation (全日本居合道連盟) Board of Examiners.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
martial artist, author, and lecturer.
Biography
Steve Bellamy practiced judoJudo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
at school. He began studying karate in the early sixties, crediting the seminal book Karate the Art of Empty Hand Fighting by Nishiyama and Brown as his inspirational source. His first formal lessons were in the Wadō-ryū under Masafumi Shiomitsu later changing to Goju-ryu under Brian Waites.
In the late sixties and seventies he won numerous national, European, and World titles in karate. He was a British All-Styles Karate Team Member from 1970 to 1973. During 1974 to 1977, he won several full contact and kick-boxing titles in Japan and in the USA. He has lived and trained in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
for more than 35 years.
In addition to instructor ranks in karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, jūdō
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and aikidō
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, he holds advanced teaching licenses in several classical martial arts
Koryu
is a Japanese word that is used in association with the ancient Japanese martial arts. This word literally translates as "old school" or "traditional school"...
of Japan, notably Shindō Muso-ryū Jodō
Shinto Muso-ryu
, most commonly known by its practice of jōdō, is a traditional school of the Japanese martial art of jōjutsu, or the art of wielding the short staff . The technical purpose of the art is to learn how to defeat a swordsman in combat using the jō, with an emphasis on proper combative distance,...
, Musō Shinden ryū Iaido, and Kasumi Shindō-ryū Kenjutsu
Kasumi Shinto-ryu Kenjutsu
, or , is one of the names used to describe the collection of sword-versus-sword training-forms for the long and short sword found exclusively in the Japanese martial arts system Shintō Musō-ryū ....
He is a member of the Kansai Japanese language council (関西国語審議会) and has passed both the Japanese Language Proficiency Test
Japanese Language Proficiency Test
The , or JLPT, is a standardized criterion-referenced test to evaluate and certify Japanese language proficiency for non-native speakers.The JLPT was expanded to five levels in 2010, with passing Level N5 denoting simple language abilities, and Level N1 denoting advanced language abilities...
(日本語能力試験) and the Japanese foreign service translators examination at level 1 (the highest)
He was made a freeman
Freeman
- Things :* An individual not tied to land under medieval serfdom, unlike a villein or serf* A person who has been awarded Freedom of the City or "Freedom of the Company" in a Livery Company* Freeman * Freeman...
of the City of Sheffield in 1992.
In July 2009 he was appointed to the Nihon Jodo Association (日本杖道協会) Board of Directors.
In September 2010 he was appointed to the All Japan Iaido Federation (全日本居合道連盟) Board of Examiners.
Training History
Steve Bellamy studied karate under:- Tatsuo SuzukiTatsuo Suzukiwas the founder and head of the WIKF and held the 8th dan in Wadō-ryū karate. He died at his home on 12th July 2011.- External links:* Professor Tatsuo Suzuki 8th dan hanshi...
and Masafumi Shiomitsu in Wadō-ryū - Brian Waites, Steve Morris and Gary Spiers in the Gōjū Kai
- Morio HigaonnaMorio Higaonnais a prominent Okinawan karate practitioner who is the founder and Chief Instructor of the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation . He is a holder of the highest rank in Goju-ryu karate, 10th dan. Higaonna has written several books on Goju-ryu karate, including Traditional Karate-do:...
, Ei'ichi MiyazatoMiyazato Ei'ichiwas a leading Okinawan master of Goju-ryu karate. He was a senior post-war student of Chōjun Miyagi, founder of the Goju-ryu style. Miyazato held the rank of 10th dan in karate and 7th dan in judo; on his death, he was honoured with the degree of 8th dan in judo.-Early life:Miyazato was born on...
and Koshin Iha in Okinawan Gōjū - Kickboxing and Full Contact under Jeff Smith and Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace
- Wing ChunWing ChunWing Chun , also romanised as Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun, ; ; is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.The alternative characters 永春 "eternal spring" are also...
under Joseph Cheng (UK) and Leung SheungLeung SheungLeung Sheung was a Chinese martial artist who studied Wing Chun Kung Fu who is known as the senior-most student of Yip Man in Hong Kong...
(HK) - His teacher and mentor in Japanese classical martial artsKoryuis a Japanese word that is used in association with the ancient Japanese martial arts. This word literally translates as "old school" or "traditional school"...
and in Japanese calligraphyShodo"Shōdō" is the fortieth single by B'z, released on January 25, 2006. This song is one of B'z many number-one singles in Oricon charts. This song was the opening theme of Case Closed.- External links :*...
for many years was Ichitaro Kuroda.
Writings
- Traffic jams cause rain (1997)
- Sanchin: Your kata is killing you (2002)
- Kihon: Wasted time, wasted energy. What you don’t do will make you better (2004)
- Fight Right (2005)
- Between two trees. The Shindo Muso Ryu of Kuroda Ichitaro (2006)
Publications
- Menkyo : Principles and practice of classical Japanese arts, in English, Sanshidō Publishing, Tokyo (2007)
- 一角流教程 (Ikkaku Ryu Kyōtei) Training curriculum of the Ikkaku Ryu, in Japanese, Sanshidō Publishing, Tokyo (2008)
Other notes
- Bellamy is an Ashtanga YogaAshtanga Vinyasa YogaAshtanga Vinyasa Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois, and which is often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga...
, TM meditationTranscendental MeditationTranscendental Meditation refers to the Transcendental Meditation technique, a specific form of mantra meditation, and to the Transcendental Meditation movement, a spiritual movement...
, and Neuro-linguistic programmingNeuro-linguistic programmingNeuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
instructor. - Bellamy is an IaidoIaidois a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard...
and JōdōJodo, meaning "the way of the jō", or is a Japanese martial art using short staffs called jō. The art is similar to bōjutsu, and is strongly focused upon defense against the Japanese sword. The jō is a short staff, usually about 3 to 5 feet long...
Instructor at the Kaori-jiku Kobudo Dojo in OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan.
See also
- KarateKarateis a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
- Goju ryuGoju Ryu, is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. Both principles, hard and soft, come from the famous martial arts book Bubishi , used by Okinawan masters during the 19th and 20th centuries...
- Shindo Muso-ryu Jodo
- Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido
- Ashtanga YogaAshtanga Vinyasa YogaAshtanga Vinyasa Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga is a system of yoga popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois, and which is often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga...