Osu and Hello, for those who don’t know me, my name is Ritchie and I am a 6th Dan Black Belt in Kyokushin Karate, representative of All Japan Kyokushin Union (Japan) and Chief Instructor of A.J.K.U – MUSASHI DOJOS as per the Home page. My official Japanese title at this rank is Shihan (for those who read Home page and didn’t understand). Contrary to what many people may believe “Shihan” in it’s Japanese writings means “Fine example”.
I have very colourful life experience both in sporting and working areas. From the age of 5, I became involved in sport and I have long term experience in Football, Cricket, Athletics, Running, Swimming, Cycling, Volleyball, Indoor Rowing and Triathlon. One of the highlights of my life was to complete the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon involving 3.9 Km swim, 180 Km bike and 42 Km run, Kona Island, Hawaii. Not to mention the martial arts area of course, Judo, Jiu-jitsu and Kyokushin Karate, the latter being the one I have been involved in for the majority of my life training, instructing coaching, tournament competitor as a non contact and full contact fighter. My involvement in tournaments now is an internationally qualified Judge and Referee, adviser and organizer of major events.
In the working environment, I had 23 years hands on experience as a Victoria Policeman and worked in numbers of areas involving and including investigation into extremely serious criminal offences. As a result, I know first hand the necessity and benefit of fitness and self defence techniques. I also performed extensive duties as a Victoria Police Bodyguard in the expertise of VIP Close Personal Protection and Witness Protection.
Above all though my love has always been and will always be that of Kyokushin Karate and I intend to spend the rest of my life training and giving anyone who is interested the best of opportunities to achieve whatever their desires are within one of the biggest and most amazing martial arts in the world, traditional Japanese Kyokushin Karate.
A.J.K.U instructors are internationally qualified with huge experience and credibility. Regardless of our qualifications and experience, we are all very approachable and always ready to do anything possible to help people progress in all forms of their lives, not only the martial arts.
Come along, give it a go and share your life with us. Its not easy, but nothing at high level ever is……………everyone can do it though, it just takes “desire and determination”.
“Kyokushin Karate is very easy to teach……….but very difficult to teach properly”.
Comment; Shihan Ritchie Saunders, 6th Dan. ALL JAPAN KYOKUSHIN UNION