Shihan Trevor Tockar

Shihan Trevor Tockar 6th Dan has practiced Kyokushin Karate for 40 years (his anniversary in March 2009), and was awarded his 6th Dan by Kancho Matsui in February 1996. He began his training under Shihan Len Barnes at the Martial Arts Academy of the late Judo Master Alex Butcher, and then moved with Shihan Barnes when he left the Academy and opened the Oyama Karate Dojo in Sea Point (Cape Town) in 1971. After completing his university studies at the end of 1974, he joined Shihan Barnes on a full-time basis. After extensive overseas training in 1977, he introduced the formal Kyokushin syllabus into South Africa. He operated various dojos in Cape Town throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, eventually opening a stunning purpose–built dojo in Cape Town in the mid-1990’s.

Shihan Tockar competed successfully in tournaments from an early stage of his karate career, at regional, national and international levels, most intensively between 1969 and 1981. During this time he was awarded his national colours for Knockdown Karate, having represented his State, South African Universities, South African Maccabi, and the South African All Styles team. Shihan Tockar was a member of the South African team which competed in the first World Open Karate Tournament in Tokyo in 1975, and from 1979 until 1999 he was coach of the very powerful South African Knockdown Karate team, which competed in the world tournaments (held every 4 years in Tokyo, attracting fighters from over 100 countries worldwide), and in tournaments in France, England, Australia, Seychelles and elsewhere.

Shihan Tockar was awarded a 5th Dan Black Belt by the legendary Master, Sosai Mas. Oyama, in 1982. This grade entitled him to use the title “Shihan” (which means “Master”), and was achieved when Shihan Tockar was only 31 years old – making him one of the youngest persons in any major international style of karate ever to be awarded the title of “Shihan”.

Fourteen years later, when Shihan Tockar was awarded the grade of 6th Dan, he was graded by one of the most formidable grading panel ever assembled in the history of Kyokushin Karate: Kancho Matsui, Shihan Sampei, Shihan Midori, Shihan Gorei and Shihan Barnes.

Shihan Tockar was for two decades South African branch-chief, and vice-chairman of the IKO (International Karate Organization Kyokushin) for the continent of Africa. The IKO has a registered membership of well over 13 million members. He has officiated in international events all over the world, and is an internationally accredited referee.

Shihan Tockar has throughout his career had a keen involvement with the Maccabi organization, and was captain of the first ever karate team to participate in the Maccabi Games in Israel when, in 1973, he took a South African “goodwill” team to the Games – thereby introducing karate into the Maccabi Games. He again went to Israel in 1981 as a member of the South African team, and in 2005 he was coach of the Australian youth team which participated in the 17th Maccabi Games. A member of the 2005 adult’s team was Anthony Tockar, Shihan Tockar’s oldest son. Anthony performed extremely well at the Games, winning two bronze medals – including a bronze in the very hard men’s heavyweight kumite (fighting) division.

Shihan Tockar practiced as an Advocate at the Bar in Cape Town, being elevated to the status of Senior Counsel in 1997 and being appointed as an Acting Judge of the High Court of South Africa in 1998.

In 2001 Shihan Tockar and his family emigrated to Australia (having been granted residence in Australia because of his “special skills” in karate), and is now practicing as a Barrister at the Bar in Sydney. With his experience and background, Shihan Tockar rates as one of the most senior karate practitioners in Australia.

Sensei Lyle Abel

Sensei Lyle began practicing karate in 1976. Initially he started Goju-ryu style but then transferred to the Shukokai style of karate, developed by Master Chojiro Tani Sensei and Shigeru Kimura Sensei. Lyle was graded to Nidan by Kimura Sensei (8th Dan) in 1981 and, in Japan, to Sandan by Yamada Sensei (9th Dan) in 1998. Sensei Lyle graded for his 4th Dan in Japan in November 2007.

On an all-styles level Sensei Lyle represented South African Universities in both kata and kumite. He also represented Western Province (State) team in kumite from 1979 to 1983, captaining the team in 1982 and 1983. He was selected to the South African national all-styles training squad in 1982/3. At that time, the South African team was regarded as one of the strongest in the world. In 1981 Lyle was a member of the Western Province all-styles team (managed by Shihan Tockar) that won the national team title at the SA Games. Lyle was a prolific medal winner at Shukokai tournaments in South Africa both in kata and kumite on a national and provincial level. Lyle was selected to represent South Africa at the Maccabi Games of 1981 and 1985.

Sensei Lyle managed and coached the University of Cape Town karate team to the South African University Championships from 1983 to 1985. He also managed the Samurai club team in Shukokai Championships during that period. Lyle also coached the Australian Maccabi karate squad in their preparations for the 1997 Maccabi Games.

Lyle commenced instructing in Cape Town in 1979. In 1995 Lyle started and operated the Rose Bay Dojo. He is now an instructor at the North Bondi Dojo.

In 1992 Lyle and his family immigrated to Australia and he now practices as a solicitor in Sydney.

Sensei Jonathan Chriqui

Graded to his shodan by Sosai Mas Oyama in 1993, Jonathan brings an extensive training and teaching history along to North Bondi dojo. He has trained with the best of the best, having attended seminars and gasshukus by Kancho Matsui, Shihan Bobby Lowe, Shihan Hasegawa, and Shihan Uytenbogaardt; to name a few. Jonathan graded to his sandan in 2003 and has been operating dojos throughout Sydney for 15 years. He is a well respected karateka, having judged and refereed on a state and National level, and is known for his humility and super-sharp techniques. Jonathan has been training Kyokushin for 22 years, and was graded awarded his yon-dan in 2009.

Sempai Alexandra Karnasopoulos

 Sempai Alex began her karate journey in 1999 with Shihan Trevor Tockar and has been training under Shihan Kenny Uytenbogaardt and running Tamashi dojo in South Africa for the past 4 years. She achieved her Shodan grade in 2004 and was graded to Nidan by Kancho Matsui in 2007. Although a keen tournament competitor, Sempai Alex's interest is in tournament kata - having competed in two World Tournaments. She is current Australian National Kata Champion. Her focus as an instructor is on technical proficiency, form and movement dynamics. Sempai Alex runs the North bondi kids program and the adult novice and intermediate program, and does private tuition.

Sempai Sarah Lappin

Sempai Sarah is a martial arts legend. She holds a Nidan in Kyokushing as well as black belts in Yagyu Shinganryu Jiujitsu, Taekwondo, Shorinji Ryu Karate and Mushinju Karate. Sarah's love for martial arts and deep connection with Japan is reflected in her fluency in the language and her time spent living in Japan. She has just returned from a 2 month walking pilgrimage in Shikoku; welcome back Sempai Sarah.

Sempai Graham Levy

Graham was involved in the Maccabi movement from the outset, and was instrumental in setting up the Maccabi Karate Guild. He also managed the karate team at the Maccabiah in 2005. He has won gold in the Master’s kumite division for both Maccabi and All-styles karate over the past few years. He is a martial arts fanatic and has undeniably the most comprehensive DVD, resource book and clothing & apparel collection in the southern hemisphere.