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Soke Lawrence
Professor Lawrence passed away on the morning of the 15/01/2003. His influence, legacy and spirit live on in all of us.
Professor Lawrence first started his training at school, learning gymnastics and Greco/Roman wrestling. He then joined the Southend ABA Boxing Club, and left after achieving a modicum of success in the ring.
His first insight into the Martial Arts began with a lodger who taught him Judo, after this he joined the South East Essex BJA Judo Club where he trained three nights a week. Professor Lawrence was then trained by Sensei Gunji Koizumi at the Budokwai Honbu in London. After obtaining his Black belt in Judo he made the British Judo team where he also trained under people such as T. Leggett, E. Dominy, Pat Butler, T. Wyngarde and J. King. After training for a long time, Sensei Koizumi selected students for a special Jujutsu class, and hence Professor Lawrence's studies in that Art began. He has also studied under K. Abbe, T. Abbe and M. Otani, and achieved his 1st Dan in Jujutsu.
During this time Professor Lawrence's father had recently returned from the war, where he had been a Scottish Commando, and educated him in the combat techniques he had learned in the army... he learned much from his teachings.
After this Sensei Koizumi gave Professor Lawrence a letter of introduction to the Kodokan and to the great Karate Master Sensei Gogen Yamaguchi (Goju Kai), whom he knew. Whilst in Japan he obtained his Black belt in Karate and also studied under Mr. Nakayama (Shotokan) and Mr. Oyama (Kyokoshinkai). He also furthered his studies in Judo and Jujutsu at the Kodokan and commenced his studies in weaponry with the Katana, Wakizashi, Tanto and Naginata. He then traveled to Okinawa to further his Karate studies and to learn the use of the Nunchuka, Jo, Bo, Yawarabo, Tanjo, Tonfa, Sai and Kama.
He then traveled on to Korea where he studied Korean Karate under Sergeant G. Lom of the South Korean Army. His next place of residence was Paris. There he studied various forms of combat including the use of improvised weapons such as pens, combs, coins, paper and books etc under Mr J. Dempsie. During this time while back in Europe he entered many Martial Arts tournaments.
From there he traveled to the US where he got a job teaching Judo in a summer camp and then with his wealth of experience in the martial arts Professor Lawrence was invited to New York where he worked with the police force teaching unarmed combat.
After returning to England he furthered his studies under K. Abbe, T. Abbe and M. Otani. He also joined the British Jujutsu Association under Professor J. Blundell who awarded him his Professorship in Martial Arts. He later also joined the Kyushindo Association under Professor G. Mayo who taught him osteopathy.
On one cold November evening in 1968, he formulated the Fudoshin style of martial arts, the A.O.F.A. (Association of Oriental Fighting Arts). Since then his time has been taken up with opening clubs, running the association, and teaching. This has been rewarding and has brought him into contact with some remarkable people.
In 1997 he was awarded the rank of 10th Dan by the Amateur Martial Arts Association of the UK, and the International Martial Arts League of Europe."
In his own words, ProfessorLawrence had this to say about his life:
"Mr.Churchlow, a P.T.I at school, got me interested in gymnastics and Greco-Roman wrestling at an early age as I seemed to have a natural ability. I joined the B.G.A at their Shoebury club and passed the second star qualifications in gymnastics. There were no wrestling clubs around so I joined the Southend Boxing Club as a member of the A.B.A. A broken nose ended my boxing career after a modicum of success in Amateur Boxing.
We had a lodger in our house who was a Judo green belt who was interested in my wrestling abilities. We used to move the furniture and fight on the carpet. I soon learned a healthy respect for Judo, I was now at college so I joined the college Judo club, and later the East Essex Judo club and trained three nights a week. All gradings were carried out by Sensei G. Koizumi at the Budokwai London. All my time and money went to training under this great man. During this happy time I obtained a Black belt and got into the British Judo Team and met and trained with many legends of Judo...T. Leggett, E. Dominy, P.Butler, T.Wyngarde, J.King. I was selected for Jujitsu training by Sensei and trained under Masters K.Abbe, T. Abbe and M. Otani. I was now a Black belt in Jujitsu. My Father had recently returned from the war, where he had been a Scottish Commando, and educated me in the combat techniques he had learned in the army, incidentally he had been a handy boxer in his time and I learned much from his teachings.
Sensei gave me a letter of introduction to the Kodokan and to Sensei G.Yamaguchi, the great Karate Master who he knew, and I was off to Japan. Whilst in Japan, I obtained my Black belt in Karate, trained under Mr. Nakayama and Mr. Oyama and Judo and Jujitsu at the Kodokan in Tokyo. I started my studies in weaponry with the Katana, Wakizashi, Tanto and Naginata. I then travelled to Okinawa to further my Karate studies and to learn the use of Nunchuku, Jo, Bo, Yawarabo, Tanjo, Tonfa, Sai and Kama. I then travelled to Korea where I studied under Sergeant G. Lom of the South Korean Army. Then I made a brief stop in China where I first saw Kung Fu performed by Chinese Priests ( very impressive ). My first port of call in Europe was Paris where I studied improvised weapons under mr. J. Dempsie. During my time in Europe I entered in many Martial Arts Tournaments.
Home to England where I got a job as a doorman in the Mecca Ballroom, and also for a short time taught un-armed combat to the Glouscestshire Police Force.
I took up bare knuckle fighting (scratch fighting) solely for the purpose of making money.
I got a job teaching Judo in a summer camp in New York, and then a job with the NY Police, teaching un-armed combat. Finally home to England where I joined the British Jujitsu Association under Prof. J. Blundell who awarded me my Professorship in Martial Arts. I later joined the Kyushindo Association under Prof. G. Mayo DO,ND, who taught me osteopathy.
Since then, my time has been taken up with opening clubs, running the Association and teaching and organising seminars and tournaments. This has been very rewarding as it has brought me into contact with some very special people, like the blind girl I taught who went on to win her Duke of Edinborough Award certificate for endeavour, and remarkable instructors of Martial Arts such as I.McGarrity, K. Blake, J. McAllister and many more who have been my students.
In recent years I received my BNMA and am currently ranked 10th Dan by the Amateur Martial Arts Association of the UK, and the International Martial Arts League of Europe."