Page 42 - Phonebox Magazine October 2015

We chat to John van Weenen OMT MBE
Many of you will recognise John from in and around Olney, but there’s a lot you may not know about him.
John was brought up in Enfield in quite a hostile environment: “The area was pretty unsavoury, quite run-down and fights were the norm. In my early years, I thought everyone in the country behaved the way people did in the area where I lived. As I grew up, I realised this was not the case. There was no respect for one another; the language was appalling and behind closed doors, domestic violence was rife. I hated what I saw and when I was old enough to leave – I did! It was the best thing that ever happened to me; it changed me as a person. I found it all quite refreshing and exciting.”
In his early years, John had an involvement in swimming. “As a member of the Enfield Swimming Club, I worked my way to national level, before being selected to represent
England in Germany in 1956 in the 100 yards breaststroke. I reached the final but then was promptly annihilated. My swimming career took a dive from which it never recovered.” At the age of 22, why did John decide to disappear down under? “I suppose I was looking for a different life, wanted adventure, and I certainly found it. During my 3 years there, I helped out at a migrant hostel in Adelaide. It was my first experience of voluntary work and all the migrants I assisted were British. Many were suffering from hardship after paying £10 each to reach Australia, but on arrival were broke financially. Most families wanted to go home to the UK but were obliged to remain in Australia by law for a 2-year period. With no benefit system and few jobs, it was a nightmare for many. I did what I could.”
Being a Shihan and an 8th Dan Black Belt in karate, the art has influenced John’s life for over 50 years: “In 1964 I was severely beaten up by a gang in an unprovoked attack in Australia. After being discharged from hospital, I joined a karate club and spent 3 years training hard. Revenge – totally the wrong reason for training – was never far from my thoughts but disappeared as I became more involved in the art.” In 1968, John set up a national karate network. He believes the foundations of Karate are in discipline, respect, manners and a moral code; the club in Olney is thriving. Funakoshi, often said to be the Father of modern-day karate, is a huge part of John’s life: “He was invited to demonstrate his art in 1922 in Tokyo at the request of the Japanese Emperor. He never returned to his native land and under his leadership, karate blossomed.
An Albanian girl receiving her first ‘sweet’ in 1992
Although karate was an incredible fighting art, Funakoshi being an academic and scholar espoused a moral code akin to that of the Samurai warrior. Above all he taught etiquette, respect and a need to demonstrate compassion and benevolence to your fellow man.” It was this philosophy that took John’s own karate into a different realm.
“That TV report was a watershed in my life.”
Of his several books, John says, “My first was ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Shotokan Karate.’ I’m told it was received quite well in almost every English speaking country. I’m happy to say this appears to be the case, for it’s become the best-selling beginner’s textbook on Shotokan Karate in the world. Five other books followed.”
John first heard about the issues in Albania in a television report: “That TV report was a watershed in my life. I lived at Fineshade Abbey, near Stamford and on 21st September 1991, whilst making a cup of tea, I turned on the television and terrible images that left an indelible impression on my mind were the pictures of a little girl whose name I came to know extremely well. Jessica Nexhipi was lying helpless and malnourished in a rusty cot. At 5 months of age, she was to die weighing a pound less than when she was born. Her eyes were full of pain and suffering. It was horrific and I decided there and then that I had to do something about it. Four months later, the largest convoy of humanitarian aid to leave Britain since WW2 left Bedford.” It consisted of 25 trucks carrying 700 tonnes of
Hirokazu Kanazawa performing his ‘Butterfly Kick’ in 1972
42 Phonebox Magazine