Sensei Phil Snewin began his martial arts career in the late 1970s. His early training was shaped by Sensei John Scott of Ishinryu Karate, a contemporary of Ticky Donovan. From the beginning, Snewin possessed a passion for traditional training, emphasizing quality and awareness over speed of grading.
In 1979, Snewin expanded his studies to include traditional Aikido at Aylesbury Aikikai under Sensei Chas Haywood. However, a pivotal moment occurred in 1981 when he met Hiroshi Kamimoto, a strict traditionalist and student of Kamishin Ryu founder Eiichi Kameyama. Kamimoto, an expert in classical swordsmanship, often related karate applications directly to sword techniques.
After relocating to Staffordshire, Snewin became a personal student of Kamimoto. Training sessions were grueling, often lasting over four hours in a cellar dojo. This intense period focused on perfection of form; Snewin was not permitted to progress to a new exercise until the current one met Kamimoto's exacting standards.
In 1991, Snewin began training with Sensei Julian Mead of the Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai. He found that the principles of Okinawan Kobujutsu meshed perfectly with his Kamishin Ryu Karate background. Under Sensei Mead’s guidance, Snewin was able to unlock complex technical issues and further refine his understanding of weapons and movement.
Throughout his career, Snewin also sought out other Japanese masters to pit his skills against, including several training sessions with Sensei Higaonna of the IOGKF and Sensei Morihiro Saito of Iwama Ryu Aikido.
By the late 1980s, Snewin's focus shifted to developing his own club. His training methods remained so demanding that many early students left before reaching 1st Kyu. However, the effectiveness of his approach was proven in 1989 when a group of his students entered a National Open Knockdown Championship, resulting in a National Lightweight win and several semi-final appearances.
In 1996, Sensei Snewin dedicated himself to teaching professionally. Today, he teaches Karate and Kobujutsu across the UK and maintains a branch dojo in France. His deep knowledge of Japanese fighting systems makes him a highly sought-after instructor.
Courtesy Sensei Phil Snewin
Copyright Shuriway
All rights reserved.
Use of this website is governed by the Terms of Use.