Koryu Uchinadi Background

Shawn met Renshi Jason Griffiths in 2006. At this point in time, Shawn was teaching Shotokan Karate-Do and was not considering cultivating a relationship wtih "KU" at that time.

In the time between 2006 and 2008 Shawn and Jason had increasing involvement online, particularly through OzBudo.

In 2008 Shawn was invited by Renshi Jason to attend one of his semainars in Adelaide hosted by Sensei Dave Rigby. Shawn was amazed at the concepts in the seminars and began formally training under Jason immediately after that seminar. Coupled with this, Shawn joined the IRKRS and began working his way through the comprehensive academic material it offered. At that time, no schools existed in SA for Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo Jutsu, so shawn began training by correspondance. This consisted of solo training by way of the Koryu Uchinadi DVD set, consultation with Hanshi Patrick McCarthy and other members of the IRKRS and of course correspondance with Jason Griffiths. Coupled with this, Shawn began private training sessions with Renshi Jason on his next and subsequent visits as well as attendance to all his seminars.

In 2009, after establishing that his progress in KU was being significantly hindered by training solo, Shawn began training with well-known local martial artist, Chris Gilles. Together, Shawn and Chris continued to work through the comprehensive KU syllabus until Chris's permanent depature to Japan in 2010.With both Shawn and Chris having trained for many years on various arts, they were able to draw on their experience to help eachother through.

In 2010, Shawn had an exciting opportunity to meet the creator of Koryu Uchinadi, Hanshi Patrick McCarthy. This was at the Gasshuku held at So Honbu Dojo in Brisbane. While there, Shawn met man experienced KU practitioners with extensive experience and had the honour of training with some of the best. At the conclusion of the seminar, Shawn was presented with his Yudansha in Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo Jutsu. (pictured above) After this event, Shawn decided that the direction of the AACD and his continued training would be concentrated on KU... and the rest is history

Previous Background - Prior to Koryu Uchinadi, Shawn had trained in various other arts and was teaching Karate and Hapkido.This experience helps support the teaching and training of Shawn Donaldson