A Real Leader lives within a real fighter

Channa Bandara WIJEKOON

Shiahan Nanda Siriwardane is the official representative of the Sri Lanka branch of the true Kyokushin Karate Organization of Japan. He has represented Sri Lanka in World Open Karate Tournaments held in Japan in 1975 & 1979 and later in other world open tournaments in 1984, 1987, 1991, 1996 and 2000. Also he has represented the country in Asian opens for eight years from 1981- 2000.

He has also participated as a Judge in Commonwealth Games in 1988 and 1998.

Shiahan (Supreme Master) Nanda T. Siriwardene is Mas Oyama's one and only Sri Lankan Student. He is a 5th Dan Black Belt. In this article he shares, the wealth of experience and exposure he has gathered over a period of more than 35 years.

Q. We know of you as a Reputed Karate Guru and a expert in full contact Karate, which is Kyokushin. We would like to know of your beginning and how you got into practicing Karate.

A: When I was studying for my Advanced levels, me and my close friend Gamini Kuruppu. Went through a bitter experience with a gang, who harassed us. This led us to study Martial Arts in 1970. At that time, Judo, Ju jitsu, Aikido were popular in Sri Lanka.. Our search for a good master led us to Shihan D.A. Welgama , who was the head of the Sri Lanka branch of Kyokushinkan International karate organization. There we met not only Shihan Welgama, but a gentleman called Shihan Malcom Atapattu. Welgama taught us the true spirit of karate, Atapattu taught us judo and ju jitsu.

One day, I came across the book titled "What is Karate?" written by Mas Oyama with illustrations. This book gave an insight to what karate really is and who Sosai Oyama was. Reading this book inspired me to explore the real meaning and spirit of full contact karate.

Q. Could you tell us about your international exposure? You have participated in the very first World open karate tournament.

A. In 1975, Shihan Welgama got an invitation sent by the World Kyokushinkan Federation in Japan,to nominate participants from Sri Lanka, for the 1st World Karate open tournament. He nominated four participants including myself. Japanese Government took it very seriously and named it as "Karate Olympics". Sosai Oyama personally trained the Japanese team.

Forty four countries comprising of Karatekas, Thai Kick Boxers and Kung Fu fighters took part. Finally, Mas Oyamas students emerged with flying colours to win the tourney. However I fought well and even Sosai Oyama identified me as a fighter with potential.

I went to the tournament as a Brown Belt and received my 1st Dan Black belt from Mas Oyama at the end of it.

Q: Sosai Oyama is the founder of Kyokushin Karate. You have personally obtained valuable instructions from him. Could you share with us, your memories with Mas Oyama, who was a Living Legend?

A: With Welgama's blessings, I wrote to Mas Oyama, requesting him to take me under his wing and got a quick reply "You have made a good decision Mr. Siriwardene ; but the training here will surely be rigorous. Be prepared for it."

But at the time some sinister elements deprived me of going for Mas Oyama's training. I continued with Shihan Welgama and got nominated for the second world tournament in 1979. Later Shihan Welgama died and with his demise, I was made the chief of Sri Lanka Kyokushinkan branch.

Under my leadership we organized the First Sri Lankan Open Karate tournament in 1983. On my invitation, Mas Oyama came down to Sri Lanka for the first time, as a distinguished judge.

The tournament was a huge success. Our Students won all bouts giving us pleasant memories of Japan tournament in 1975.

Mas Oyama who was impressed invited me for a training in Japan. I went to Japan in 1984 for a four month comprehensive training during Winter.

"We had to get up at 5 O'clock in the morning and run 5 Kms. In a day, we had to do 1000 scots, 300 dips and 500 stomach pulls. Food quota was limited. Time allocated for the daily bath was 3 minutes."

Every Friday, Mas Oyama hosted dinner for his best students whom he called as "Young Lions" and I was one of them. We learned a lot and enjoyed our training.

He told us that, "A fighter must be brave and cruel as a tiger, innocent as a deer, cunning as a jackal and far sighted as an eagle"

In 1992 , Sosai Oyama came to Sri Lanka , again on my invitation as the chief guest of the second Open tournament held at Sugathadasa Open Stadium.

He later promised to donate a fully fledged dojo for Sri Lanka branch. Unfortunately before this came a reality the great guru died in 1994, at the age of 70. The martial art he has gifted this world is divine and the void would be difficult to fill.