Allen Tottman
6th Dan Shihan Cempa Jutsu Karate
Allen as a young boy originally started his training in Judo, however after a period of time and the high profile of the Bruce Lee boom years in the 1970’s found a new interest in Karate. It was spring 1976 when Allen age 12 enrolled in a local Wado Ryu Karate school under Chief instructor Y Shinohara. Over the next four years Allen trained with many of the leading Wado Ryu instructors in the UK including Sensai Sagaswara and Suzuki. Training was technical and hard and included weekend and squad training sessions
In 1979 as a 3rd Kyu Brown Belt Allen represented East of England in the UK national Championship finals at Crystal Palace in both Individual and Team Kumite at senior level aged 17. At this time Allen was perhaps a little over enthusiastic in kumite and often got warnings or disqualification for excessive contact of continuing to fight after the referee had called yame!
Later that year there was also an inter style competition between Wado Ryu & Shotokan, with demonstrations from the leading Japanese instructors from both Karate systems. Due to injury Allen was a spectator, however he was impressed with the low stances, focus, power and aggression of the Shotokan karateka also the demonstrations from Sensei Enoeda were of an exceptional standard
Between 1980 to 1985 Allen drifted between various clubs and styles covering Ju Jitsu,Kung Fu, Kubudo, Kick Boxing and full contact Ring fighting in local pubs on Sunday lunchtimes. Through this period Allen gained a great knowledge of training techniques and body conditioning.
In 1985 when visiting a local Shotokan Karate club with his brother in law, Allen stumbled across Peter Knight 3rd Dan. Peter’s abilities were exceptional not only did he have a great technique and co-ordination he was equal with regards to using both hands and feet to knockout effect, plus Peter’s physical development training was the hardest he had ever done . Allen started training and in December 1986 after training in the martial arts for ten years achieved the Shodan Black Belt grade. The training continued for a further two years with many hard full contact lessons .
To this day Allen believes Peter Knight ( 5th Dan) to be one of the best if not the best all round Karate instructor he has ever trained with.
In 1989 – 1998 Allen opened his first karate club in Dagenham with a further three to follow in the local area. These clubs were successful and it was at this time Allen was asked to develop training programmes in a variety of areas including the Army (Parachute Regiment) and Police. Also Allen embarked in teaching self defence courses at various locations. At this time Allen also had senior black belts, 3rd & 4th Dan levels training with him from the middle east and central Asia.
In 1993 still a 1st Dan Allen was introduced to Sensei Mike Springer 6th Dan Shotokan with regards to taking a further Dan grade. It was with Sensei Mike Springer, Ashanti International Karate covering Palastine, Middle East and Barbados Allen completed his 2nd Dan grading in Brixton South London. Allen continued developing his Karate and in 1996 after a two day grading ordeal covering the full Shotokan syllabus he was awarded 3rd Dan. Allen has always thanked Sensei Springer for helping Allen to link his knowledge of various techniques and skills into a single usable system including pressure point fighting and Barbados stick fighting.
In early 1998 Allen handed all clubs over to his Black belt instructors so he could focus and continue his training on his own, by now it was evident that although he was teaching the Shotokan system he personally had drifted some way from the original Shotokan style.
Maintaining regular training sessions in his gym and developing aggressive Kata applications Allen emerged in mid 1999 and opened a new club in South Ockendon in a local church hall with the intension of keeping the club small. It was hear he first trained Steve Nunn
Steve had been training around for 25 years and knew the martial arts well but only held a intermediate grade. The small club was all about practical full contact karate wearing only minimum protection, heavy fighting most nights see little if any of the students stay!.
Allen has always valued Steve for his counsel; it was Steve who recognised how different the training was and suggested it be fully developed and registered as a new system free from the restraints of existing karate styles. On reflection Allen realised he had been developing the system since 1993 and then gathered all the training notes he had made over the years.
In the millennium year 2000 Allen obtained his 4th Dan in Shotokan Karate.
The
development of the system continued for a further six years. In June 2006 the full Cempa Jutsu Karate system was submitted to Amateur Martial Association executive committee to be registered as an independent style. In August 2006 the system was registered and born. Allen’s grade was reviewed with a 5th Dan being awarded in Shotokan Karate and a 6th Dan (Rokudan) Shihan in Cempa Jutsu Karate.
Allen continues to teach and train five times a week with a further 3 sessions a week in the gym to maintain his overall fitness levels. Whenever possible Allen will teach seminars to promote the Cempa Jutsu system. ( Please contact Allen direct for details)
Over the years Allen has attended seminars with many leading instructors from all over the world. These include: Sensai’s Enoeda, Suzuki, Shinohara, Sagaswara, Nevile Wray, Mike Springer, Terry Wingrove, Borut Kincl,
George Dillman (Pictured) and Hanshi Nohara 8th Dan Ryukyukan Shorinryu Okinawa karate
