Tino Ceberano Hanshi and Robert Sullivan Kancho are old friends. In fact, they trained together from the late sixties when Bob would often drive the long distance from Sydney to Melbourne to catch up and train.
Bob was originally training Goju Kai karate in Sydney with Merv Oakley Sensei when Tino arrived in Melbourne in 1966. Bob came down to assist him in getting started and they forged a great friendship.
Over fifty years later, Robert Sullivan Kancho invited Tino Hanshi to present to several dojos in Melbourne to help Hanshi promote his audiobook and spread the word of their shared martial arts journeys.
We often say that Tino Hanshi is the Father of Australian Karate as so many Goju teachers and organisations can trace their roots back to Hanshi. It is a wonderful time for Australian martial arts to let the younger generations coming through know where it all began and share the stories of the pioneers.
Training on the weekend of 1st & 2nd March 2025 took place at Ravenhall, Epping and Narre Warren with large groups making time on the weekend to meet the legendary master and purchase his life story now available as an audiobook, longer than 24 hours in narration. New friendships were made and we hope a few youngsters were impressed with meeting the master, now 83 years of age.
