I suppose as with all things instrumental, if it  feels good “do it” springs to mind, else if it doesn’t, we all have a  tendency to throw whatever we are not impressed with out of the window, and  “bin it” as the saying goes. I am only too thankful where in the case of my  early days of Karate, the latter takes the lead, and thankfully that I had such  people who impressed me back then. One of these people being none other than  Sensei Ronnie Colwell whose spirit of excitement brought me to realise that we were being instructed not just by a man of means, but a man so  charismatic that he had an aura around him as one who had been there, seen it,  done it, and won it. Quite definitely not for the faint hearted, I remember  those early days so well, and hope that I can relay some information about him  to the reader so as not to create a “Demi-God” as some people do about other  instructors, but hopefully enlighten people to a man who has gone on since and  proven that Karate really does work if you have the correct Ki and understanding  in your development. This is Ronnie Colwell Sensei as I know him.  

It was a late September evening when Brian  Merrill (My Club Instructor then) informed us that we would be getting a visit  by a world renowned Karateka, who was probably the most Senior in this country  at that time. I was a 1st kyu in Shorinji Kempo before my change over to  Shotokan a year earlier, where I had since acquired a lowly Green Belt previous  to the night we were due “the visit”.  

At 8pm on that  Tuesday Evening back in 1978, I remember like it was yesterday the excitement of  Black and brown belts alike, when Colwell Sensei walked through the door. The  first thing I remember him telling us was with reference to breathing. We  didn’t really understand too much back then when he told us that we had to  make the ‘inside’ bigger than the ‘outside’ by improving the way we  approach Karate. I’m sure that he was aware of all of the doe eyed individuals  in the room who didn’t understand just what he was going on about. We were  there after all to do Karate, not learn how to develop our breathing. However,  in later years I realised just what he meant when I visited other clubs after  attaining my Shotokan Shodan in October 1981. I had had the best grounding in  the Art that I could ever have wished for. With Sensei’s like Colin Williams,  and Ronnie Colwell, I am glad to say that I found in them “My Way of life, and  my way of Karate”. 

Anyhow, “that evening”. I remember it well.  One of the Black Belts (Eddie from Shotton) was one of those over eager  enthusiasts that just went over the top too much most all of the time. Colwell  Sensei wasn’t aware of this when he selected the biggest and meanest from our  clan to demonstrate what we should be doing in relation to Oi-Tsuke in basics.  He told Eddie to attack Jodan Tsuke from Gedan-Barai – half speed. As Ronnie  was waiting in Yoi, Eddie attacked full throttle but in the nick of time, Ronnie  deflected the punch, but it just grazed past his cheekbone. Thinking that maybe  he had misunderstood the instruction, Ronnie asked him to perform the function  again “Half Speed” to which once more Eddie flew in like a lunatic, though  Ronnie used tai-sabaki to avoid the blow and showed remarkable footwork in the  process. 

Well, if you can imagine what the next instance  was! Yes you have it:- Ronnie told him to attack from freestyle “Full  Speed”. Before Eddie even had chance to deliver his technique, Sensei Colwell  countered it directly on the chin in perfect execution. All 6ft 2ins of Eddie  dropped and crumpled to the floor. As he lay there somewhat quite shocked,  Sensei Colwell fixed his eyes on the class and told everyone to say “Half  Speed”. Needless to say, we all said “HALF SPEED!!!” 

After about 5 minutes or so, Eddie managed to  right himself, and came around. I watched as Eddie kneeled and awaited Ronnie to  Rei him back into the lesson, but until Sensei Colwell had asked me to show how  a correct Ashi-Barai should be performed, (he made me use my hand to his calf in  demonstrating) he made him wait until he felt he was ready to re-join us. 

Over the many years I have known Sensei Colwell,  I have always looked on him in awe since that day. Though on the other hand, I  have found him to be so very knowledgeable to the point where I have enlisted  his help on so many occasions in identifying certain new age scenario’s in  which I have increased my own knowledge from the old days of Kyu Dan grades  where there were no other belts other than Brown and Black Belts in Karate. 

Ronnie has always been more than the living  legend as many people know him in the Karate fraternity, and much more than  this, I never realised that one day I would be in a capacity such as I am now as  FEKO Chairman, Vice President of Karate England, and most importantly as a time  served friend. Without Ronnie and Colins inspiration, I’m sure that I never  would have been half the man I am today.  

Thank you for all you have done for me Sensei,  and I am sure that Colin Williams Sensei would have appreciated all I have said  in this letter, rest his soul. 

Osu!

Brian Philcox – 6th Dan Shotokan Karate
FEKO - Chairman
Karate England - Vice President