On Sat 8th Sept 2018, Tino Ceberano Hanshi quietly slipped into Melbourne for several meetings relating to the research and writing of his biography. No seminars or events were booked and he intended to have a quiet, heads down weekend of interviews and writing.

Unbeknown to him, a surprise dinner was planned on the Saturday night inviting the many students spanning a fifty year period that trained with him in both Goju Kai and IGK. He was informed that we were catching a bite with a few of the boys from the dojo to take a break from identifying photos and recreating the history of Goju in Australia for the book.

On arrival to Doncaster Greek Tavern, the old boys started filing in, faster than his ability to recognise and recall who some were given that 40 years had passed in some cases. They represented the old suburban dojos including Nth Balwyn honbu dojo, Ashwood, City, Bayswater, Rowville, Werribee, Footscray and Thomastown.

Tino Hanshi was all smiles and shone with the memories and gratitude expressed by the many who came to pay their respects to the great man. Richard Norton Soke kindly said a few words and acknowledged the shared times back at Canterbury in the late 1960s. There were many who have not been seen in years and old training mates could be heard shouting with delight as they reunited. It was a magnificent evening and it was widely agreed that the next reunion is high on the priority with many others to be contacted given more lead up time.

Michael Black who is co-authoring the biography with Tino Hanshi wrote a summary of the evening describing his own experience starting Goju and recalling the Nth Balwyn experience…

“The surprise fifty year reunion event for Constantino Ceberano Hanshi evolved after the last 13 months of research to write his biography. Forty seven years ago at the age of ten I found myself in the dojo at Nth Balwyn Goju Kai and under the command of this young lion of a man who was under the age of thirty himself. His sheer presence, charisma and booming voice needs no description to any who were there. I think the brick walls of the dojo shook in terror from the thunder which could certainly be heard from the street below.

The early creation of a website evolved into the concept of recording his life story and the year has captured hundreds of hours of interviews with the great man, 180 interviews with students and friends, archiving thousands of photos and capturing the essence of his influence, energy and drive.

The event was unashamedly something of a prelaunch to the book which is still being written and it confirmed that so many people’s lives have been influenced by Tino Hanshi’s energy, passion and humility and they all have a story to tell. The story of Australian Goju, all that partook in the journey, the life lessons gained and the fascinating characters regardless of their style, club and politics will be chronicled. To all that have generously contributed their time … Osu.”

Below is a photo gallery of guests who attended on the night with some older photos alongside to reflect the rich history of training and the decades that have been devoted to Goju training.