Hanshi Gary Viccars, 8th Dan. Chairman: South Pacific
WELCOME TO THE HANSHI GARY VICCARS BRANCH
Hanshi Gary Viccars commenced training in Kyokushin Karate in 1968 and has been training continuously since then.
He was graded to the rank of 8th Dan in 2023 by Kancho Matsushima, 9th Dan.
As such he is one of the foremost instructors of Kyokushin Karate in the World and is also Head Referee for Matsushima Kyokushin and is a special advisor to Kancho Matsushima
He was promoted to Branch Chief personally by Sosai Oyama in 1993.
Hahshi leads his Branch in training in traditional Kyokushin Karate as taught to him by Sosai Mas Oyama. His mission statement is to provide the members of his Branch with as much opportunity for the development of their skills in Kyokushin Karate as possible (both technical and personal).
To this end he provides training seminars, camps and tournaments (no contact, knockdown and kata) as vehicles for their development. He freely gives of his time to provide weekly training for all green belts and above and special training for all those attempting dan grades during the year.
He is also one of the few Branch Chiefs to have completed the 50 man kumite test.
His Branch members have access to training with an 8th Dan on a consistent basis and that is a very rare bonus that many others never get. Hanshi has dojo all over Victoria as well as several dojo in Tasmania and 1 in Adelaide.
It is little wonder that his Branch is referred to by Kancho as "the Viccars family".
Hanshi was a founding member of the Victorian Kyokushin Karate Association in 1975 and has served as Chairman since then.
The VKKA Knockdown Championships was first held in 1977 and is the longest running knockdown event in Australia
He fought in the 2nd World Championships in 1979 and he lived in Japan for almost 3 months training at the legendary Honbu dojo in Ikebukuro twice a day. This included at least 3 classes per week under Mas. Oyama.
He also completed the notorious winter camp whilst he was there. He is one of the very few people in Australia that can claim they trained directly under Mas. Oyama for an extended period of time. He was also fortunate enough to have a meal with Sosai and his Uechi Deshi every Friday night. Thus Hanshi has many personal experiences of Sosai and his training.
In 2018 he completed 50 years of continuous training In Kyokushin Karate. He was presented with this plaque by Kancho Matsushima in China at the World Cup and his Branch presented him with this photo collection.
October 2023 Hanshi (Shihancho as he was then) was elected as Chairman of the South Pacific.
World Cup, Santiago, Chile, December 2023
9/12/23 Hanshi was appointed Chief Referee of I.K.O.Matsushima
10/12/23 Hanshi was appointed a special advisor to Kancho Matsushima
12/12/23 Hanshi became one of the few in the World to physically undergo a test for 8th Dan
Upon passing the test he was given the title of Hanshi and became a true legend in Kyokushin Karate
