Sensei John Lambert (Scotland Chief
Instructor) passed away peacefully
after a long battle with cancer on June 28th, 2010
Dear
Lambert family and friends,
I
would like to express my condolences on behalf of myself, my wife Mieke and all
the Belgian IOGKF members. We lost a good karateka but also a good friend.
We loved talking with him,
he knew how to put a smile on our face and we will cherish these memories. We
know his family and all his friends will miss him dearly but he will never be
forgotten.
IOGKF Belgium Chief Instructor
__________________________________________________________
Sensei John Lambert began his Karate training in 1973 at the Fife institute in Scotland, the same hall his Dojo is still based in today.
He started his training under James Johnstone, along with Sensei Jim Flannigan. The two underwent brutal training, often coming away a bit worse for wear, but over time their abilities grew to the point where they became stronger and more advanced than their own instructor.
In 1979 the two travelled to Poole in England to train with World renowned Karate Master, Sensei Morio Higaonna. At this event, the first ever International Gasshuku, Higaonna Sensei founded the IOGKF. During this, Sensei John Lambert was made the chief instructor of IOGKF Scotland and he formed the Scottish Goju-ryu Karate-do Association (SGKA).
Sensei John Lambert is one of only a few persons who is an IOGKF founding chief instructor. He has been with the IOGKF since its humble beginnings and has supported Higaonna Sensei for over 31 years.
In 1991 his brother Sensei David Lambert snr, was promoted to chief instructor of IOGKF Australia. This is the only time in the IOGKF two members of the same family have both been chief instructors of countries in both the Northern and Southern hemisphere.
When his brother passed in 2000, he travelled to Australia with Higaonna Sensei and also attended the 2000 World Chief instructors Gasshuku in Cairns. In 2002 he attended and taught the Australian National Gasshuku.
Over his 31+ years in the IOGKF Sensei John Lambert travelled to England, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, America, Japan, Okinawa, South Africa - just to name a few.
He is well known for his lively personality and cheeky wit, along with being the IOGKF’s favourite singer.
Sensei John also committed much of his time to the Olympiad program, where he would often travel abroad with local sportsmen & women as a mentor and coach, when they competed against opponents from other countries.
He was an avid family man being married to Sandra for over 30 years and fathering two beautiful children, Pauline and Iain – who are now both grown up.
Along with being Chief instructor of IOGKF Scotland and president of the SGKA, he became quite a support to many instructors of IOGKF Australia. To this day he still remains chief advisor to his brother’s Dojo in Goulburn, NSW, where his nephew still continues to teach as its head instructor.
He has many IOGKF friends around the World who all acknowledge him as a great person and a good Karate-ka
