Now available, Grand Master Phil Milner 10th Dan Hanshin, his Autobiography Hard as Nails.

My deepest respect and humility, special thanks and a sincere word of appreciation, O Sensei Phil Milner I have not forgot. It was truly an honour to train under such a man who was a legend in the martial arts, to share his vision and be entrusted with assisting in presenting his knowledge today.  The hours we spent in sweat and laughter have contributed greatly in my life in the martial arts.  Students of mine who trained with Sensei Milner gradually overcame fear and developed bravery.  Tamashiwari (breaking) I learned with Sensei.  The attaining with strength and precision knowledge and confidence it takes to perform these feats, correct angles and concentration points for your strikes.  Sensei also installed in the grading syllabus Kobudo.  Many Martial Artists once they reach a certain level of proficiency with bare hand fighting forms, sometimes choose to expand there knowledge to include kobudo techniques.  Example in RYUKYU the Walking Cane looked upon as a sign of weakness can be a mistake.  When one becomes a senior citizen you still have knowledge of the martial arts and when one is attacked by punks with knives etc., in the street or your own home the walking cane can prevent needless injury to yourself etc., 

Courses are available in Ryukyu self-defense with a walking cane, knowledge is your strength.

Sensei once said to me the majority of knife – fighting experts out there are writers not fighters, the battle that they engage in take place on a piece of paper. 

All the Black Belts registered on this web site who gained there Black Belts or Dan Grades with Sensei Milner and Myself, are the only ones authentic in the Ryukyu Kempo Karate Jutsu and Wado Ryu Kempo Jitsu .

The ideal in karate or the martial arts is to one day say I ask my mind and find no shame, courtesy is the way to success.

To young students of the martial arts respect your parents, the law, your fellow pears and yourself.

Enjoyment in training whilst in the dojo is paramount!

Shinan Steve Costello

On training with Sensei, wetrained with a view to having only one chance, and we concentrated on striking the vital points on the human body. The lessons were extremely demanding. The blood sweat and tears of training in those days bonded us for life. Karate is not just for a few years it is for a lifetime. My technique, my thinking have naturally undergone many changes through the years. As I have searched I have studied many subjects and the knowledge I have gained I have incorporated into my karate. I still practice every day of course. Why, I have already mentioned it is for a lifetime, but, there is another reason also, you see I started out on a Journey Long Ago under the guidance of a great sensei who taught me when my sensei left this world. I said I must keep training that I may discover what lies around the next corner, but when I reach that final bend I shall know, for there in the middle of the road at journeys’ end encouraging me to take those last difficult steps will be my sensei the great Phil Milner welcoming me home. 
They can conquer who believe they can.
Steve Costello 

Sensei Costello and his team of record breakers managed to set a world record on the 16 July.

Paul Lee and Fergal Hughes went through the punishment of Sensei Steve Costello as they broke in to wood, tiles and showed mental strength by having concrete blocks broken on there stomachs and slabs of wood broken on there arms as in the picture!

This was all in aid of the Bolton Hospice charity -   

Shihan Steve began his formal training at the age of 12 and has continued to teach his beloved arts for well over 55 years. He is a proud man who instils pride in others and yet remains devoid of arrogance normally associated with a proud person, the colourful background and history of shihan Steve is a fascinating story. Shihan Steve liked what Bruce Lee once said " If somebody attacks you your response is not Technique No. 1, Stance No. 2, Section No. 3, Paragraph No. 4 simply move in like sound and echo without and deliberation". 
 
Shihan Steve told me he used to practise on a makiware for when he did Tameshiwari ( The art of breaking ) for grades and charity but he changed it to a bucket of sand and a bag of dry peas, Please note this is not for children, nor is the twisting of joints as their bones are in the process of growing. Shihan Steve also stated that his instructor Grandmaster Phil Milner punished you if you came training late very frequent, you would go for a one man mile run with dry peas in your trainers hence you would not be late again also if you were a " chatterbox " when instructors were showing students Phil would put a deep sea divers belt around your waist for one hour in Kibadachi ( straddle stance ) . This installed respect and discipline. 
 
The only regret i have is not meeting and training with Sensei Phil Milner in the way that i am with sensei Steve.
 
Fergal Hughes
 
3rd Dan Karate, 1st Dan Kobudo, 1st Dan Atemi-waze, 1st Dan ju-jitsu