I have Only found out that Roy Petchey had passed away through my assistant instructor Fergal Hughes on the 29th December 2011. 
 
I have moved from my previous address some 9 years ago. Roy was a very good mate and a credit to the world of martial arts. I have many great memories of Roy and he came to Bolton on numerous occasions training. Roy's thoughts would say " Karate is like boiling water, if you don't heat it constantly it will cool "  Roy was also a great martial artist and was  IBA to the bone. What i would say is what it boils down to, Roy had martial arts in his blood and backbone RIP.
 
Shihan Steve Costello 

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

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I have often found that it is better to say very little when confronted by an assailant, understanding that you may get hurt, and taking steps to avoid potentially dangerous situations is called planning and preparation. We would be very lucky indeed to live out our lives without any injury to our bodies. How we deal with such situations it’s not easy but I have called upon all my experience gained from 55 years streetwise encounters. One must not treat street fighting as a game or as a sport, were the marques of Queensberry rules apply.

 There are no rules, one must understand that fighting can cause damage to either side. Defending yourself and others is your basic right. If you were drinking in a pub and you see two drunks arguing it is unlikely that you would join in, the reason is that you have spotted the danger and will distance yourself from it.

Most drunken incidents can be spotted well in advance and thus avoided. However planned crimes are usually well hidden, assailants and criminals will normally wait in the dark and quiet places, parks, back streets, alleyways, plan your route in advance to avoid such places. Getting fit and staying fit. We should all aim for a good healthy and active life providing no major accidents befall us. 

Fitness must become part of your life, don’t let it take over your life. Fitness and self-defence, both aspects will have a direct bearing on how you cope with confrontation situations. The value of speed and surprise, good fitness training and practicing good self-defence techniques until you are proficient would greatly improve your speed and reaction time. Remember when you have gained a ranking it is each individuals knowledge that is important. 

A belt ranking is a material object and can be taken away from you, but the knowledge you have acquired is yours to keep and to use whenever the time may arrive. Knowledge is neutral it has no will of its own to do anything it is up to the invidual to direct this knowledge into a productive channel. Knowledge cannot be taken away from you. I have trained servicemen and civilians regardless of their race, colour, creed or religion. 

 I feel that the younger generations are the backbone of the nation; I wish to develop them and to give them the faith that it will make them better citizens; I do not regret the past because without it I would not be able to make the right decisions today and to put street fighting experience into today’s training programme. 

Never underestimate anyone because sometimes the quiet or the weak appearing person is the most dangerous in my opinion. Being honest means you must be willing to speak from your heart and tell others what you know to be true. From my experience in kobudo training some of today’s styles have abandoned the ancient wooden weapons, the edda-koppa, the bone-breaker and the walking cane for the modern ones, but in ryukyu we have not. 

 The training develops your control, timing and flexibility, knowledge is your strength. Motto please believe in god, respect the law especially, do not use violence or break the law for any reason and co-operate with all law officers, live in peace and be happy.

Thank you,

Yours in Budo (Shihan Steve Costello)

I have the utmost respect for Command Operations Elite and Comrades, from 1996 – 2011 just to mention a few names Commander Pericles, Puglia and Cruz, and the highest regards for Major Fadel and Colonel Roberson Luis Bondarek, and Comrades Costenaro, Joe Rangel, Roberto, Rieto, Sniper and Alceu.

What I have witnessed in Brazil, C.O.E. want to be the best at everything they do or attempt to do. My time from 1996 with C.O.E. Shock Riot Police, Military Police. The training has consisted of Knives, Batons, Unarmed and Armed Combat, Weapon Techniques and Fitness Conditioning. Even though they are trained to kill this is not necessarily my primary function. I was controlling and defusing a situation efficiently and quickly with a minimum of injury. We tried to use enough force as was necessary. Lethal force is the last resort in lethal situations.

Our training forms are strictly practical in application and contains no superfluous movements such as salutes or fancy jumping kicks. A simple example of this is an empty hand form consisting punches, knees, elbow strikes, take downs, dislocations, finishing techniques such as chokes or strangle holds.

Ryukyu close combat techniques may employ the use of pressure points, grabs and restraints. Training in the practical applications of these forms does not occur in the comfort of the gymnasium. The ryukyu system always trains to deal with the enemy in a realistic environment as possible, Standard weapon training and training for all occasions. The military police units are armed. Ryukyu instills in utilizing every part of the body to your advantage. Knife forms or knife fighting, this training is used as a means of fully understanding the ability of an armed and highly trained opponent at close quarters. In this real world of close combat nothing is left to speculation, the need for life saving techniques and no nonsense full contact training. The baton, tonfa, eda-koppa, bone-breaker and walking cane. The most serious threats are handled by the most serious men, The Command Operations Elite, Curitiba, Brazil.

Shihan Steve Costello.

According to google - The Ryukyu Site is getting over 80 unique visitors per day on an average.

On the 3rd of of Sept 119 people had been viewing the contents of the site, so we are happy to see that people are interested reading about the martial arts.

We look forward to boosting the site very soon - with a new face lift
and will be adding streaming video, and other modules to get are viewers interacting.

Many thanks, IRK Team

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 -