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Unel Wellington

 

One of the Selected U.K. Karate Instructors to be Honoured in "Combat's Hall of Fame".

Unel Wellington
If you don't know who this guy is or what he's achieved in the Martial Art World, What planet have you been living on for the last Thirty Years, These pages are probably not big enough to list what he won. He has gone from Fighter to Mentor.

Below is an Extract from an issue of "Traditional Karate"

TRAD: You Have Many Instructors from different arts, why is this?

Unel Wellington: I want the best for my students by helping them realise that it's not just about competition or basics, I want them to have a look at what Julian Mead is doing, what Billy Dokes is doing, Allan Tattersall, Alan Petherbridge and without my knowledge, they have recommended me to the Budo society. They awarded me with 6th Dan about two years ago and now they want me to teach on a world circuit. I've been invited to teach in Portugal three times already, I've been invited to Turin next month and for me to be involved with the Budo Society is a great honour that I want to live up to.

TRAD: Is it true to say that you're probably getting more recognition outside of
the UK than within it?

Unel Wellington: Through the work I've done I've had recognition from Canada, the senate of Pennsylvania, we were invited to Portugal and over there we met Sensei Daniels, who invited us on his Shukokai course to meet his master from Japan. There was also a master from Venezuela, who liked the way we did things and he's invited us over to teach next year. The Portuguese want Stephen to help them promote the Portuguese team that's going to Japan in the year 2000, so Stephen's going back and forwards to Portugal and I'll be going to Venezuela. The more you do for other people, rather than yourself, the more people want to mix with you. It doesn't matter how much you can talk, how many meals you can buy, it's what you do on the area and it's important to me that you are there for the people who put their trust in you. The things I do in the dojo are the same things I do on the courses, so in the next couple of years I will be going to New Zealand, Australia, and India.

TRAD: Is it important to you that the Welsh will have their own identity
at the World Championships?

Unel Wellington: It's no good having an identity unless you have winners. My job with the WKA is to produce fighters. If they're good enough, they'll get there. I was told on the continent that Wales are professional losers. I don't believe that. The students give me one hundred percent, so I must give them one hundred and ten percent back. I don't want to produce big fish in a little pond, I want to produce a Welsh champion.

TRAD: In the past you were branded as a troublemaker.

Unel Wellington: I'm not a troublemaker, but when you see something is wrong, you try and correct it, even if it may go against the grain. Looking back, people may see that you were right but at the time it's hard for people to see what you are trying to do. Now I've taken a step back, let others drive, but it doesn't mean I'm less passionate now, simply older and wiser.

TRAD: You certainly seem to have mellowed in your attitude.

Unel Wellington: I remember being called "Shaft" in the 70's and it stuck , but just like there's a new Shaft movie for the 90's (Samuel Jackson is set to star), so I've had to change with the times. When I was a fighter you had to have a certain attitude to win, so when people asked me to teach them I didn't know how. I had to go by what I did, train hard, work hard, no short cuts. Look at the state of the Martial Arts, we should have been developing like the football and rugby but we're still twenty years behind. There's so many TV companies out there now, they can't get enough, but our sport is so fragmented they don't know who to go to. We have to meet them on their terms, and this is what the "new" Shaft is concerned with, To promote the students through these media opportunities and get them recognition.

TRAD: Why you ?

Unel Wellington: The question should be why not? We can talk or can do something about it. I know the sponsors are there, CIMAC is a great sponsor of the WKA, but "they" (sponsors) need to see results, they have businesses to run, so we have to work together to get this in place. I want to create a Welsh Budokan, somewhere for all Martial Artists to meet, to get television involved heavily in the arts and create a professional circuit. Look at snooker and darts, they started low-key but look how much those guys are getting now. I want the Karate Students of this world to be the instructors of the Future and promote the Martial Arts, bring in new ideas. My goal is to look for avenues for the association, promote fighters to Olympic level, and we all work together for this. It's no getting Olympic recognition if the fighter's aren't up to it. My own goals are no longer a priority, I've enjoy myself and although I'm still passionate as the old Shaft, the way I go about achieving those goals is different. It's no longer about me, but I can do to promote the Martial Arts.

TRAD: Thank you for updating us Unel.

Unel Wellington: Thank you, and if you ask people what they think of Unel Wellington, please make it printable.