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Graham Christopher Burt August 24, 1936 - August 4, 1979 |
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This page is dedicated to the memory of Sensei Graham Burt.
After moving to Newfoundland from his native England in 1967, Mr Burt instructed both in Aikido (Sandan) and Judo (Nidan). He introduced Aikido to the province and was instrumental along with Dr. Yves LeGal in spreading Judo throughout the province until his death in 1979 due to a tragic drowning accident.
As Sensei Burt‘s dojo was at the YMCA, and was the forerunner of our own Astra Judo Club, we feel it fitting to offer a tribute to this remarkable individual by outling as best we can his accomplishments and contributions to our martial art. Personally, I met the man on only two brief occassions, and like most everyone who had the pleasure of his acquaintnance, was struck by both his vast technical knowledge and his totally unassuming and quiet nature. We, collectively as a Judo club, can only hope to continue on with the high standards that he has set for us all.
Blair Bradbury
Sensei
Astra Judo Club
It is difficult to present a graphic picture of this man to one who did not know him in terms of times, dates and places. To most of us, his old students, he was an extraordinary man, unequivocally unassuming, simple in his ways, frugal in his living habits, and totally dedicated to the spirit of the martial ways. He has left a very deep imprint upon those who studied under him or were associated with him. His legacy is the continued expansion of Aikido in our province.
Bill McDonald
Nfld. & Labrador Aikido
Association
I first met Graham Burt when I started Aikido, as a beginner, in September, 1970. I was immediately struck by his skill, at both Judo and Aikido, and by his personality. While, for many people, the martial arts were and are excuses for a kind of macho ego trip, he approached them as a serious student and teacher who tried to show what they should mean for each student's whole way of life.
In the years that followed, I got to know Graham well as a teacher (at the St Augustine's Judo club as well as at the St John's Aikikai - first at the Y, and then in all kinds of other locations) and as a friend. We went salmon fishing together on a numbe r of occasions (often with Keith Billard, who started Judo with Graham long before I came on the scene), I met his family in Devizes, England, where he proudly showed me the dojo he had helped to build, and we had many long talks, mostly about the martial arts and his experiences in England before coming to Newfoundland.
Graham had great courage -- and I don't mean just of the physical kind. He was, within himself, a lonely man who faced a number of cares in his inner life (in particular, the untimely death of his brother) with calmness and strength. He had an extraordina ry gentleness, especially when dealing with the young, a gentleness that was combined with strictness. He would stand for no nonsense on the mat -- but he ruled by the strength of an authority that was immediately recognized, not by shouting or physical force. When he died in a tragic accident, a kind of shock wave passed through the martial arts' community in Newfoundland -- for it was recognized that there had been the loss not only of a fine teacher but also of a fine person.
Professor Michael Langford
I would like to thank the following for their support in providing most of the material for this page:
Mr. David Crane Sr.
Mr. Derm McDonald
Newfoundland and Labrador Aikido Association (NLAA)
The following are excerpts from a submittal by The Newfoundland & Labrador Aikido Association to The Newfoundland Sports Hall of Fame, as part of a an application for Sensei Burt's possible induction into the Newfoundland and Labrador Hall of Fame. Consequently, the following achievements are broken down into Provincial Activities, National Activities, as well as International Activities as a builder.
International Activities (Builder)
Provincial Activities (Builder)
On Sunday, 24th. February, 1980, the official unveiling of the Graham C. Burt Memorial Plaque, dedicated to this man, the founder of Aikido and one of the founders of Judo in Newfoundland, took place at the Karate Building in St. John's. The ceremony was presided over by Derm McDonald, then President of the NLAA.
In 1996 The Sensei Burt Memorial Trophy was reinstated as an annual award presented at The Newfoundland and Labrador Judo Association Fall Tournament to the Most Spirited Judoka of the Tournament.
In 1967-1968 Graham C. Burt was the sole first degree black belt in Aikido in Newfoundland. By the time of his tragic drowning, August 4, 1979, there were ten black belts in Newfoundland. Since his death, the NLAA now boasts of an additional dozen new black belt ranks.
IMPORTANT
There is still a movement by The Newfoundland and Labrador Aikido Association as well as The Newfoundland and Labrador Judo Association to have Mr. Burt inducted as a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame. If after reading the above achievements, you believe, as we do, that this man has significant accomplishments to take his place among others instrumental in promoting and building Sports in this province, please indicate your support by signing the guestbook below. If you feel you have additional information that can be added to this page or if you would simply like to leave a comment, please feel free to do so.
Thank you.
