When I decided to visit Japan the Butokukai was my main point of interest. Up until the end of World War II, the Butokukai was the special training college for the Martial Arts Society in Japan. Two of the worlds greatest judoka Haku Michigami and Kenshiro Abbe were both students there having also attended the Busen.
From July 1978 through to July 1986 I trained under Michigami Sensei 9th Dan at his summer judo courses in Bordeaux, France, also attending one course in 1985 when he came to England. I was also fortunate to see Kenshiro Abbe and Bill Wood perform Kime no Kata at the British Judo Council National Championship and display at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square,London on Saturday 1st December 1962.
When we arrived at the Butokukai Kyoto it was an ambition realised just to walk in the footsteps of these great men and to imagine what it must have been like all of those years ago.
Top Photo, Chris Dawson at the Monumental Stone of the Martial Arts School (Busen)
Other Photos, Entrance to The Budo Centre, Kyoto, Japan.
Butokuden Brian Batey, Barry McSherry, Mick Clark, Malcolm Young and Chris Dawson.
Dojo at at Butokuden
An ambition fulfilled, at last !
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