Budokwai
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Budokwai (武道会 Budōkai, The Way of Knighthood Society) is the oldest Japanese martial arts club in Europe.[1] It was founded in 1918 by Gunji Koizumi[2][3][4] and initially offered tuition in jujutsu, kendo, and other Japanese arts.[1] It was the first Judo club in Europe with membership open to the general public.
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[edit] History
On January 26, 1918, Gunji Koizumi opened the Dojo at 15 Lower Grosvenor Place, Victoria, London SW1. The first chief instructor was Yukio Tani.
In July 1920, Dr. Jigoro Kano (the founder of Judo) visited the Budokwai. A member named Tanabe received his first Dan, becoming the Budokwai's first home-grown black belt. Tani and Koizumi were promoted to nidan.
In August 1933, the Budokwai became a Provisional Branch of the Kodokan.
After thirty-five years, the Budokwai moved to 4 Gilston Road, South Kensington, London, SW10 9SL. The new premises were officially opened in September 1954 by the Japanese Ambassador H.E. Matsumoto throwing Kawamura. The club is the longest continuously running Judo Club in Europe and members of the current UK Olympic Judo team train there including Winston Gordon.
[edit] Notable Instructors
Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki
Yasuhiro Yamashita
Raymond Stevens
[edit] Notable members
Trevor Leggett
Neil Adams
Brian Jacks
Angelo Parisi
[edit] References
- ^ a b Budokwai: The history of the Budokwai (c. 2005). Retrieved on 25 February 2010.
- ^ Tsumura, K. (1966): "He died a Samurai's death: Two world Judo leaders defend the honour of G. K. Koizumi, Founder of British Judo, who took his own life." Black Belt, 4(6):48–50.
- ^ Itoh, K. (2001): The Japanese community in pre-war Britain: From integration to disintegration (pp. 27–28). Surrey, UK: Curzon. (ISBN 0-7007-1487-1)
- ^ Walker, S. (c. 2005): Gunji Koizumi (1885–1965) Retrieved on 25 February 2010.
[edit] External links
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