Kenjutsu on Bushido Easter Convention

Bushido Zazen International Society gathers over 1500 members from all parts of Great Britain, as well as members from overseas, in particular, members from Serbia - instructors and students of Shinbukan Dojo and Serbian Budo Council. This fine martial arts organisation is headed by Arnold Davies sensei, 8th Dan Budo, one among rare who is privileged to claim the heritage of Kenhsiro Abbe sensei. Same as every year, Bushido Zazen International Society is organising its traditional Easter Convention. This event serves as a place of meeting of most currently active instructors, and also is a chance for holding the Annual General Meeting, which is practically the highest assembly of the organisation. This year, the Easter convention took place on the Eastern Coast of England, in the beautiful town of Great Yarmouth, a well known seashore holiday resort in Great Britain.

There were over 120 active participants/members of BZIS on this conventions. The time-table of the event included whole spectrum of martial arts, including judo, aikido, jujutsu, aikijujutsu, kendo, iaido, karate, kobudo, tai chi chuan, etc. Organiser of the event provided a large tatami which enabled simultaneous classes in several arts. It was very nice to see group of kendo people in one part of the hall, group of aikido practitioners on the other side, and group of kobudo students in the third corner. Sometimes, it was hard to decide which class to attend. especially for those martial artists such like me, who wanted to taste a bit of everything.

Sword arts were practised within three courses. Kendo and iado courses are already a tradition on every Bushido Convention, and they attracted several dozens of practitioners. Sensei Tony Brocklebank (5th Dan iaido) ran the iaido course. Kendo instructor Owen Bolton was running kendo "seminar". Aside from these two sword arts, kenjutsu was also practised, within the classes of Aikijujutsu, successfully presented and taught by four of KIAI and Bushido members - Ian Stewart sensei, Nick Sleep sensei, Srdjan Ilic sensei and myself. Aikijutsu, aikido, kendo and jujutsu students were quite interested in new techniques presented by kenjutsu instructors, and it was a pleasure to see that kenjutsu classes were among the most visited ones. Ian Stewart sensei demonstrated lots of kenjutsu techniques from syllabus of Aikijujutsu division of BZIS. Also, he showed lots of Kaze Arashi Ryu techniques, mostly the ones with hooking and capturing the opponent's hand with tsuka. Apart from that, several Shinbukan kenjutsu techniques were practised too.

It is a great pleasure to report that as of this year Kenjutsu is going to be separated and recognised art within the BZIS events, with recognised Dan ranks of five current KIAI members who are at the same time members of BZIS (Zdravkovic, Stewart, Sleep, Ilic, Jankovic). Nick Sleep sensei is already recommended as a Development Officer for kenjutsu within BZIS and it is our hope to see kenjutsu as a separate course on the next Bushido Easter Convention.

Dr Ivica Zdravkovic,
Shinbukan Dojo-Serbia,
5th Dan Kenjutsu
KIAI Founder and member of BZIS

Photos:

Srdjan Ilic and Clive McDonald on kendo course

Arnold Davies presenting Zdravkovic and Ilic sensei with gifts on behalf of BZIS.

Part of Aikijujutsu and Kenjutsu practitioners on BZIS Easter Convention.