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Japanese Grandmasters to give week of martial arts training

January 09, 2006

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Two Japanese martial arts Grandmasters, invited to Australia by The University of New England’s Martial Arts Club, are to conduct a week-long series of training seminars at the University.

Komei Sekiguchi is Grandmaster of the samurai sword school Komei Juku Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu, and Nobuko Shimizu is the Grandmaster of Ryoen Ryu Naginatajutsu, a combat system that uses the naginata (a two-metre pole-arm). The daily classes (9 am to 9 pm, with meal breaks) at UNE’s Wright Centre will begin on Saturday 14 January and continue till Thursday 19 January.

Sekiguchi sensei is the 21st direct-line head master of the 500-year-old school of samurai swordsmanship called Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, which uses live blades for most training and wooden swords for some two-man activities. Based in Tokyo, he is recognised as a Cultural Ambassador by the Japanese Government and is a director of the Nippon Budokan, Japan’s quasi-government controlling body for all traditional martial arts. He has a number of schools all over the world.

Shimizu sensei (pictured here) is the founder of Ryoen Ryu. She has, as the daughter of the Grandmaster of Japan’s oldest naginata system, studied the art of the naginata from infancy. The naginata is a classical samurai weapon today used principally by women.

UNE’s Martial Arts Club is the headquarters of “Komei Juku Australia and New Zealand”, founded by Antony Karasulas sensei in 1988. The Armidale branch has been operating for almost eight years under the authority of Sekiguchi sensei. The week of training seminars at UNE will be followed by training seminars at Komei Juku branches further north.

Antony Karasulas sensei said the training would be in the practical sword-handling methods of the Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, including sword-drawing and one-on-one combat techniques, and extensive study of the naginata and tanto (dagger) techniques of Ryoen Ryu. “We are proud to be hosting this visit by two of Japan’s highest-ranking martial arts exponents,” he said, “and to be providing people in our region with new insights into an important aspect of Japanese culture.”

Anyone wishing to attend the classes as a spectator, or to participate in training, can call Antony Karasulas sensei on (02) 6772 2005 or Peter Traise sensei on 0408 683 089.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at January 9, 2006 02:46 PM