My name is Mike Selvey and I teach Kyushin Budo in the South London area specialising in Iaido, Iaijutsu, Aikijutsu and Kobudo,I recently felt I needed to look back to the roots of my training, this is what I found.
Trophies awarded to TSUNAMI YODOKAN at the 3rd World Butokusai , Kyoto Japan 2008. Myself on the right with Sensei Glenn Coxon.
Ogawa Kinnosuke, a legendary 10th Dan swordmaster , was one of only 3 masters of Martial arts to be granted the "Shijohoshi" an award given for great acheivement by the emperor of Japan.In 1933 at the butokukwai in Kyoto Japan Ogawa taught the art of swordsmanship to a young student called Abbe Kenshiro.
Abbe had been taught Kendo by his Father since the age of 3 , by the age of 17 he had already attained 4th Dan in Judo, one year later he was to become Japans youngest ever 5th Dan.Whilst training at the butokukwai he started researching an obsolete ancient Japanese religeous philosphy known as
ABBE KENSHIRO SENSEI
"Kyushindo" this may be interpreted as -
KYU- to desire or search.
SHIN- heart/ mind/ spirit. true fundamental nature of things.
DO- a way or path.
So the way of seeking the true nature of all things.
This cannot be considered to have just a theoretical application to Martial arts but to life in its entirety.
Abbe Sensei developed a new style of Judo and became Grand Champion of Japan , he was awarded 6th Dan Judo and 3rd Dan Kendo at age 23, it was at this time he was selected to become a student of Morehei Ueshiba with whom he remained for 10 years.
OTANI TOMIO SENSEI
At age 40 Abbe Sensei was a Master of Judo, Kendo, Iaido, and Jukendo as well as several other traditional Martial arts. In 1955 Abbe Sensei traveled to Britain here he met and lodged with Masutaro Otani 7th Dan Judoka, my teacher Tomio Otani eldest son of Masutaro and then in his teens was taught by Abbe Sensei and with his guidance Tomio was to become a master Budoka.
I first met Otani Sensei in 1979 when he visited the Dojo in Carshalton where i was teaching Judo, he gave a display of Iaido, Kendo,and Aikijutsu, i was very impressed and after i asked Otani Sensei to teach me, 2 years later i was graded 2nd Dan Budo, during this period we trained in Otani Sensei's living room and garden in his house in Whyteleafe in Surrey.
In 1984 we opened the Yodokan in Brockley south London, this was a full time Dojo, i trained 7 days a week .sadly Otani Sensei died on 6th June 1991 i shall always remember him as a great Budoka friend and Human being.I have been Ronin (man of the waves ) for some 18 years now , the path has been difficult but with my discipline to underpin my ethic , the writtings of Otani and Abbe Sensei and the guidance from Martial arts friends around the world i am finding the path of Kyushindo.
I teach Yodokan ethic to my students and hope from me will spring a new generation of Budoku that will continue the way of the warrior.
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