The British Aikido Board
Disastrous National Nepotism Seminar 2004 – 99 Students
By Henry Ellis
Wall of silence by professor Rick Clark
He
was a perfectionist, a disciplinarian and a traditionalist. But, at the
same time, an innovator, an internationalist and a man of great
generosity. More important, he was a famous educator and the father of
modern sports in Japan.
This sport can only have been practised by wealthy samurai and perhaps even then only at special festivals or demonstrations for there were (typically) one hundred and fifty dogs released in ten rounds with fifteen dogs to each round. Presumably, because of the blunted arrows, the intention was not to kill the dogs but even with light bows the dogs must have suffered.
The naginata is a halberd-like weapon that was used extensively
in feudal Japan. Described by some as simply "a sword on the end of
a long pole", the naginata was actually a sophisticated weapon which
required considerable skill and stamina to use effectively in
battle.
The Twenty Precepts by Gichin Funakoshi
by Sensei Henry Ellis. This article originally appeared in 3 parts on the Cyberkwoon website. It is here published in its entirety.