Brian Kagen pick: “The History of the Budokwai”

“The Budokwai was founded in 1918 in Lower Grosvenor Place, along the back wall of Buckingham Palace, by Gunji Koizumi, a Japanese immigrant, who thought the promotion of ju-jitsu and ken-jutsu (sword fighting) might help his adopted country, then immersed in the First World War. Koizumi subsequently wrote:” I hoped that rendering my service in promoting such training would be a means of pacifying my conscience, which was pricked by the fact that we Japanese, especially students, had been recipients of the kindness and hospitality generously bestowed by the people of this country, without making any tangible return.”

Brian Kagen is an avid web researcher with a particular interest in martial arts. His training background includes both judo and aikido. He has contributed hundreds of article links over the years for AJ readers.

Click here to read entire article.

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Posted by Brian Kagen on Oct 30th, 2008: Reader Pick (post a comment)