Sekiguchi Sensei and Shimizu Sensei to visit Dunedin

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Dunedin will be fortunate to host a visit from three of Japan's top classical martial artists. Sekiguchi Komei, his senior student Fuji Katsuko, and Shimizu Nobuko are some of the senior instructors at Tokyo's Komei Jyuku martial arts school.

Sensei Sekiguchi Komei

Sekiguchi Sensei is recognised as the current soke, or successor-headmaster, of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu by the Nippon Budokan, and is famous for his energetic, powerful, sword style. It's rare that New Zealand gets a visit from genuine teachers of the koryu (old school) martial arts, and these are the first seminars to be taken by such a high-ranking teacher of authentic samurai swordsmanship.

Recently I had the pleasure (if I can call it that) to train several times with Sekiguchi Sensei in Tokyo, and I am always impressed with not only with his skill but his energy and vitality. He uses an especially large sword that is razor sharp and incredibly heavy , the particular lineage of MJER that he practices is known for large blades , and is also well known for demonstrations of test cutting. Training with him is exhausting mentally and physically, but very rewarding. He teaches in ever increasing detail, and in the classical arts a few millimetres can be the difference between life and death.

Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu was founded around 1590, and is one of the best known of the traditional sword styles. The style focuses on utilising the sword form the sheathed position, drawing and cutting in a single rapid movement, and was for centuries a form of practical self-defence. The style has both solo and paired forms.

Sensei Shimizu Nobuko

In addition to being a skilled wielder of the sword, Shimizu Sensei is one of Japan's foremost teachers of naginata-jutsu. The naginata (reaping sword) is a sword blade mounted on a pole, making a weapon of over two metres in length. Originally invented to cut the legs off horses on the battlefields of feudal Japan, it eventually became the woman's weapon of choice for defending the home in her husband's absence. Not only is the weapon extraordinarily powerful, the movements created in using it are extremely beautiful. Shimizu Sensei was a direct student of the late Totani Aikiko, and is also skilled in tanto (knife) and kusurigama (weighted chain and sickle). She has a kiai that can chill the marrow of your bones.

The seminars will be held at the Seishinkan dojo at 169 High Street, Dunedin. For more info, email [email protected]. More information is available at: https://seishinkan.info/

Article written by Phil Davison

Born in 1959, Phil Davison began training in Judo as a child, but dropped out of martial arts practice during his teenage years. In the early 1980s he began the study of Hapkido under Master Sung Do Kim at the International College of Hapkido on Paramatta Road Strathfield, Sydney. During the first year he trained full time under Master Kim, Duncan Schofield and Trevor Rant. Phil also trained under Hapkido Master Cha Won Gyu, in addition to study of Jujutsu and other related arts. In 1987 or 1988 he began training in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu under the tutelage of Anthony Karasulas Sensei. During 1991 Phil traveled to Korea to further his study of Hapkido and to Taiwan where he lived, teaching English and studying White Crane Kung Fu with Master Chen Wu Chang in the town of Lukang in Chungwha County.

Returning to New Zealand, he founded the Seishinkan club at Auckland University in 1993. In 2000 he moved to Dunedin and established the Dunedin Seishinkan dojo. He has also made several visits to Japan to further his study of martial arts, participating in Daito Ryu Jujutsu and sword training. In 2004 he was appointed New Zealand Shibucho (branch head) of Komei Jukyu Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu by Sekiguchi Komei Sensei, and graded to 4th Dan Jujutsu by Master Bruce Watts. He is currently the CEO of Jujitsu New Zealand and a committee member of the Jujitsu Federation of New Zealand.