MEMORIAM Here we will hold a listing of Dan Grades, Teachers, Dojo Leaders and Students who have passed away that we are aware of. If we hold any biographical data in text, pictures, audio or video then the relevant persons name will be underlined and by clicking on that name, you will be taken to a special page dedicated to that person and his or her biographical history. Please send us a picture and any relevant information we can verify against anyone listed on this page and we will post it up - forever. We also have many individuals to remember for their unstinting contribution to Japanese Budo that they made, often with great personal sacrifice during their lives. This page will honour them too, for whom all of us connected with Budokan, shall be forever grateful. We shall always remember them. DAVID PASSMORE RAY RYAN WHITEY POLLETT WILLIE RIDDEX DUNLOP PAUL VIC SYKES JON WYATT LEO LIPINSKI FRANK VAN RENSBURG BOB SIMMS DOUGGIE KNOX SANDI GROOM CLIFF LAWRIE-ROSS MIKE BOND CAROL LEVY HERBIE EDWARDS HENNIE VAN DER MERWE NEIL CRAFFORD AMADEO NUNES HAROLD LIND JEAN RESCH JULIE TULLIS ANDREW BROWN BOB ALLAN TREVOR HUGHES IAN CARD BRIAN VAN DER MERWE JOHAN COETZEE ANDRE THERON "We all get told stories by our parents as we grow up. The strongest memories I have of stories told by Sandi, my Mum are of Budokan. A child of the 50's with a rebellious streak I know she was difficult for her parents to handle as a young woman, running away more than once - and running with a colourful crowd. When Budokan came into her life, the discipline and the people meant more to her than anything she had felt before. Sadly we lost our Mum too young. I wish she had kept with the practice and the people - but it was not to be. A spiritual person, she connected with the practice, the teacher (Dave Passmore) and fellow student (Dave Wills), from my memory this was perhaps the happiest period of her life. A great mum to my three sisters and me, a character with strong opinions, we miss her greatly. If she were alive now she would be so proud to be on this list amongst the other yudansha whom she loved so much. " My own recollections follow; Sandi was bold, headstrong, true to her convictions, and very forthright. Starting her karate career in her late teens at the original 1972 Northolt dojo, with Sensei Passmore, then Nidan, she rapidly showed a talent for martial arts. She can truly be considered a founder of the Northolt dojo. She had excellent technique and became the inspiration for many more ladies and girls to join the dojo, and the subsequent Harrow dojo, in those early days. She also worked with Sensei to develop "feminine" versions of the basic kata, though this experiment eventually stopped. Typically, Sandi herself preferred the traditional forms! She was graded to Shodan. Sandi moved to Cornwall when her first child, Lee, was born and eventually settled in Devon. She became an accomplished gardener. She was a diehard supporter of animal rights and humane animal husbandry. She was a staunch and loyal supporter to those she identified as friends, and of course, her family. She brought up her four children mostly on her own, all of whom, unsurprisingly, given her own character, became strong, independent, and successful individuals in their own spheres. She died unfortunately young, leaving her son, three beautiful daughters, and three boisterous grandsons. VIC SYKES It is with great sorrow that we bring you news of the passing of Vic Sykes on the morning of Sunday 14 August 2016- after complications had arisen following a triple heart bypass operation in Durban South Africa. A well known and much revered member of Budokan SA, Vic became a highly skilled Karate practitioner and a great teacher. He is left by his lovely wife Moira and their son Clinton. Vic Sykes - far right - attending one of the many Budokan events in sunny Durban. His wife Moira is facing away from the camera in the foreground. On the far right - sitting down is Pam - the wife of the late Ray Ryan - one of the Co-Founders of Budokan SA. In the centre of the pic at the back is Derrick Wridgway, whom Budokan UK students may recall visiting us at one of our workshops with his lovely wife Sylvia 5 years ago. Other people Sensei Passmore recognises are Mike Bond seated in the middle and Alan Haig - standing in between Derrick and Vic at the back. KANETSUKA SENSEI passed away on 8 March 2019 OKIMITSU FUJII passed away on 10 April 2017 It is with great sadness that we hear of the passing of Fujii Sensei - a much loved and highly respected teacher of Japanese Budo - with just a slight penchant for Kendo. Many Budokan students would have fondly rembered Fujii Sensei at the Traditional Japanese Budo events that were held in the magnificent Dome at the University of Derby Buxton, where this picture of him was taken in 2014. VICTOR HARRIS We are saddened to hear of the passing of Victor Harris who is famous for translating Go Rin No Sho by Miyamoto Musashi - A Book of Five Rings - a master class of strategy that should be in all Japanese Budo students bookshelves. The philosophy behind it is influenced by Zen, Shinto and Confucianism, and came to be used by many corporations around the world, especially in Japan. The cover below shows an 1848 print of a picture by Kuniyoshi, showing Miyamoto Musashi practising fencing with two sticks, which became the hallmark of his technique and sword style. RIP LEN BLUNT It is with great sadness, that we have to post the news that Len Blunt, a former student of Budokan and beloved Father of one of our Dan Grades, Alex Blunt, passed away in Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington, after a pretty long battle with prostrate cancer. Len was a gentle soul and was much loved by all who knew him and had the pleasure of spending some time with him. RIP

JAPANESE EMBASSY DEOMONSTRAION YANAGI RYU JIU-JUTSU KYUSHINDO DOJO HANDFORTH CHESHIRE UNITED KINGDOM SK9 3BP 0843 5070123 Chief Instructor CHRIS DAVIES 8TH DAN Registered and graded in Japan chris@yanagiryu.co.uk Days and times of classes Senior grade and Instructor classes Wednesdays 7.00-9.00PM Disciplines Hontai Yoshin Ryu Tensin Ryu Kuki Ryu Chin-Na Qi Gong Battlefield Weapons Ninpo We teach a traditional range of Samurai Battlefield weapons as well as unarmed Jiu-Jutsu techniques and their associated healing arts. These schools of training go back to 1350AD in Japan and 800AD in China as the art of Chinese Ju-Jutsu – Chin-Na. We offer classes, courses and seminars all over the world as well as via our online live interactive dojo. Our therapy training group http://www.TotalTherapyTraining.co.uk offers classes and instruction in the associated healing traditions.

IAN CARD So very sad to hear of the passing of Ian Card from cancer. Here is a picture we have of him taking a class at the notorious but much loved High Rocks Dojo near Tunbridge Wells in 1980. Hello Sensei Just a few words I've put together about Ian who would have been celebrating his 70th Birthday today.....27 June 2020. Hope all is going well with you and the club Best wishes Smudger We started training together at the TA hall in St Johns Road Tunbridge Wells 52 years ago It was hard Karate. Ali was on hand to take the money and to take the splinters out of our feet! We went to various locations to train over the years. One time we were training in London where we both got a lift with all the mats in a transit van we had a hard training session with free fighting Ian caught Ken so hard it broke his sternum after training we went to the pub had a few pints of fullers and then home in the van with Ken who kept telling us not to make him laugh as it hurt Ken made a quick recovery and was back training with us. Ian went to train in other areas enjoying kickboxing, boxing & jujitsu, he was also a bouncer at a night club for a while. But his heart belonged to Budokan. I fought him, I fought with him, I had a good drink with him many times he was my best friend. Your old mate Smudger.... Ian with his soulmate Frances.

DEAL DOJO ROY ESTABROOK HAS NOW MOVED TO DEAL IN KENT WHERE HE IS TO OPEN A NEW BUDOKAN DOJO SOON. WE WILL BRING YOU NEWS OF THAT OF COURSE..... MEANWHILE HERE IS HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY. My journey in the Japanese M artial Arts began in 1972, aged 18 when I enrolled in the Budokan UK Northolt Karate dojo run by Sensei David Passmore. At th at time there were two classes on a Tuesday and a Thursday evening in a school gym. I attended both of those. There were a lot of people interested in taking up Martial Arts so Sensei had to run two classes each night. One for beginners which ran for 90 minutes and one for Kyu grades which ran for two hours. We only practiced Karate in those early years, and my first grading certificate says Budo-ryu karate grade 6th kyu. I can remember registering on my first evening of training. Standing in a queue with Sandi Groom who was sitting by the entrance, taking names down. It was intimidating at first but I remember over all it was a welcoming atmosphere. Each class usually consisted of Kihon, Ippon Kumite and Kata. Sometimes the beginners class was run by Sandi Groom or Marion Tinkler. We didn't have a lot of female students so it was good to have these two formidable and pioneer women leading the class. By the time I reached my Shodan grading in 1977 , Aikido had become an intrinsic part of the practice. I took the grading with two other students, and we had to go through four preparation classes at the High Rocks dojo which was then the Hombu dojo. To say they were demanding would be a huge understatement but they did prepare us well for what was to come. We also had to write four short essays on different subjects relating to our practice. The memories of that day are as strong as ever and receiving my black belt from Sensei was a great moment. Under the technical direction of Sensei David Passmore, I became Chief Instructor at the King's College Dojo on the Strand in London. Around the same time, I was promoted to Chief Instructor of the Northolt dojo when it was relocated to a new home. The new premises at Northolt allowed us to have a mat down permanently as we were the sole user of the premises. It also had an area outside where we could practice in the summer months. Instructing at two dojos meant that I was teaching five sessions a week thus finessing my teaching skills and style. I would also attend the Sunday training class that Sensei held at the High Rocks dojo. The King's College Dojo expanded very quickly. The classes were on a Wednesday evening from 7pm to 9pm, and Saturday Morning from 11am to 1pm. We were the only Martial Arts club at the college then, and interest was high. We often had up to fifty beginner students training. Sensei would come to teach once a month at the Saturday morning class. We held Gashkyu at King's College on a regular basis under his guidance, usually to combine with Gradings. It was at the Christmas Gashkyu on the 6th December 1980 that I was proud to receive my Nidan grade. The first time that Sensei had awarded that prestigious grade. A few years later, the Northolt dojo closed for land redevelopment and I took this opportunity to open a new dojo in Edgware. Eventually the Edgware dojo changed venue to Bounds Green where Roger Tym was the instructor. I moved to Cambridgeshire where I would continue to teach. It was a time of tremendous growth in Budokan, and for myself as I was able to guide and teach Kyu grades through to their Shodan. During this period, our Gashkyu were held at the National Sports centre in Crystal Palace. They consisted of two day residential seminars on weekends. The Sunday Morning class started with Shinkantaza at 7am before breakfast. Despite the raucous traditional party on the Saturday evening, most students would attend the Zazen. Sensei would invite guest instructors to teach on different sections on the mat. Sensei Vic Cook came and taught one memorable Iaido class. It was at a Gashkyu at Crystal Palace in April of 1982 that I was granted my Sandan. Sensei David Passmore always encouraged his students to expand their knowledge of the Martial Arts and I attended Aikido courses taught by different Sensei. These included Sensei Saito , Sensei Tamura, Sensei Tomita, and Sensei Minoru Kanetsuka when he was invited to our club for a two-day course. It was a very intensive weekend and I think I've still got a right shoulder injury to remember him by. For the first two hours of the opening session, he concentrated on my favourite Suwariwaza ikkyo before we went through the remaining Katame Waza. In 1991, I received a personal invitation from Master Minoru Mochizuki, founder of his own school of Martial Arts, the Yoseikan Budo. I had been writing to him for advice on matters relating to classical bu-jutsu so I gratefully accepted that invitation to train at his Hombu Dojo in Shizuoka, Japan. Minoru Mochizuki had been Uchi-deshi to Jigoro Kano and to Morihei Ueshiba as well as studying with Gichen Funakoshi. Only two people ever received a Menkyo Kaiden from O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba: Kenji Tomiki and Minoru Mochizuki. The Yoseikan school's training curriculum was similar to that of Budokan: to practice more than one Martial Art and therefore remain open-minded in your development. I was going to represent Budokan so I felt compelled to intensify my training prior to my travelling to Japan. I stayed at the Yoseikan Hombu Dojo for four weeks and trained relentlessly every single day in order to gain as much understanding as I could from this great teacher. The Dojo operated daily, with Aikido on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Thursday evening was free practice. The Aikido nights always included Karate training. Each session began with the punch bag when a variety of punches and strikes with the hands and elbows were practiced, followed by a full range of kicking techniques. What separates Yoseikan Aiki from other schools is the use of Sutemi Waza [sacrifice throws]. I had never practiced this before and found that this judo influence helped my understanding of Aikido. Just as Jujitsu-influenced Karate increased my own understanding of Karate. I would often practice in the afternoon on my own. I particularly enjoyed using the Dojo's Makiwara. I was told by one of the Master's Uchi-Deshi that he was happy with my progress. This level of commitment led me to be invited back but sadly I could not return. In my work as a Director of Photography, I travelled extensively. I was fortunate enough to visit our Budokan dojo in Bahrain where Mahmoud Fahkro had his club. He kindly asked me to teach some classes and was particularly interested in me leading a kata class. I practiced some T'ai Chi ch'uan in Hong Kong. Our local production fixer introduced me to a t'ai chi teacher who guided me through one t'ai chi form. I was very interested in the passive and active principles of the form and the breathing linked to the movement. I had to get up very early and train in a park before going to work. I was able to practice some Gojo ryu in Australia. I had attended a Gojo ryu classes at home in Ely and I had agreed with the instructor that I would teach him some Aikido in exchange of Gojo ryu Kata Shisochin . He gave me a letter of introduction to a dojo in Sydney where I was able to train on my visit. I was awarded my Yondan on the 21st November 1987 at a Gashkyu in Wadhurst. The same hall that I had achieved my Shodan. I have always considered the martial Art studied within Budokan to be of the highest quality and when Kyoshi asked me to be on the Shihankai, I was truly honoured to be involved. I hope my experience can be of benefit as we continue to diligently study on our chosen path. One of the most treasured memories I have is being able to do some Zazen at Sigiriya rock in SriLanka - a place of Buddhist retreat and meditation for as far back as the 3rd century BC. Budokan is the only Martial Arts organisation that I know of that includes Zazen as part of its programme. Studying the Martial Arts has had a major influence on my life, and with the formal introduction of Zazen into the training syllabus back in the 1980's perhaps the biggest influence of all.

Zen has been described as a special teaching without scriptures, beyond words and letters, pointing to the mind essence of our being, seeing directly into one’s nature, attaining enlightenment. Zen is not a sect, but an experience. It is the practice of self-searching through meditation to realise one’s true nature, with disregard of formalism, with insistence on self-discipline and simplicity of living. The Zen spirit has come to mean not only peace and understanding but devotion to art and work, the rich unfolding of contentment, opening the door to insight, the expression of innate beauty and the intangible charm of incompleteness. It has been said, that if you have Zen in your life, you have no fear, no doubt, no unnecessary craving and no extreme emotion. Neither illiberal attitudes nor egotistical actions trouble you. You serve humanity humbly, fulfilling your presence in this world with loving-kindness and observing your passing as a petal falling from a flower. Serene, you enjoy life in blissful tranquillity. Such is the spirit of Zen. To study Zen, the flowering of ones nature, is no easy task. Paraphrased from Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps