Budokan SA
The innovative and effective self-defence system designed to help you survive an attack bu using effective techniques that are designed for various situations and are aligned to your body type, strength and siuation.
In preparation for writing the content for our website I am busy on some serious reading and research which started with the early part of Hanshi Richard Salmon’s new book, which focusses on the early days of Karate and Judo in South Africa and the founding of Budokan SA
I then worked through the various Budokan and Budo Ryu documents in my possession to provide more details on our system, Kata, techniques and philosophy.
I have then started to dig into the library in the “Zen Hut” to gather more information and background.
I started with this delightful little book of O’Sensei M Ueshiba the founder of Aikido which short poems, thoughts and beautiful calligraphy, as this true martial arts master clearly had an impact on both Hanshi Richard Salmon and Shihan Ray Ryan.
As we are essentially an organisation based on the Karate systems which came out of Japan after they had moved there from Okinawa, my next book was this one by this Okinawan master who introduced Karate to Japan.
Reading this again clarified a number of issues with regards to “styles” and what I believe Budokan is all about.
The reading, rereading of beloved books and research continues and I do hope to create useful, accurate and insightful content for our website that will be useful to Budokan SA students and martial arts from all styles.
If you have any suggestions for books you feel would be useful or interesting I would be very interested to hear from you, and if you have any stories or anecdotes from your time in the martial arts please share them with me, to include in this work in progress.
This is a callout to all who trained at Budokan in South Africa or in any of the Budo Ryu dojo around the world we are looking for photographs, videos and interesting stories and anecdotes of your time training in Aikido, Karate, Kobudo, Kendo, Kenjutsu or any aspect of training while at Budokan SA or during your time in the martial arts since then.
I am busy building a new website for Budokan SA and need interesting media to include in our history sections where we will be exploring the roots of our style and of your current involvement in the martial arts today.
Contact Ray Strodl – rstrodl@gmail.com
Or leave a reply below::
have completed this delightful and interesting Book – More than one life by Doshu Richard Salmon.
Doshu is the title given to a senior martial artist who founds a martial art style or organisation.
This special man founded Budokan SA, which in 1961, became the first SA style to be registered, and is the style Carol and I have been involved in since the 70’s.I shall be writing a full review of this book which covers this mans journey through being a founding father of karate and his life long involvement in wilderness, wildlife and conservation here in SA and world side, for the Getphat website which focuses on SA Artists, musicians and authors.
I will also do a focused review of the early part of the book that focuses on the start of judo, Karate, Aikido and a range of Jspsnese and Okinawan martial arts in South Africa and the start of Budokan SA, Budokan UK now international, Budo Ryu in SA and internationally.
It was interesting to learn more about the start of Budokan in SA in the early days and enjoyed the rest of the book which explored his involvement in wilderness projects and conservation in SA and internationally. Anyone who is interested in buying this book, inbox me or message me here, and I will send you their contact details.
Budokan SA website is currently being developed to provide an online home for the Blackbelts, dojos and students from Budokan SA or Budoryu in South Africa.
Any black belts, students and supporters of the style are welcome to visit and watch as this new website is developed. Please leave a comment below.
If you have any stories, photos, videos and memories from the past please send them to the administrator at rstrodl@gmail.com or rstrodl@rscnetwork.co.za and I will use these to explore our history and background. We are also looking for stories about your current martial arts journey and to see if you would like to join us our exploration of the special martial art that was taught in Budokan SA dojo in the past and are being taught today.
We are very excited to share the new plans for the future for Budokan SA. Watch this space…