Photo publication…in Japan

Last year, I photographed an iaido demonstration in Australia by Yamamoto sensei of the Ichimon Shinkage ryu. Thanks to the good people from Ichimon Shinkage ryu iaido, I received a copy of the ryu’s annual embu (public demonstration) publication featuring a photo on the inside cover that I took last year at an Australian demonstration here in Brisbane. Nice feeling to see a photo in print!

Yamamoto sensei

I can be contacted by the following form, or through the information contained under the “about” button at the top of the page.

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Comment(required)

Submit

Δ

 

Aikido Yuishinkai

The Aikido Harmony dojo (Aikido Yuishinkai) at Sunnybank was officially opened on 2 November 2013. The full day of activities included a special children’s class, a demonstration class conducted by Williamson sensei (from Byron Bay) and student gradings from shodan (first level black belt) to sandan (3rd level black belt)…including my friend Sharma who performed a powerful and flowing nidan grading. The gradings included defending various open-hand attacks, attacks from a jo (staff) and bokken (wooden sword), and weapons kata demonstrations. It was a very action-packed and compelling day.

I can’t really do justice to the range of skills demonstrated at the opening day in just a few images, but these may give a few insights…

Williamson sensei demonstrating

Sharma (my friend who did his nidan grading) and Andel sensei working on a kokyunage

Martin sensei in action

Williamson and Martin senseis working together

If you would like to comment on this entry, or to contact me to photograph a martial arts or other action event for you, please use the contact form below:). I am based in Brisbane.

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Comment(required)

Submit

Δ

Iaido

In early August, Yamamoto sensei 6th dan iaido and head instructor led a week-end seminar in Brisbane on Ichimon Shinkage Ryu iaido. Students not only had the opportunity to learn and practise this form of iaido kata, but also to practise tatami (mat) cutting. The seminar finished with a tatami cutting demonstration by Yamamoto sensei.

Yamamoto sense towards the end of his demonstration

Sensei addressing students at the start of the seminar

One of Yamamoto sensei’s students demonstrating iaido kata

Adjusting the tatami mate ready for cutting

One of the seminar participants having her first attempt at mat cutting…

…and a bit surprised by the outcome

Yamamoto sensei in action

 

Brisbane kung fu: Board Breaking

These martial artists got some serious hang time on several of the board breaks. Breath-taking to watch, especially in the confined space in which they had to operate.

They start young!

Jumping roundhouse

double front kick

Set up for stationary jump side kick

Brisbane kung fu: open-hand techniques

This is an ecletic mix of open hand techniques including standard forms, set attack and defence routines (including rolls and break-falls)

Brisbane Kung Fu: Weapons

I had the opportunity to photograph a kung fu demonstration – open hand forms and techniques, weapon forms and general physical awesomeness in terms of kicks, rolls, etc. There was an incredible degree of skill, talent and martial discipline on display. To do some justice to the students’ ability and dedication, I will break up the demonstration into three categories. The first is weapons.

The members of Brisbane Kung Fu were very impressed with the images from  their demonstration. If you would like to book me to photograph your martial arts display, grading, instructor profiles, etc, please do not hesitate to contact me through the contact tab on my website http://www.shugyoimages.com.

Won second prize

I won second prize in the 2012 Cutting Picture of the Year with this picture in a competition run by an Australian supplier of tatami mats.

Stuart Campbell at the 2012 Martial Arts Festival

I donated the prize of 10 tatami mats to Master Campbell. As you can see, he goes through the mats at a great rate. Incredible skill, power and determination.

Interesting juxtapositions

Laptop set up for competition

I attended a kendo seminar and grading recently, and had the opportunity to observe some excellent kendo.One of the things that caught my attention at the seminar, however, was the juxtaposition between the traditional and quite old art of kendo, with modern technology and circumstances.

This provided some interesting visual contrasts between the traditional and the contemporary.

Cooling down after grading

I often reflect upon the potential inconsistencies involved in studying traditional martial arts in the modern age.Studying traditional martial arts in a modern context raises many questions e.g. is it reasonable to apply a high level of obligatory etiquette upon students when the social structure and cultural context of the martial art has shifted and the concomitant obligations upon the instructor are no longer there (or so strong)? Or how much time is it reasonable to expect martial arts practitioners to dedicate to their art when the social infrastructure which supported that training is no longer there (as it is largely no longer needed). Many of today’s martial artists are expected to balance demanding work, family commitments and other lifestyle requirements with martial arts training. Many of today’s martial artists have to face conflicting demands on their time that were not present in the more traditional societies that gave birth to those martial arts.

The demands of modern life

 

Checking weapons (shinai) prior to grading

Grading completed: moving from the past to the present

Bamboo and Mat Cutting

One of the most visually spectacular elements of the 2012 Australian Martial Arts Festival, and the 8th Australian National Gumdo Championships, was the bamboo and mat cutting performances. The mats are soaked in water for at least 24 hours to make them solid. Cutting bamboo is a grading requirement.

I have tried mat cutting a few times, and occasionally have experienced the thrill of the clean, almost magical and effortless cut through the wet mat. Unfortunately, more often the sword wedges itself in the mat, or bounces off the mat or fragments the mat into portions – such that the mat looks like it’s been attacked by a giant, ferocious (and very untidy) rat. So, I can scarcely begin to imagine the degree of training and skill required to slice through several stands of bamboo or multiple numbers of mats at one time. However, this was achieved over the nationals week-end, and very spectacularly – so awe-inspiring.

He is finishing the cutting of the seven bamboo stands with a return cut

If you look where her free hand is positioned, you can see the cut she achieved in the bamboo with this back cut: the bamboo is just beginning to separate from the cut

Even reviewing these photos now for this post, gives me goose-bumps. The level of dedicated training and the concentration to achieve results like this leaves me breathless.

Need some paper cut? Try using a sword.

It’s hard enough to cut paper just standing in place, but this sword master manages to cut the paper with a variety of sword cuts (including backhand) effortlessly (well, seemingly effortlessly!), consistently and with never a miss, while running, jumping and turning. The aerobic fitness alone was awe-inspiring, but when coupled with the sword cutting skill and accuracy, it was breath-taking!