Ogawa Kinnosuke, a legendary 10th Dan swordmaster, was one of only three masters of martial arts to be granted the “Shijohosho”, an award given for great achievement by the Emperor of Japan. Other masters to receive this honour at this time were Seiji Mochida, a Master of Kendo and Kyuzo Mifune, a Master of Judo. Morihei Ueshiba, the great teacher of Aikido was also later to obtain this honour. In 1933 at the Butokukwai in Kyoto, Japan, Ogawa began to teach the art of swordsmanship to a young Dan grade called Abbe Kenshiro.

Ogawa Kinnosuke 10 th Dan 1955 (8 th Left Front Row)

Abbe Sensei had been instructed in the discipline of Kendo since the age of three and, at the age of seventeen had already attained 4 th Dan in Judo. One year later he was to become Japan’s youngest ever 5th Dan. Whilst training at the Butokukwai, he started researching an obsolete ancient Japanese religious philosophy known as “Kyushindo”. This may be interpreted as -

“KYU” – to desire or to have a deep yearning to search after something.

“SHIN” – heart, mind, spirit, - the true and fundamental nature as opposed to the superficial appearance.

“DO” – a way or path; a far reaching and inclusive direction.

The elementary perspective of this translation may be considered to be “ the way of longing for knowledge of the fundamental nature of all things”. This philosophy therefore can be considered as not just a theoretical application with relevance limited to martial arts but to life in its entirety.

Abbey Kenshiro 8 th Dan . Founder of Kyushin Budo

After experiencing Satori ( enlightenment ) at the age of 18, Abbe Sensei developed a new style of Judo and two years later became Grand Champion. He was awarded 6 th Dan Judo and 3rd Dan Kendo at the age of 23 and was selected at this time to become a student of Morihei Ueshiba with whom he remained for the next ten years, perfecting his arts and the principles of Kyushindo.

At the age of 40 Abbe Sensei was a Master of Judo, Kendo, Iaido, and Jukendo as well as several other traditional martial disciplines. In 1955 Abbe Sensei was the Master who brought these arts to the United Kingdom. Here he met and began to teach Kyu shin Budo to Otani Tomio, the first born son of Masutaro Otani, 7th Dan Judo Master. Otani Tomio Sensei was no newcomer to Martial arts and had been training since childhood, with Abbe Sensei's guidance he was to become a Master Budoka.

Otani Tomio Sensei Master Budoka

Mike Selvey met Otani Tomio Sensei in 1979 when he visited the dojo in Carshalton, Surrey at which Mike was teaching Judo. Otani Tomio Sensei’s display of Iaido, Kendo and Aikido took Mike’s breath away and he knew instantly that he had to become his student.

In 1984 Mike and Otani Sensei opened the Yodokan in Brockley, South London - a full time dojo within which both Otani Sensei and Mike broadened their skills and were able to teach a greater number of students at one time. Sadly Otani Sensei died from stomach cancer in 1991.

The above picture shows Otani Sensei demonstrating Aikido to Sensei Mike Selvey and Sensei Tudor Box circa 1982.