The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation is an organisation set up to promote and develop good relations between Great Britain and Japan. It serves to enhance the mutual appreciation and understanding of our cultures and gave me the great opportunity to create a study of the teachings of Sosui Yoshiji Soeno 10th Dan, founder and living Grandmaster of the Martial Art Shidokan.
Sosui Yoshiji Sueno 10th dan. Grandmaster and founder of Shidokan.
I made an application to The Sasakawa Foundation for my Martial Arts project ‘Shidokan’. Part of my project goals was to send a ‘Konnichiwa’ email to the Hiroshima Animation Festival organisers, which, had the amazing result of an invitation to participate in the film selection process and the animation festival. I was then very fortunate to receive a travel grant from The Sasakawa Foundation. The culmination of this support with the kindness of Shidokan Great Britain and Shidokan Japan made it possible for me to have the wonderful experience of being able to travel to Japan to draw, paint and train with Shidokan Japan.
Ornamental Japanese garden, Mejiro
Shoalin Moon temple in the rain, Urawa
Shihan Makoto Seshime, 3rd Dan
Shihan Kenichi Sato, 5th Dan, demonstrating kata
Girl demonstrating Kata
The 36th Shidokan Open International Championships, Junior kumite finals. This gives a new perspective to the saying ‘foot in mouth’ ! I can assure you he was alright after wards and very brave!
A very proud moment, my artwork was used on the tournament poster.
