Еуропадағы ең көне жапон жекпе-жек клубы

Martial arts club

The Budokwai (The Way of Knighthood Society) (武道会) in London is the oldest Japanese martial arts club in Europe. It was founded in 1918 by Gunji Koizumi and initially offered tuition in jujutsu, kendo, and other Japanese martial arts. but it is normally called The Budokwai. The name Budokwai was chosen by the society's founder Gunji Koizumi as a combination of the Japanese words bu (武) meaning military or martial, do (道) meaning the way or code, kwai (会) meaning public building or a society/club.

Gunji Koizumi created the Budokwai as a society to teach judo, kendo and other Japanese arts to members of the public. He founded a dojo at 15 Lower Grosvenor Place, Victoria, London SW1 and the club official opened on Saturday 26 January 1918 with 12 members, making it the oldest judo club in Europe. It is also the oldest Japanese martial arts club in Europe. Koizumi became the first president of the Budokwai and Yukio Tani the first chief judo instructor. In July 1920, Dr. Jigoro Kano (the founder of judo) visited Britain and the Budokwai for the first time, he was accompanied by Hikoichi Aida who stayed in Britain and instructed at the Budokwai for two years. In 1953 Teizo Kawamura, then a 6th Dan, came from the Kodokan in Japan to become chief instructor. After thirty five years, the Budokwai moved to 4 Gilston Road, South Kensington, London, SW10 9SL. Shotokan Karate is practiced five days a week at the Budokwai with both children's and adult classes. The chief karate instructor is Yoshinobu Ohta who holds a karate 7th Dan. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is run by Ray Stevens. Hontai Yōshin ryū ju jutsu takes place once a week with instructor Dr. Mike McClure 6th Dan.

The Budokwai is a democratic non profit making organisation with full, associated and honorary members. Only full members have financial responsibility and voting rights in the club and there can only be 45 full members. Peter Blewett is the current Chairman of the Executive Committee.

The Budokwai have had a number of notable instructors including a number of famous Japanese judoka and guest instructors. Kisaburo Watanabe Asian Games Champion 1964 and in 2010 Kosei Inoue spent 10 months instructing at the Budokwai, other Japanese instructors have included Kisaburo Watanabe Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki and Yasuhiro Yamashita. Olympic medalist Raymond Stevens has been a regular instructor for many years. George Kerr was also served as an instructor.