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Next Meeting
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Talk by Michael Jay, the only British
Samurai. At 2pm, on
Saturday October 15th 2011, in the United Reformed Church Hall
(opposite Good Intent pub on inner ring road) entry by ticket. Michael Jay
is the only non-British person to hold a samurai rank since William Adams
in the 17th century, and has combined his 31-year flying career with
British Airways with a study of Japans martial culture. Michael
holds the rank of Group Commander in that exciting equestrian event Soma Noma Oi,
( Suma Wild Horse Chase) which combines religion, culture and martial skills,
dating from the 10th century, riding
in full armour and at full gallop. He is also a master swordsman in the Tenshin
Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, Japans most ancient martial school, unchanged since
the 15th century. Both
these skills are classified by the Japanese Government as Intangible Cultural
Treasures of Japan. Michael also
holds 7 separate black belt grades in different modern Japanese martial arts. He
is a qualified firearms instructor and served 17 years as a Special Constable in
the Metropolitan Police, receiving the Queens Golden Jubilee Award for police
service. From the age
of five Michael was fascinated by aeroplanes and martial skills, becoming the
proud owner of a model Spitfire and avid reader of books about the Knights of
the Round Table. Then he read a book
The Fighting Spirit of Japan and so began his lifelong love affair with
Japan. He joined a judo club, met a Japanese instructor who invited him to
Japan, so that in 1972 when he had started to work for British Airways, and had
his first flight to Japan, he was able to visit his sensei and fell totally in
love with Japan, started to learn to speak Japanese, and met his wife-to-be
Tokuko, whom he married in 1979. Michael will
talk about his time living in Japan, including the experiences of his wifes
family in Japans recent disasters, and explain about the different martial
arts, demonstrating some of the traditional and more modern techniques. He has
already taken part in many major fund-raising events following the tsunami, very
generously donating his time, so we will be donating all profits from his talk
to the Japan Tsunami Fund. Tickets are
on sale from Wendy Arnold Tel :01730 266992 or from One Tree Books, members £5.00,
non-members £7.50, students £2.00. Free refreshments will be served. Michael
Jays talk on Japans Martial
Arts in the United Reformed Church Hall, Petersfield on Saturday 15th
October 2011 at 2pm. Name
(s)
. Address
..
Post
Code
.. Email
.. Phone
No:
.. Number
of Tickets: Member
(£5.00)
. Non-Member
(£7.50)
. Student
(£2.00)
Total
Number of tickets
Payment
£
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