Two of the fellows of the Japan Institute, Trevor Streets and Roy Fox both 5th dan, recently returned from an intensive high level training in Japan. The training which specifically concentrated on kobudo was held on one of the islands that form the RyuKyu chain in southern Japan. Trevor and Roy received private instruction form Mr Hayashi, 7th dan, the highest ranking kobudo master in Kushu and the surrounding provinces.

The training was further intensified by actually staying in My Hayashi house. In Trevor's words "The reception we were given was second to none. All those we met were friendly and would go out of there way to help. Inside the Dojo the atmosphere was serious and intense as benefits training with weapons. The Japanese way is to train very hard so that the body remembers the movements not the head. Well we certainly did that alright! Mr Hayashi even commented on our stamina and keenness to learn when the local papers came to interview us. Overall we must have got in the equivalent of a month's training in the UK!"

Roy backs that up, "I don't think the local students of Hayashi sensei could believe how fast we picked up the kata's and how hard we pushed ourselves. Indeed Hayashi sensei even said to me the he wished his own guys trained like us, which I took as a huge compliment."

While there the two guys were guest of honour at two parties. "One was more of a senior grades drinking session that went on long into the night and involved arm wrestling challenges and the like. The other was a little more formal with speeches and presentations." said Trevor. "On the second welcoming party we were entertained by a superb Samisen player that had actually played privately for the Emperor of Japan three times. A wonderful experience and a very rare honour" echoes Roy.

Apart from the training, one of the other objectives of the visit was to make arrangements for Hayashi sensei to come over to the UK later in 2007 for a series of small and exclusive seminars. Hayashi sensei explained to Roy and Trevor how in Okinawa the old school kobudo was being diluted to make it more aesthetically pleasing but at the cost of practical effectiveness. "Some of my old class mates are urging me to change but my body knows the way that it should be and I am staying with that way." reported Mr Hayashi.