The Budokwai

Trevor Leggett is a multi-facetted personality with many talents. He has until recently been President of the Budokwai. 

At the Budokwai we have known him mainly as a Judo instructor and this aspect of his life is covered in the archives, however he is also known as a Zen scholar and writer. - The brief CV below covers some of that side of his work.

A brief CV - Trevor Leggett's teacher of Yoga and its philosophy was the late Dr. Hari Prasad Shastri, pandit and jnani of India. Dr Shastri was commissioned by his own teacher to spread the ancient Yoga abroad, which he did in China, Japan and lastly for twenty seven years in Britain until his death in 1956. The Yoga is based on the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita but is to be spread on non-sectarian and universal lines. It has a clear-cut philosophy and training method.  Trevor Leggett was his pupil for eighteen years and was one of those entrusted with the continuation of Dr. Shastri's mission. All Leggett's books on spiritual subjects are dedicated to his teacher.

Trevor Leggett has lived in India and Japan and knows Sanskrit and Japanese. From 1946 for 24 years head of the BBC Japanese Service broadcasting in Japanese to Japan twice a day.

He is a translator and author of some thirty books mostly on Eastern and Far Eastern yoga and Zen, with some cross-cultural studies. Three of them in Japanese. He also holds the rank of 6th Dan in Judo from Kodokan, Tokyo and 5th Dan in Shogi, Japanese chess.

In 1984 he was awarded the Third Degree of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, by the Emperor of Japan, in recognition of his services to cross-cultural relations between East and West, through broadcasting, translations and other books, and through active introduction of aspects of Japanese culture to the West. There are eight degrees of this Order, from the First down, and this is the Third Grade, which is in practice the highest a private individual can get.

In 1987 he was awarded the All-Japan Buddhist Association Literary Award for Translations of Japanese.

Trevor Leggett has been the author of many Judo books and most of us will have read his book on Kata Judo which is regarded as a classic, however in the last two decades his writing has focussed more on the philosophical side of Judo and on Zen. He continues to write despite his advanced age and blindness. The following is an extract from his latest book ' The Old Zen Master' published March 2000

Extract from "Robes of Honour"  

"...In these ways, we put robes of honour on ourselves, and they hamper us and we can't do the job properly.

In Judo there is a certain grading contest called 'one-against-ten.' You have to take on ten men-one after another. They are generally a couple of grades below you, and with luck are so terrified of you, that it is easy to dispose of them. But one or two of them think, 'Everybody knows I'm going to lose anyway, so I've nothing to lose,' and they come shooting at you, taking fantastic risks. Because you are so sure of your own superiority, which he doesn't seem to recognize, and because he comes straight at you - 'whoosh' - you can't get the robes of self-conceit and assurance off in time, so that, once in a blue moon, he scores. Then you know what it is like to look an utter fool. This happened to some rather famous contest men who were not fully alert because they felt it was unnecessary. They had already put on the robes of their coming victory. No longer simply the judo champions they ought to be, they became judo champions combined with something restricting - judo champions in cumbersome robes of honour."

Mick Leigh

Mick joined the Budokwai in the late 50s having started his judo training  at the LJS in 1955 and then moving on to eight practices a week between the Budokwai and the Renshuden. He founded several clubs in Sussex. Mick is a professional coach with experience at all levels having coached many British Internationals and National champions and Kata champions. He also coaches special needs players.  

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Peter MacNamara

Peter MacNamara trained at the Budokwai for a number of years and was a regular attender during the eighties when he sometimes coached club members. 

Arthur Mapp

Maycock

And I say this without fear of contradiction!

Alan Menzies

Alan R.Menzies Writes -  I live with my wife in Liskeard, Cornwall. I was never a direct member of the Budokwai, but I was a frequent visitor  and had allegiance to the Budokwai through my club  Croydon and District Judo Society which was directly affiliated to the Budokwai. The Secretary of the CDJS was George Edwards one time treasurer of the Budokwai and myself were founders and editors of 'Judo'  an international Judo magazine which ran from the early 50's to the late 70's.   I was the representative of  the Southern Area to the Executive Committee of the BJA  for about 20 years and in that time I was a member of the Selection Committee, Competition Committee and Constitution Committee.   I was also the Vice President of the European Judo Union for 4 years.  I attended every European Championship from 1956 to 1973 and every International event in Europe that included British players. My most memorable experience was attending the Sunday classes at the Budokwai run by Trevor Leggett, I attended every one during the several years that it ran. I first attended the Budokwai at Lower Grosvenor Place went on to Ebury Street and finally to its present home. You might say that I know more Judo players from that era than anyone else due to my photographing and writing about them for nigh on 20 years. I have no doubt that I have written too much already, but being an inveterate correspondent I tend to use three words where one might have done, still how else could a reporter  make hundreds of similar events all different. I do have an e-mail address and use a Mac G4 computer  and would be happy to furnish any information that  I have, though all my books and most of my other historical data is in the hands of that great historian and archivist Dicky Bowen who labours ceaselessly on,  on  his definitive historical work about Judo in this country.

Sarah Mayer  

An early female Judoka. Started judo at the  Budokwai and visited Japan in the 30s. She was more or less a complete beginner at that time but studied hard at the Kodokan and then later at the Kyoto Butokukai which had been established in 1890 and was led by Kano's representative and followed Kodokan principles at that time.  The Butokukai had it's headquarters in a former temple and then acquired branches throughout Japan ending up with over 2 million members. After the war the US authorities moved to close it down due to what were considered to be right wing tendencies.

During  Sarah's stay in Japan - which spanned about two years, she wrote to G. Koizumi and her letters are held in the archives of Dickie Bowen and Joe Svinth (Seattle Joe). on 1st March 1935 the Japanese times bore the headline of 'Foreign Woman wins Shodan at the Butokukani' - and it seems she was offered this rank on 27th feb 1935 she was thus the  first non-japanese woman in the world to be awarded dan grade - which was in effect a Kodokan grade. There is some dispute as to whether she accepted this. Her letters to Koizumi indicate that she did not, feeling herself to be too inexperienced and not yet deserving the grade.  She returned the same year to Britain bringing Ichio Hatta with her and practised at the Budokwai for a while before setting up her own Dojo in her home in Burgh Heath. Sarah was involved in the theatre and wrote a play 'Hundreds and Thousands' which played at the Garratt theatre in 1939. She went on to write articles and stories for the Evening Standard

Sarah spent time in Japan with Ichiro Hatta whose family have been in touch with some members. A short video illustrating some of Sarah's time with Ichiro Hatta and her letters to Koizumi is available from  Martial Arts Videos 

Ken Maynard  

Started Judo at the Budokwai in 1955 training under TP leggett and obtained his first Dan in 1957, progressing up to 5th Dan in 1977. European Championships 1959 and 1961 (team captain), 1962 Bronze medal - open category. World Championships Paris.  Chairman BJA technical Board Area coach NHC Area. Books 'Attacking Judo' ; 'Judo for Schools' - both with Alan Menzies.

John Mewett

British international. 2nd dan Welterweight - John has written in recently with the following news - 

John Mewett throwing Alan Mainstone during British team trials.

Sarah Milford-Haven

Ex Member of Budokwai Executive Committee

Chen Moraes

Chen Moraes is ex Gracie JuJitsu instructor. He received his black belt from Carlos Gracie and was very proud to be a member of the Budokwai team.

Chen Moraes

Chen Moraes is 3rd degree black belt who has been five years in the UK and nearly 4 years at the Budokwai. He is also chairman of the UK Brazilian JuJitsu Association, Uk Luta Livre Submission Wrestling Association and Anaconda Brazilian JuJitsu Club. Twice European Champion and once British Champion.

Vass Morrison

British international for many years Olympian. Instructor at Budokwai

Yvonne D. Myers

 Yvonne otherwise known as 'Basher' Myers was an early female Judoka who has the 'dubious' honour  of having been Dickie Bowen's first female practice - he describes her as very tough but pretty and a 'bit eccentric' - well anyway, she floored him at the time!   Basher went to Japan in 1954 and earned a Kodokan 3rd Dan. Tales abound of her prowess on and off the mat and she was evidently adept at stocking up on food and drink (which was in short supply for the struggling Gaijin judokas) at official receptions - two such occasions which deserve mention were at a party hosted by Princess ChiChibu - (who having been brought up in Walton-on-Thames spoke perfect English)  and at her engagement party to an American dentist ... details withheld!  Basher moved to the USA after her marriage but then divorced and married a lawyer. Her second marriage also ended in divorce. She has a son who has taken up Judo and who has practised at the Budokwai on occasional visit.  She is involved in art and has had exhibitions of her work.

Tomoki Murakami

Tomoki has visited the Budokwai several times when in Uk - he spends some months in England before returning to Jaoan. - He likes Judo and likes the 'fun' of practice as he says - Eevryone who likes 'true Judo' (Shin no Judo) let's have fun together. He describes himself in a thumbnail description as 'I look like Winnie the Pooh - I am a funny guy. Tomoki has been in Judo for 20 years and is a skilful player - a nice practice.

Tomoki and Chiyoko

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Cliff Nash    

British Universities International Heavyweight. Runs Shogun international martial arts supplies. Member of Budokwai since approximately 1958. Cliff's only martial art is judo although he has been supplying martial arts commercially for the last 25 years and is thus aware of many aspects of the others including non-Japanese. Nowadays he  trains at least 4 times per week - running and weight training and sometimes treads on the mats.

 also see archives

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Reg Oliver   

Manager at Budokwai for many years.

Tony Orton 

Tony Orton 4th dan,   British International 1962-70. London area captain 1966-67.  England captain 1968-69 National referee. 1966-70. Also is a licensed referee in Japan. He often arranges parties, etc. for visiting British judo teams. Still practices and teaches at local dojo near his home in Chiba prefecture. He enjoys camping and fishing with his wife and two children   Has lived in Japan for the past 30 years

Siv Ostman

Swedish visitor from Orebro who spent couple of years at the club in mid eighties. She is now back in Sweden and is mother of five children.

Billy Oxford

Trained at Budokwai in early and mid eighties.

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Charles Palmer

Charles Palmer - the current President of the Budokwai - started Judo at the age of 16 and had obtained his black belt by the age of 18. He was called up for Military service but was given special leave to compete for Great Britain in Holland.

 On completion of his National service he gained his 2nd Dan at the Budokwai. In 1951 he joined some other distinguished pupils of Trevor Legget in Japan. With a job as security guard at the British Embassy he was able to further his judo studies at the Kodokan where he was awarded 4th Dan. He returned to England and again won a place in the British Judo Team which won the European Championships in 1957, 1958, and 1959, succeeding Geoff Glesson as Captain for the last two years.

 Shortly after this he retired from major competition and was elected Chairman of the British Judo Association a post which he held for the next 24 years. In the 1965 International Judo Federation (IJF) Congress in Rio de Janeiro he was elected President of the IJF and held that post for the next 14 years.

 In 1973 Mr Palmer was awarded the OBE for his services to International Judo and in 1985 he was elected to the post of Chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) until the next election four years later. Charles Palmer has been awarded his tenth Dan by the BJA Board of Directors.

PALMER  also see archives

Belinda Petty 

Belinda has been a full member of the Budokwai for many 30 years and is now retired. She began judo in 1955 and first graded at Budokwai in 1956 under Koizumi. Present grade is 5th Dan 1992. Southern area gold medallist - National bronze medallist and former London area Women's team manager. National Referee. Senior examiner.

Angelo Parisi     

Olympic gold medallist. 

Angelo Parisi was born in Arpino, Italy but was brought up in England. He began his international career fighting for England but later switched nationalities to French after taking a French wife. Parisi was a man of many techniques. He had an ability few possess injudo; he was truly ambidextrous. His favourite techniques included morote­seoi-nage, seoi-otoshi, osoto-gari, harai­goshi, ashi-guruma, and kosato-gari, all of which he could do to either side. In his prime, his flowing style of judo was truly a sight to see. The Japanese describe him as possessing Japanese style judo’  a compliment bestowed on very few foreigners. In fact Yasuhiro Yamashita went as far as to say that at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Parisi was the only judo player worth watching. Parisi has won more Olympic medals than any player in history:  bronze in 1972, gold and silver in 1980, and another silver in 1984.

John Pinnell

1^st Dan and BJA Club Coach, involved with coaching the senior beginners.  John served for a while as Club Treasurer and was a long serving member of Budokwai Executive Committee.  He has also been involved with the running of the London Area of the BJA.

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Larry Ralph

Larry is an honorary club member and has been a member of the Budokwai since 2nd April 1954. He started Judo at the Budokwai while at a temporary Dojo in Ebury Street Victoria. Practiced and taught as a Budokwai instructor  also a committee member for a number of years and a member of the technical panel. 4th Dan and a BJA senior club coach. Practices occasionally on saturdays.

Radburn

Keith Remfrey

olympic silver medallist heavyweight

R Ruchti

RUSSELL-SMITH   see archives

John Ryan

Second Dan - Regular member of club since late seventies. 

(NB there are two John Ryans  - also see archives - the older JR died several years ago).

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