History

Now in its 6th year, the Kodosai event continues to honour and celebrate the old ways of Japanese martial arts.

The inaugural Kodosai event was held in 2005, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire and was sponsored and supported by various Anglo-Japanese causes and UK martial arts publications. This event was the first to introduce Hiroaki Tokono-sensei (Japan) and Santo S. Castoro-meijin (Sicily) to the United Kingdom. This event also featured various displays from different arts given in front of a 16 person international panel of guests.

In 2006, the Kodosai Sicilia marked the first time that the event was to be held outside of the United Kingdom. Famed for their hospitality, the Sicilians welcomed participants from all over the world to celebrate an event which has forged friendships around the world.

In 2008, the event was held in Essex, England and featured the first exchange of students between England and Sicily.

The event returned to Sicily in 2009, as the return leg of the exchange was completed.

In 2010, the event returned to Warwickshire, in Nuneaton, as the event was hosted by Ryukyu Karate and Gung-Fu. The event featured masters and teachers from around Europe, including new teachers such as Frank Schneider-hanshi from Germany. This also marked the first event where Shodou (Japanese calligraphy) was offered as a participation event.

We return to Basildon, Essex in 2011, with what promises to the best traditional martial arts event of the year.