Gunji Koizumi
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2008-02-28T04:26:19Z
David from Downunder
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'''Gunji Koizumi''', ([[1885]]–[[1965]]) introduced [[Judo]] to [[England]]. President and founder of the [[Budokwai]]. National Coach of the [[British Judo Association]]. As well as [[Judo]], 'G.K.' was a master of [[Jujutsu]], [[Kenjutsu]] ("the art of the sword"), [[Kendo]] and [[Katsu]] ("the art of resuscitation"). Art Dealer and [[Lacquer|Chinese lacquer]] expert by trade, he was also an Artist and an Electrical Engineer.
Koizumi was teaching Judo until the day before he died in April [[1965]], altogether he spent over sixty-four years in judo and, apart from nine months in [[1906]] and [[1907]], he was a strict amateur for the rest of his life. At his death he held the [[Kodokan]] grade of 8th [[Dan (martial arts)|Dan]].
[[1885]]: Born in July in the village of Komatsuka in [[Ibaraki Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. Koizumi Gunji was the younger son of a [[tenant farmer]], Koizumi Shukichi ([[1853]]-[[1903]]) and his wife Katsu ([[1855]]-[[1920]]).
[[1887]]: Koizumi embarked on his life-long fascination with the [[martial arts]], having started [[Kendo]] at school when he was twelve.
[[1900]] - As the younger son there were only two paths open to him: start his own farm, or be adopted into a family without a male heir - a Japanese custom. He liked neither option so, at the age of fifteen, he left home to seek his fortune in [[Tokyo]]. Once in [[Tokyo]] he enrolled as a trainee telegrapher under a government scheme. It was during this period that he started practising [[Jujutsu]].
[[1901]]: At age 16, he studied [[Jujutsu]] at the [[Tenjin Shinyo-ryu]].
Once qualified as a telegrapher he worked for a while in [[Tokyo]] before volunteering to work on the railways in [[Korea]].
[[1904]] - By now another ambition had arisen, he wanted to study electricity and, in his opinion, the best place to do that was in America. Having little money he decided to work his way to the West in a series of 'hops', which he did via [[Shanghai]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Singapore]] and [[India]]. While in Singapore, Koizumi was one of the founding members of the first Jujutsu club in Singapore under [[Sensei]] Akistima.
[[1905]]: At age 20 he studied [[Jujutsu]] at the Akishirna [[Ryu (school)|Ryu]].
[[1906]]: In May, Koizumi arrived in Prestatyn, [[North Wales]]. He travelled to [[Liverpool]] where he took up the post of Instructor at a school for [[Jujutsu]].
[[1907]]: After nine months in [[England]], Koizumi went to the [[United States]] to teach [[Jujutsu]].
[[1910]]: In May Koizumi returned to [[England]], where he set up an antique business in [[London]].
[[1917]]: Married and with a thriving business, Koizumi felt that he had to make some contribution to help his adopted country. The contribution took the form of starting an institute for the study of the martial arts and their related cultural activities. He organized, at his own expense, a martial arts society in [[London]], named the [[Budokwai]] (The Way of Knighthood Society). The [[Budokwai]] offered [[Jujutsu]], [[Kendo]] and other Japanese arts to the British public.
[[1918]]: He found and leased two shops in Lower Grosvenor Place, [[City of Westminster|Victoria]] and the premises opened on January 26th [[1918]]. There was one dojo (training hall) of about twenty feet by twenty feet. The [[Budokwai]] was strictly amateur and democratic body, with an elected committee, annual general meetings and a constitution. It is run by and owned by the members. The first chief instructor was [[Yukio Tani]].
[[1920]]: Koizumi and Tani were teaching their [[Jujutsu]] method when [[Jigoro Kano]], the founder of [[Kodokan Institute|Kodokan Judo]], visited the club in July whilst on route to the [[Olympic Games]] in [[Antwerp]]. Hikoichi Aida and E.J.Harrison, both [[Kodokan Institute|Kodokan]] Dan grades and members of the [[Budokwai]], persuaded Koizumi and Tani to convert to [[Judo]]. This was agreed to and both Tani and Koizumi were awarded their [[Kodokan Institute|Kodokan]] Judo Nidan (2nd Dans) certification, in recognition of their technique and status. During this visit a [[Budokwai]] member by the name of Tanabe was awarded his 1st [[Dan (martial arts)|Dan]] (Shodan), making him the first person to receive a [[Dan (martial arts)|Dan]] grading in [[England]].
From there on [[Judo]] was formally taught at the [[Budokwai]] and this can be recognised as the starting point of British [[Judo]].
Travelling with Kano was Hikoichi Aida who remained in Europe for the following 10 years teaching [[Jujutsu]] throughout [[England]], [[France]] and [[Germany]].
[[1922]]: Koizumi, who was also an expert in [[Lacquer|Oriental lacquerware]], was appointed Consultant to the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]].
[[1932]]: Promoted to 4th [[Dan (martial arts)|Dan]].
[[1948]]: Promoted to 6th [[Dan (martial arts)|Dan]]. In July Koizumi became the first president of the newly founded [[British Judo Association]].
[[1951]]: Promoted to 7th [[Dan (martial arts)|Dan]].
[[1965]]: On April 15th, the nearly 80 year old Koizumi (by now an 8th [[Dan (martial arts)|Dan]]), having deciding that he had no longer had the strength to do more for British [[Judo]] and not wishing to be a burden, took his own life.
He had been on The [[Budokwai]]'s mat teaching the previous day. When asked that evening, while being driven home, what he would most like to happen, he replied, "To see people think for themselves and not be led like sheep."
There is a Japanese Cherry Tree dedicated to Koizumi in Roper's Garden on the Chelsea Embankment, London.
==External links==
* [http://www.budokwai.co.uk The Budokwai Website]
* [http://www.kodokan.org Website of the Kodokan]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koizumi, Gunji}}
[[Category:1885 births]]
[[Category:1965 deaths]]
[[Category:Japanese judoka]]
[[Category:British judoka]]