PRINCIPAL INSTRUCTOR HENRY PIELACKI
Strutts Centre
Derby Road
Belper
DE56 1UU
Mob: +44 07538 757073
Email:henry.yoshinkan@gmail.com
“Martial art of the Japanese Riot Police”
We teach Shin Arashi Ryu Kenjutsu under the direction of Ashley Hennessy Shihan (8th Dan). He started his formal martial arts training in 1981 and Aikido training in 1984 and has been teaching martial arts in the London area (Ontario, Canada) since 1983. In 2011 Hennessy Sensei was promoted to Rokudan (6th degree black belt) in Yoshinkan Aikido by Amos Parker Shihan. Both his Dan certificate and teaching licenses are registered with the Aikido Yoshinkan Foundation in Tokyo, Japan. He has had the privilege to host many senior world renowned Yoshinkan instructors; Kiyoyuki Terada Hanshi (10th Dan), Yasuhisa Shioda Soke, Amos Parker Shihan (9th Dan), and Tsuneo Ando Shihan (8th Dan). Hennessy Sensei also holds a 4th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo and dan rank (black belt) in Shin Arashi Ryu Kenjutsu. He has trained and holds rank in Shotokan Karate, Hapkido, White Crane Kung Fu, Kaze Arashi Ryu Kenjutsu, Shinkage Ryu Kenjutsu, Toyama Ryu Iaido and Kendo. He is employed by a major Canadian Financial Institution in the E-commerce sector. He is also first Aid and CPR certified.
Shin Arashi Ryu Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu is the general name used for sword systems in over 2,000 Japanese classical combative schools (known as koryu) dating back to the samurai times (generally acknowledged to be from 1185 to 1868).
Shin Arashi Ryu Kenjutsu is a Japanese martial art finding its roots in Yagumura, Japan. It concentrates on the study of Japanese swordsmanship. It follows the traditional techniques of the Shin Kage Ryu and Yama Arashi Ryu schools of kenjutsu.
It is considered to be a ryuha which is a martial tradition or school. The term ryuha refers to a branch tradition of a classical school (koryu); i.e. a line not different enough from the parent tradition to completely change the name but one that may have added or subtracted a portion of the curriculum. In addition, a ryuha might have been formed – especially during the Edo period (1603 – 1868) due to political conflicts over succession. (While often used synonymously with the terms ryu or ryugi, the suffix ha is derived from the term habatsu meaning “to branch off” or ‘break away”. )
At the Shin Arashi Ryu Kenjutsu dojo in London, Ontario we teach solo and partnered techniques known as Taisabaki and Bobusuru respectively. In addition we also teach Shin Arashi Ryu Jojutsu and Shin Arashi Ryu Tantojutsu techniques.