The Bajada Renshi brothers Christian and Roderick Bajada Renshi,
accompanied by a group of students from Classical Budo Association Malta
(traditional martial arts school which they run in Luqa), have successfully
ended their trip to Japan on invitation by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, the
oldest and most prestigious society of Japanese traditional martial arts. Presided
by a board of Japanese experts, with members and ex-members of the Japanese
government, the mentioned society is the beholder of some of the most
fundamental names to the Japanese cultural heritage. Not only is the Dai Nippon
Butoku Kai sanctioned by the government, but it is also governed by his royal
excellence Prince Higashi Fushimi Jigo, ‘chief abbot’ of Shorenin Temple,
brother to Princess Kotaigo, wife of ex-emperor Hirohito.
Renshi Brothers Bajada, who are both officially qualified by the
same Japanese society in Traditional Jujutsu and Iaijutsu, also carry the
prestigious title of Renshi, which they were awarded on personal recommendation
of Dr Hiroyuki Tesshin Hamada Hanshi, chairman of the international division,
sealed by his royal excellence the Prince himself. It is worth mentioning that
the brothers’s reception of this title was indeed an exception since never had
such an honour been bestowed upon any non-Japanese Budoka of so young an age.
Apart from the numerous exhibitions given by the brothers Bajada, they were
also present, as official international representatives of this society in the Maltese Islands, for a number of board
meetings.
The students from Classical Budo Malta consisted of Kevin Enriquez
Sensei, Daniel Zammit Sensei, Ramon Lautier Sensei, Oliver Mifsud Sensei, and
Leigh Calleja, also official members of the DNBK. The team gave excellent
exhibitions in Classical Jujutsu and Iaijutsu, as well as in traditional
weapons such as Bojutsu, Jojutsu and Hojojutsu, in the presence of the highest
Japanese authorities in the Butoku Den, a hall which was built in the eighth
century and which has been the training venue for Samurai warriors throughout
the ages. It is, moreover, a great honour in Japan to perform Jujutsu on wooden
floors without any protection mats, a task in which the Maltese team excelled
after exhibiting a series of techniques and throws on the hard, antique, wooden
floors of the Butoku Den.
The Maltese team, which had been preparing for this memorable
occasion, also succeeded in achieving various honours, including the highest
awards available for the occasion: the World Butoku Sai Individual Yushu Sho –
Outstanding Award Christian Bajada Renshi and Roderick Bajada Renshi, Team
Shorei Sho – Team Commending Award twice in the World Butoku Sai and the Rensei
Taikai, Individual Rensei Taikai Yushu Sho – Outstanding Award Kevin Enriquez
Sensei, Individual Doryoku Sho – Great Achivement Award Daniel Zammit Sensei,
Ramon Lautier Sensei and Oliver Mifsud Sensei and 1st Leadership
Award Christian Bajada Renshi and Roderick Bajada Renshi. For this event, forty
different countries from all over the world were present with over one thousand
black belts, and thus it is an honour that the participation of Malta
was one of the most highly acclaimed.
For more information about this event, refer to
the official website of Classical Budo Association Malta: www.classicalbudomalta.org.mt
