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On the 19th March 796 to commemorate the founding of the Kyoto
City, Japan by Emperor Kwammu, an Imperial Edict was sent to all
provinces calling for warriors who were skilled in any military art to
attend a gymnasium called the Butoukden (The Hall of Martial
Virtue).
In 1894 the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto City was
celebrated and a Temple (Heianjingu) was built in the north east of
the city dedicated to the memory of the Emperor Kwammu.
 In April 1895 the Dia Nippon Butokukwai was founded and its first
Superintendent was H.I.H. Prince Komatsu-no-Miya Akihito. In March
1898 the gymnasium was finished with galleries able to hold several
thousand spectators, and in May 1898 the Dedication Ceremony took
place in the presence of H.I.H. Prince Komatsu-no-Miya Akihito and
thousands of eminent Empire personages. The Arsenal being built
after 1899, originally Target Shooting, Horsemanship, Bayonet,
Fencing, Ju-Jutsu, Swimming and Rowing were taught. Later Spear
(coupled with Bayonet) and Archery were added. Other arts were later
adopted and merged with Fencing or Jujutsu according to their
likeness. When Dr Jigoro Kano developed Judo for assisting and
improving physical education in schools etc, the Dia Nippon
Butokukwai for its combative appeal then adopted it. Later when the
East/West Japan Judo Contests were held the West (Kyoto etc) always
won due to their great fighting spirit. Part of the Constitution of
the Dia Nippon Butokukwai includes 'The Headquaters are to be Kyoto
and the Superintendent shall be a Prince of Imperial Blood'.
 The Busen was the Teachers Training College of the Dia Nippon
Butokukwai with the best 9th and 10th Dan Teachers, and it was
necessary to pass a very strict and difficult entrance examination
before the few were accepted for the four-year course. One of the
legends of Judo History was Master Kenshiro Abbe; another is Haku
Michigami.Both were students and graduates of the Busen.
 After WW2 General Macarthur closed down all the Martial
Arts Schools. After some years of pressure from some former Kodokan
members on the grounds of cultural and physical education General
Macarthur allowed the Kodokan to reopen. Former Butokukwai Teachers
who wanted to carry on with the life of Judo were obliged to offer
their services to the Kodokan. Mr R Kano (The President of the
Kodokan) wrote to many past Judoka asking for funds to rebuild the
Kodokan. (Including Master Abbe and Master Michigami who both made
donations.)
 After 10 years in England (where
I was privileged to be his pupil) Master Abbe returned to Japan in
1964 for the first Olympic games, and after only a short visit to
England years later died in Japan in 1987. I had been Master Abbe's
Chief Instructor and 5th Secretary and took the B.J.C Membership
from 3,000 to13,000 in 2 years. Upon Master Abbe's return to Japan I
was without a Japanese Judo Teacher for many years and in 1974 went to
France to see Master Michigami who kindly invited me to attend with
4 pupils the Annual Judo Course in Bordeaux, France which I attend
every year.
In 1991 at the request of many friends I formed the Busen Academy of Martial Arts, Sports and
Movement and I try to follow the spirit of its Teachers and intend
to eventually have an Academy with the same aims and ideals as the
old Busen. The new Busen is already held in high regard by other
Martial Arts Groups and is affiliated to the: -
Union European des Syndicats de Professors de Judo.
International Martial Arts Federation. (Kokusai Budoin)
Bushido Za Zen International Society. (UK)
U.K Martial Arts Forum.
and I am also a member of the Academy de Judo Michigami and others.
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