MARTIAL arts instructors from a Blackburn club have returned from their two week ‘pilgrimage’ to the Far East.

Sensei Simon Jones and Sensei Ricky Johnson took part in a 15-day whistle stop tour of Japan – one of the spiritual homes of martial arts.

And the occasion was made all the more significant as it was exactly 20 years to the day that Ray Parker, founder of Blackburn Martial Arts and Kickboxing Club, made the very same trip.

For Jones, a sixth dan at Kempo and long time instructor at the Albion Mill-based club, is was the trip of a lifetime.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for a very long time and the trip was everything I hoped it would be.

“I feel I have returned enlightened and although we were not there that long, I think I have learnt a lot which I can now pass on to my students.”

The pair were based in Kyoto and travelled out to various Dojos (venues), training with some of the highest ranked kendo senseis in the country — including Sensei Honda, the former British squad coach, and Sensei Sumi who is renown across Japan for Kendo.

“We did a lot of training and it was hard work,” added Jones. “I was hoping to do more Kempo but a lot of the classed concentrated on Kendo, the ancient art of fighting with the bamboo sword.

“I am not as qualified in this particular martial art but that said, the training has definitely helped me improve.”

The pair managed to fit in a bit of sight-seeing and visited various historical castles, temples, the Golden Pavilion, The Imperial Palace and visited Hiroshima.

While the pair got to meet two of the most important senseis in Japan, Blackburn Martial Arts and Kicking Boxing Club recently played host to one of Britain’s highest qualfied instructors.

Semsei Kevin Pell, a ninth dan in Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu, travelled up from Norwich with his senior instructors to hold a seminar and demontration. Senei Pell is a well known and respected exponent of Ju-Jitsu and has appeared on TV and featured in many books.

He is a ‘close protection’ instructor and travels the globe teaching Ju-Jitsu.

Clubs that took part were Chorley Ju-Jitsu, lead by Sensei Les Mitchell sixth Dan, Clayton Le Moors Kuon Ji-Ju-Jitsu lead by Sensei Tony Gregson sixth dan and his team of black beltsand other clubs from across the North West.

Also on the day Sensei Jason Hooper was awarded his black belt at Ju-Jitsu, already being a black belt at Kickboxing and a second dan in Kempo. This was awarded before he emigrates to Australia with his family where he will be establishing his own Martial Arts club.