JAPANESE BLACK BELT FOR CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32539, 24 February 1971, Page 12

JAPANESE BLACK BELT FOR CHRISTCHURCH

WHEN the Christchurch ’ ’ International Judo Club’s chief instructor, J. W. Bonniface, returns to New Zealand early in April after a year of studying four of the Japanese martial arts in Osaka, Japan, he will be accompanied by a leading exponent of two of 'those arts. Takashi Nakajima, a 28-year-old graduate of the Kokshikan University in Tokyo, is a fourth dan black belt in judo and and a fifth dan holder in aikido. He will teach pupils at Christchurch International during the following months. A light middle-weight judo player, Nakajima is one of the top-ranked exponents in the Kansai district, which includes the cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. According to Bonniface, with whom Nakajima has been closely associated as both a teacher and friend, the Japanese player is per-

haps the best all-round judoka that he has met during his studies in Kyoto and Osaka, especially in his own weight, Nakajima’s ability in ne waza judo (ground work) is exceptional, although his tachiwaza (standing judo) is almost as good. He will almost certainly have attained the fifth dan grade when he accompanies Bonniface to New Zealand. The standard of judo in Canterbury should be greatly enhanced by the presence of Nakajima and the return of Bonniface, whose purpose in travelling to Japan was to gain knowledge to pass on to his pupils at Christchurch International. While in New Zealand, Nakajima will live at the home of Bonniface’s parents. The length of his stay is undecided at present, but it will probably be for at least 12 months, and perhaps longer.