Russell Lawrence -  Iaido and Jodo Renshi

I started my martial arts career with Judo as a child, way back in 1973/74, in England while my father was posted there by the Royal Australian Navy (1965-1970 and 1972-1975).

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In 1980, in Sydney, I started Jishukan Ryu Jujitsu.  -  an art consisting of Jujitsu, Kempo and Jojitsu.  I was the first person in Australia to  do a physical Yondan grading, and was awarded a Shogo rank of Shidoin.  I retired from active practice in 2006, handing my club over to Victor Stuart.

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I was inducted into the Australian Martial Arts Hall of Fame (AMAHOF) in Canberra, 2003.

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Current Grades Held

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Yondan Shidoin - Jishukan Ryu Jujitsu (retired)

Shodan - Kendo (retired)

Rokudan Renshi - Zen-Ken-Ren Iaido

Rokudan Renshi - Zen-Ken-Ren Jodo

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History: West Australian Kendo Renmei

Committee & Board Positions

 

Part of the founding team of the WAKR in September 1986

Inaugural WAKR State Treasurer

WAKR State Treasurer 1986-2020

Chairman WAKR Technical Board 2020-

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History: Australian Kendo Renmei

Awarded Australian Kendo Renmei Life Member, October 2017

 

Committee & Board Positions

AKR Iaido Board
AKR Iaido Board committee member 2006-2009
AKR Iaido Board Chairperson 2018-2021

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AKR Jodo Board 
AKR Jodo Board Steering Committee member 1999-2000
AKR Jodo Board Secretary 2000-2003
AKR Jodo Board Secretary 2003-2006
AKR Jodo Board Vice-Chairperson 2006-2009
AKR Jodo Board Chairperson 2009-2012
AKR Jodo Board Chairperson 2012-2015
AKR Jodo Board Member 2017-2018
AKR Jodo Board Member 2018-2021

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AKR National Council 
AKR National Council Member, Jodo Board representative 2000-2015
AKR National Council Member, Iaido Board representative 2018-(2021)

Kendo

Started Kendo in 1986 – founding member of the West Australian Kendo Renmei

Attended AKR Kendo National Championships in 1988 (Sydney)
Attended AKR Kendo National Championships in 1990 (Canberra)
Attended AKR Kendo National Championships in 1991 (Perth)
Graded to Shodan in Kendo in 1991

Retired training Kendo in 1992

Iaido

Started Iaido in 1993

Attended 4th AKR Iaido National Championships in 1995 (Canberra)
Attended 6th AKR Iaido National Championships in 1997 (Sydney)
Attended 8th AKR Iaido National Championships in 1999 (Sydney)
Attended 9th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2000 (Melbourne)
Attended 10th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2001 (Perth)
Attended 11th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2002 (Hobart)
Attended 12th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2003 (Gold Coast)
Attended 13th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2004 (Melbourne)
Attended 14th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2005 (Perth)
Attended 15th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2006 (Wollongong)
Attended 16th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2007 (Hobart)
Attended 17th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2008 (Gold Coast)
Attended 18th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2009 (Canberra)
Attended 19th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2010 (Perth)
Attended 20th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2011 (Melbourne)
Attended 21st AKR Iaido National Championships in 2012 (Sydney)
Attended 22nd AKR Iaido National Championships in 2013 (Hobart)
Attended 23rd AKR Iaido National Championships in 2014 (Ipswich)
Attended 24th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2015 (Canberra)
Attended 25th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2016 (Perth)
Attended 26th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2017 (Melbourne)
Attended 27th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2018 (Sydney)
Attended 28th AKR Iaido National Championships in 2019 (Hobart)
2020 AKR Iaido National Championships canceled due to COVID

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Graded to 1st Kyu in Canberra 1995
Graded to Shodan in Sydney 1997
Graded to Nidan in Sydney 1999
Graded to Sandan in Melbourne 2001
Graded to Yondan in Melbourne 2004
Graded to Godan in Brisbane 2008
Graded to Rokudan in Kagawa-ken, Japan, July 2016

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Awarded Iaido Renshi November 2017

Jodo

Started Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo in 1993

Attended two-week Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo seminar in August 1997 (Sydney)

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Started Seitei Jodo in 1996

Attended 1st AKR Jodo National Seminar held at the AKR Kendo National Championships in 1996 (Perth)
Attended 2nd AKR Jodo National Seminar in 2000 (Melbourne)

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Attended 1st AKR Jodo National Championships in 2001 (Perth)
Attended 2nd AKR Jodo National Championships in 2002 (Hobart)
Attended 3rd AKR Jodo National Championships in 2003 (Gold Coast)
Attended 4th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2004 (Melbourne)
Attended 5th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2005 (Perth)
Attended 6th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2006 (Wollongong)
Attended 7th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2007 (Hobart)
Attended 8th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2008 (Gold Coast)
Attended 9th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2009 (Canberra)
Attended 10th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2010 (Perth)
Attended 11th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2011 (Melbourne)
Attended 12th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2012 (Sydney)
Attended 13th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2013 (Hobart)
Attended 14th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2014 (Ipswich)
Attended 15th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2015 (Canberra)
Attended 16th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2016 (Perth)
Attended 17th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2017 (Melbourne)
Attended 18th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2018 (Sydney)
Attended 19th AKR Jodo National Championships in 2018 (Hobart)
2020 AKR Jodo National Championships canceled due to COVID

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Graded to Shodan in Sendai, Japan, 1998
Graded to Nidan in Sendai, Japan, 1999
Graded to Sandan in Hobart 2002
Graded to Yondan in Perth 2005
Graded to Godan in Aomori, Japan September 2010
Graded to Rokudan in Hitoyoshi, Japan 4th August 2017

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Awarded Jodo Renshi November 2018