Samurai birthday party a cut above

ITS past displays have seen fingers chopped off and arteries sliced open – and now some of the greatest British students of the Japanese art of Iaido are set to draw swords in Edinburgh.

Iaido is a martial art using the katana, commonly known as the samurai sword, and is rapidly gaining followers throughout Europe.

Its Edinburgh chapter celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.

Founder John Honisz-Greens, 37, originally from Penicuik, has returned to Scotland from his home in Japan to stage a special display at Walpole Hall in the West End on Sunday.

He has brought with him three of the highest ranking Iaido sword fighters outside of Japan.

"The samurai sword is one of the most lethal weapons known to man," said Mr Honisz-Greens.

"It's essentially a three-foot long razor blade so it is very dangerous. I've seen some horrific injuries where people have had fingers chopped off or arteries sliced open, but I have never seen any fatalities.

"However, the sport is highly regulated by the British Kendo Association and injuries like that are extremely rare.

"The sport is as much about the movement of the body as it is the movement of the sword, and it's a terrific and terrifying spectacle."

Curved bladed weapons, including the samurai sword, are banned in the UK but there is an exemption for certain martial arts, including Iaido.

Mr Honisz-Greens originally went to Japan to study another martial art – Aiki-Ju-Jitsu.

Following a chance meeting with the renowned Iaido master Oshita Masakazu Sensei, he switched and became the first westerner to win a major Iaido tournament in Japan.

He was tasked with bringing Iaido to Edinburgh and founded Genbukan Edinburgh in 2000.

Ten years on and the club has ten loyal members, and its founder is embarking on his toughest task yet by attempting to claim the prize of All Japan Champion in 2010.

"It is very exciting to have such a host of experience visit us in Edinburgh," said current Genbukan Edinburgh dojo leader David McLean, who has been looking after the running of the club for the past ten years while Mr Honisz-Greens continues his studies in Japan.

"This seminar is the next step to developing our club in Edinburgh as a centre of excellence for Iaido in Europe."

Genbukan Edinburgh will be staging a public demonstration on Sunday at 4:30pm at Walpole Hall, in the grounds of St Mary's Cathedral off Manor Place.