Inducted into the W.K.U.H.O.F. for 1996
MOST OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR: KEN-JUTSU OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO A MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINE
Sensei Karasulas was born 14 January 1960. His Martial Arts training commenced with him studying Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai-jutsu under the watchful eye of Komei Sekiguchi – 21st direct line headmaster, in Tokyo, Japan from October 1986 until April 1988, and again from November 1989 until May 1990. A total of two years full time training was spent in Japan. Sensei was successfully graded in Menkyo Kaiden by Komei Sensei and received the honour of being the official shibucho (branch chief) for Australasia.
His training continued over the years and in 1991 Sensei Karasulas was graded to 3rd dan in Batto-jutsu by Nakamura Taisoburo Sensei, who was a 10th dan and head of Toyoma Ryu Batto-jutsu and Nakamura Ryu Iaido in Yokohama, Japan.
He was also very privileged to spend several weeks training in Los Angeles as Toshishro Obata’s uchi-deshi. 1995 saw the openinng of Sensei Karasulas’s full time Koryu Dojo in Sydney, after him teaching part-time since 1988.
His awards and achievements include being 1st place in men’s open weapons kata at the inaugural Australian open tournament in August 1996, Sydney; 1st place in grand champion weapons kata division – 1996 Australian open tournament.
Sensei Karasulas is a frequent traveller both interstate and overseas (Indonesia, New Zealand, etc) where he regularly conducts seminars on Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu. He also has participated in women’s self defence classes and Koden Bujutsu (Classical Japanese Bujutsu system, headed by Satoshi Yokota, Sydney). He is a regular contributor to a column in the Australasian Fighting Arts magazine since 1991 called “The Cutting Edge” and has featured in a training video titled, “Dynamic Japanese Swordsmanship” which was produced by Streetsafe Productions. He has also been fortunate to be the sword master and fight choreographer for Australian/U.S. movie production called “Fatal Past” in 1994.