Inducted into the A.M.A.H.O.F.(Inc) for 2003
INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR BUDOKAN BUJUTSU
Inducted into the W.K.U.H.O.F. for 2003
INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR BUDOKAN BUJUTSU
Shidoin Russell Lawrence was born 27th September 1964 in Cottesloe, Western Australia.
His father, Ramon Lawrence, was then serving in the Royal Australian Navy. The family was posted to England in 1965 for five years before returning to Australia in 1970. After two years back in Australia, the family was again posted to England for another three years. It was during this second posting that Russell had his first taste of Judo in 1973, obtaining the grade of 2nd Mon White Belt at a dojo in Waterlooville, England.
His martial arts really started in detail in January 1980 when he joined the HMAS Penguin dojo of Jishukan Ryu Jujitsu. He trained at the school for one year until the family was posted back to Perth, Western Australia. In 1982, he helped his father establish the Jishukan dojo ‘Riki Gun Shiba’ at HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle. In 1984 he was awarded his Shodan in Jishukan.
In 1986, he commenced training in Kendo with the West Australian Kendo Renmei and became the inaugural Treasurer for the newly formed association – a position he still holds in 2003. He was awarded his Shodan in Kendo in 1989 at the Australian Kendo Championships held in Canberra.
In 1987, he helped his father to set up the Budokan Academy Dojo at Canning Vale, Perth, Western Australia, where both Jishukan and Kendo were taught.
In 1988 he went on his first trip to Japan for advanced Jishukan training. He again returned to Japan in 1990 for more advanced Jishukan training at the Hombu in Yokosuka under the training of Okamoto and Yano Sensei’s.
In 1993, he commenced training with Sensei Derek Woodhouse in Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo and not long after commenced training in Seitei Iaido.
In 2000, Russell became the first person in Australia to obtain his Yondan in Jishukan via a physical grading conducted within Australia (all previous gradings within Australia had been awarded on merit by a panel of senior grades).
In January 2001 Russell was placed Second in the Australian Iaido Team Championships whilst heading the Western Australia ‘B’ Team, giving Western Australia both first and second places in the Australian Teams Event.
In January 2002 he partnered his father Ramon for the first time and this formidable pair went on to win the Australian Jodo Pairs Championship in Hobart. He was selected into both the Inaugural Australian Jodo Team and the Inaugural Australian Iaido Team for 2002.
In January 2003 he was placed third, again partnering with Ramon, in the Australian Jodo Pairs Championships held on the Gold Coast of Queensland. He represented Australia in an International Goodwill Team Competition against New Zealand which Australia won 3-0. He was also selected into the 2003 Australian Jodo and Iaido Teams.
Russell’s current grades are as follows: –
Kempo, Jujitsu and Jojitsu – Yondan with a title of Shidoin
Iaido – Sandan
Jodo – Sandan
Kendo – Shodan (currently inactive)
He also holds the following positions: –
State Treasurer for Jishukan Australia Inc (WA Branch)
State Treasurer for the West Australian Kendo Renmei In