Sensei Wilms started his Okinawan weapons training in the Ryu Kyu Kobudo system where he received his Ikkyu grading in 2007 from Okinawan instructor Kuniyoshi sensei. He also successfully competed at the Goodwill Martial Arts festival and world championships in 2006 where he attained three gold medals in the Bo, Sai and Tonfa divisions respectively, thereby receiving the overall Kobudo trophy for this tournament.
In 2010 sensei Wilims, with the help of his instructor Kancho Rony Kluger (8th dan), changed from Ryu Kyu Kobudo to the more elite Yamanni Ryu Kobudo system under Nishime Shihan (9th dan). This little known style of martial arts was long kept secret from the west and was only reserved for a privileged few, but with shihan Nishime and few other top instructors this amazing system of weaponry was successfully introduced to western students.
What makes Yamanni Ryu different from other Okinawan kobudo (weapons) systems is that it was not intended for the everyday student. Yamanni Ryu was the preferred weapons system by the elite class of Japanese/Okinawan warriors, whereas other weapons systems were easier and more generically taught on a large scale.
Wessel’s Martial Arts Academy is an affiliated member of Karate-do International Renmei and after this recent international seminar, Sensei Wilms can proudly announce that he is now also affiliated to and officially recognized by the Yamanni Ryu Bojutsu organization under shihan Nishime and will again travel abroad in 2012 to gain more knowledge in this amazing weapons martial art.
Sensei Wilms’ teachers Kancho Rony (left) and shihan Nishime.
Jurgen Graupe displaying his agility while using Nunchaku against Samantha Kay’s attack with a Bo.
