LES MAITRES YOKOYAMA 10e DAN,
HIROSE 8e DAN ET MAROTEAUX 9e DAN A CHARTRES
Last May, more than a hundred participants were reunited in « La Madeleine » gym in Chartres.
Indeed, the French federation UNADA welcomed a Japanese delegation in order to share each other’s disciplines and martial arts culture. The thirteen Japanese of the delegation were led by Master Masashi YOKOHAMA (10th dan in ju-jutsu and 15th Soke of Mondo-ryu), Master Giryu HIROSE (8th dan in kenpo and founder of the Giryu-kaï school) and Kazumi KAWAI (President of the armor unit of Osaka and organizer of the samurai festival).
At the end of the training course, a final display allowed the high ranked Takeda-ryu Maroto-ha teachers to show their skills to the Japanese. In return, the delegation showcased their disciplines and gave the French students a foretaste of the samurai festival, during which they wore their ceremonial costumes.
These two days were also marked by Frédéric Orrico (5th dan and Chairman of UNADA) and Master Maroteaux, who wore a samurai armor of the clan Sanada in accordance with a meticulous ritual. This was greatly appreciated by everyone.
Chairman Orrico thanked sensei Yokohama, sensei Hirose and sensei Kawai by giving them the first federal medal of his newly founded association. Their names were engraved on the medal. In addition, they received the book entitled “Le samouraï blanc” and the other members of the delegation were given different presents from the hands of the French teachers.
Soke Yokohama gave to Master Maroteaux a truly magnificent “tanto” from the 16th century as well as its certificate of authenticity.
This was a week-end that won’t be forgotten and which shows that Master Maroteaux will keep surprising us…
MYRIAM DESVEAUD