In Memoriam

 

 

Dr. Vernon C. F. Bell Shihan

9th October 1922 - 27th February 2004

At the age of 81 on Friday 27 February 2004 at 16.00.hrs

Vernon Bell after fighting a long illness,

passed away peacefully with members of his family by his side

 

Vernon Bell has become a legend in the art of Bujutsu in the United Kingdom, this was due to his exceptional qualities of photographic memory and dedication to the study of Japanese Martial Disciplines. He was unique in that he had the opportunity to study under a great many Japanese masters of several disciplines.

Beginning in 1939 in the UK with Jujutsu, he then continued in 1940 in South Africa at the Strand Street Keikojo of Master Seishi Teppie Kyoshi.

He further increased his knowledge of this art by studying under Harry Johnson, who had been with Seishi Teppie for many years. He then continued to train under Alfred J. Morgan and Otani Masaturo, who had both trained under Tani Yukio, who came to Britain in 1899.Later he became a Uchi Deshi of the great master Abe Kenshiro Hanshi of the Butokukai Kyoto. During this time he broadened his knowledge by the study of Bojutsu and Aikijutsu.

Then in the early 1950's he began to train in Karate at the Headquarters of the Federation Francaise de Karate, Paris, France, attaining his shodan from Master Mochizuki Minoru in 1957. Having established the British Karate Federation, he then affiliated the B.K.F. to the Yoseikan Hombu in Shizuoka Japan in the same year.

Vernon Bell as the pioneer of Karate in great Britain became instrumental in bringing over from Japan a number of leading practitioners of the Art including;

Masters: Murakami Tetsugi, Mochizuki Hiroo, Kanazawa Hirokazu, Enoeda Keinosuke, Kase Taiji and Shirai Hiroshi.

Other Sensei who visited the U.K. Hombu included Harada Mitsusuke and Nambu Yoshi.

We shall remember him as

Dr. Vernon C. F. Bell Shihan

 

Founding Father of the British Karate Movement

 

Of Dr. Vernon Bell, Master Enoeda said, "He is Great, because he discovered Karate for England.

Also he invited us. A great Master"

 

Founder of the British Jujutsu Federation.

Co- Founder of the European Jujutsu Union.

Founder Junsui Rikuchi Renmei.