Travel, Training, and LudoSport: Brian’s Japanese Adventure
Can you tell us about your recent trip to Japan and what inspired you to visit the Ludosport club there?
Brian: I recently went to Japan on holiday to experience more of the culture there. I had gone last year and loved my time there. I met Felice and Kana, two of LudoSport Osaka's instructors, at SIS 2025 where I felt I got along well with them. So naturally, I felt inspired to pay a visit to their academy on my recent trip to Japan.
How did the experience of meeting and training with the Japanese Ludosport community compare to your experience in Kildare?
Brian: The experience was similar; thanks to LudoSport having the same terminology worldwide, I was able to understand what was being said by the instructors, regardless of the language barrier. I had a lot of fun training and also sparring with the different people I met there.
Were there any particular techniques, traditions, or approaches from the Japanese club that you found inspiring or would like to bring back to Kildare?
Brian: The class I took part in was a Form 2 class. As an instructor of Form 2, it brought back fond memories of the Form and has strengthened my excitement to get our current class in Kildare to Form 2
How do you think international exchanges, like your trip to Japan, benefit the global Ludosport community?
Brian: I feel like LudoSport members doing these exchanges broaden their community; they obviously meet new people but see new ideas of how to practice techniques, they experience growth in the combat abilities as they are facing unfamiliar opponents in the arena and so may try new things or have new things tried against them. For me, I got to enjoy all of the above and also cultivate the social side of my experience in the sport through good conversations with the members of the Osaka academy, both during the time allocated for sparring, but also at the PorkSide after the class, speaking about our respective classes, Forms, plans for the future, and of course, light sabers
Can you share a memorable moment or lesson from your time with the Ludosport practitioners in Japan?
Brian: For me, the most memorable moments in any class come from the sparring. I really enjoyed sparring against the members of LudoSport Osaka; seeing their different styles of combat was both refreshing and challenging
Are there plans for future collaborations or exchanges between Kildare and the Japanese Ludosport clubs?
Brian: I have already begun planning another trip to Japan next year and have already expressed interest in participating again next year in one of LudoSport Osaka's classes. Felice and I are also both going to be at SIS together this year, and we will be helping each other with what we learn there.
Thank you Brian