On Friday 3 August, Year 7 and 8 Japanese students had the privilege of meeting Bill Temm, a Master of Japanese swords.

Bill amazed us with the handling of the “Bokken”(wood) and “Katana”(steel) and taught us about the discipline and training that this combat sport entails. He explained how to hold the sword and showed us his techniques. Bill also told us that you must not fight unless threatened and that swords are lethal weapons.

Descendent from a samurai family from Kamakura, Japan, Bill now teaches the art of Japanese sword fighting around Sydney.

Overall it was an enjoyable display of an age-old discipline that is being kept alive by teachers such as Bill.

Georgio Platias (8/JN)