More action than a Jackie Chan film!

More moves than John Travolta dancing!

More fun than your typical author event!

See the video!

On Thursday 25th September, Puffin and the Oxford School of Martial Arts organised a full impact Young Samurai event at the North Wall theatre in Oxford.

An audience of 200 guests watched Chris Bradford and Team Taurus give a spell-binding display of martial arts, samurai sword, readings and videos in celebration of the publication of Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior.

Kicking off with the Young Samurai trailer, Chris then treated the audience to a samurai sword demonstration. Drawn into the world of the samurai, the audience of parents and kids watched as Young Samurai unfolded on the stage. Chris acted out the scene in the book where Jack fights with Yamato and for the first time wins a point, but not for long because this only angers Yamato to attack without mercy...

Next, a real troupe of Young Samurai emerged onto the stage, wrapped in mist and coloured lights. Team Taurus wowed the audience with a full-on martial arts display encompassing modern and ancient arts - a seriously impressive martial arts kata to music was followed by an agile display of technical skipping to improve coordination and balance.

So good was it that someone might think this would be impossible to follow, but the event was graced with the presence of Akemi Solloway Sensei, a real samurai who brought a touch of the authentic by presenting the ancient arts of Japanese culture - bowing, tea ceremony and kimono. One lucky audience member even got the chance to dress up in a kimono!

Chris returned to the stage to explain his sword display - much to the amusement of the younger audience members as the author got them to imagine dangerous ninja in tight underpants attacking him!

This was followed by a second Team Taurus display, with one of the Team going solo to perform an outstanding Bo Kata (see the photos). The climax of this second display was the whole team performing martial arts feats simultaneously before ending up in a formation farewell. A stunning performance all round!

Finally Chris revealed the Truth behind Young Samurai and gave a video presentation on his recent research trip to Japan. Audience members got an exclusive peek at video footage of the ‘real’ Niten Ichi Ryu, as well as a Ninja House and the source of Samurai Sweat (you had to be there!).

Bringing the event to a close, the author noted the immense dedication and skill demonstrated by Team Taurus: ‘All of them will grow to be great role models for the future!’

For all the photos, visit the gallery.

Thanks must go to Sensei Mary and Sensei Rob for helping to organise the ultimate Young Samurai event. Anyone in the Oxford area interested in Martial Arts should visit their dojo.

Also check out their You tube Videos: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=m2ajOAZk8lU