Interviews Martial Edge meets Angela Clare | Martial Edge meets Angela Clare |
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 Angela Clare; historian, Leeds Royal Armouries interpreter and Shodan in Japanese kobudo talks to Martial Edge about the history of women in combat and our own martial arts heritage. Lesley Jackson speaks exclusively to one of the few female black belts in Japanese kobudo resident in Britain today. Angela Clare; historian, Leeds Royal Armouries interpreter and Shodan in Japanese kobudo talks to Martial Edge about the history of women in combat and our own martial arts heritage. Lesley Jackson speaks exclusively to one of the few female black belts in Japanese kobudo resident in Britain today. I had my parents come to stay with me recently and after a couple of hours realising that two fussy houseguests in their sixties in a one-bed roomed flat is really not much fun, I had to find something to do with them. Much like my best friend’s irritating small children, the activity has to keep them occupied for several hours or I’ll have to hear that eye swivelling phrase, “I’m bored.” Well thank God I took my parents to the Royal Armouries in Leeds because there was enough to see there that would keep any child or retired parent amused for hours and I could get on with the business of finding interesting material to write about for Martial Edge. My personal favourite is the naginata, which is often referred to in Japan as the ‘woman’s weapon’ and there are still many women’s naginata clubs in Japan. -Angela Clare in conversation with Lesley Jackson Much like taxies, men and a cracking martial arts article, you never really find one when you are actively looking but when you are wandering around aimlessly, a corker will land in your lap. And this is what happened to me at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. After going up to the fourth floor to look at the Oriental war stuff (my technical know-how is deep) and some startling mannequins of Samurais, I found myself sitting in a wooden dojo waiting for a demonstration called, “Legends of Japanese Warrior Women.” Boy was I in for a pleasant surprise. On came Angela Clare and the museum’s Senior Interpreter, and fellow black belt, Andy Deane, who delivered a gripping and fascinating demonstration of the Japanese art of kobudo, along with interesting stories about Japanese warrior women in history. Dressed in their traditional Japanese costumes, Angela and Andy whirled their naginata and katana around with a technical skill and flair that held the audience captive. What is Kobudo? Kobudo is the Japanese martial art of weapons, incorporating such Samurai weaponry as the recognisable katana sword, bo staff and nunchucks and Angela Clare is a member of a small and elite martial fellowship. She is special because at the age of 28 and gaining the Shodan grade of black belt (1st Dan) she is one of only a handful of women in the North of England to do so. Angela speaks of how she started in this rather more unusual martial pursuit, “after gaining my degree in archaeology at Southampton University I then spent a few years working up in Edinburgh before I got the job at the Royal Armouries and because part of our job is to demonstrate various fighting skills, I was offered the chance to train in kobudo. This was so we could highlight and ‘bring to life’ the museum’s world class Japanese collection of arms and armour. We are taught by Sensei Steve Ainscough in our purpose built dojo. Although I found it hard to begin with I kept persevering and I was hooked and four years later, I was taking my black belt assessment in front of Sensei Steve Elliot, one of the country’s leading kobudo practitioners. It is perfect here at the Royal Armouries as I get to pursue and combine my different interests; history, martial arts and performing. To reach the level of Shodan in kobudo, Angela had to study a variety of weapons. “There are nine different weapons in kobudo and to get my black belt I had to train in four. These are the katana, naginata, tanbo and yawari. I’m now continuing to train with sai, kama, bo staff and nunchuku. My personal favourite is the naginata, which is often referred to in Japan as the ‘woman’s weapon’ and there are still many women’s naginata clubs in Japan. I think the reason it is so popular with women is the ability to keep your opponent at a distance due to the weapon’s length. However, don’t be fooled into thinking this is an easy or light option as it is still a very powerful weapon and was also used regularly by male Samurai in combat. There are lots of myths and stories of Japanese women using this weapon and although one may generally assume Japanese wom e n to be very passive in history, noble women were often trained in the naginata and there are many stories of them using this weapon in history.” Women in Combat The history of women in combat is one of Angela’s passions, which can be seen by her recent thesis for her Master’s Angela further reflects on the way we look upon martial arts in the west and how we treat both the Oriental and European heritage. “When training, you can never do katas enough. For one thing, we must keep them up so they don’t become lost and that is why at the Royal Armouries we are aiming to film as much as possible and spread the word about kobudo . However, as much as I love doing kobudo, we mustn’t forget our own martial arts heritage in Europe. Our medieval knights had as much skill in fighting as the samurai including swordplay, archery and unarmed combat but some of our own martial arts have died out and the image of the knight has been largely romanticised by the Victorians. Therefore, we seem to have placed more prestige against the Eastern martial arts rather than our own when in actual fact, the samurai and knights were very much the same concept. Where in the west we place a great deal of reverence to the Japanese code of Bushido, it is by and large similar to the knights’ code of chivalry. “ After attempting to hold one of the naginatas Angela uses, I found it to be much heavier than it looked. I wondered how, due to our feminine lack of upper body strength (sorry ladies, it is a fact of biology here) how she was able to wield her kobudo weapons with such ferocity. “I’m lucky with my job that I am able to train as often as I like. I have to practise as much as I can and we are always choreographing new fights for the demonstrations anyway. I go to the gym to do a normal workout but I wouldn’t say that I do any extra strength training specifically for kobudo. Learning to use the weapon provides enough strength training in itself and through this I have developed my upper body strength yet I haven’t bulked up, just become stronger. I also do a lot of other activities as well such as climbing and snowboarding so really, kobudo and using a katana sword isn’t as daunting for a woman as you might imagine. I think you’re either a physical person or not, regardless of gender. Any weapon is doable for a woman; it is just all about the training.”
Due to the relative scarcity of kobudo opponents in Britain and the difficulties of sparring with weapons , Angela has not yet been able to compete, although she says she would love to go to Japan to train. “I don’t feel that I am good enough yet though, I’d have to train up to spend time there but it is something I’d love to do.” I am quite sure after seeing her demonstrate her many talents in weaponry that is something Angela can look forward to in the not too distant future. For an excellent day out and entertaining visit, take the time to explore the Royal Armouries in Leeds or London where you can discover a wealth of martial history and vibrant demonstrations.
The nearest kobudo and jujitsu club to the Royal Armouries is at Milford sports club, Kirkstall in Leeds, on Wednesdays at 7.30pm taught by Sensei Anna Ward and Sensei Steve Ainscough.
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degree entitled, ‘Unequal Soldiers: Gendered Discourses and the British Military’ . Although we assume women entering the military arena as being a recent event, as Angela argues, there is a tradition of women being present during military conflict. “Women have always been present during battles in varying guises and they have often proved themselves as capable warriors. The ideology of women being weaker than men is untrue and I am glad to say there are plenty of instances in history where women have kicked ass! There are many examples in Europe with Boudicca and Joan of Arc, and Hangaku Gozen who led opposition against the leadership of the Hojo family of Japan . However, unlike men who have no need to explain why they are a soldier, women always seem to need a reason or an excuse to fight and are often not seen as a warrior in their own right.”
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