Nanseikan Kendo Club 剣道クラブ南西館

Last Saturday, Sumi sensei held a training session at the Kenshikan. Luke and myself were there and it was a great session. Sumi sensei's assistant was Tashiro Junichi sensei (8th-dan). There were also another three 7th dans and three 5th dans in attendance, so the level of instruction was very high. Sumi sensei is famous as a kendo teacher and he was the head of the committee that designed the nine "Bokuto ni yoru kihon waza keiko ho". Sumi sensei calls them the "Bokuto kihon" for short. These are the kata where the is a kakarite and a motodachi, and the kakarite calls out "kihon ichi!" or "kihon ni!" before performing the movements. Most NSK members are familiar with these 'kata'. (Those at training last week will have them fresh in their minds!) So Sumi sensei showed us how to perform these basics with full bogu and shinai, which was very interesting. We will definitely try this at Nanseikan. He also has devised his own patterns fo...

Well yesterday's visit by 22 sensei from Japan was a great success. It really did seem like a dream to have so many experienced instructors in our small dojo. When the bus arrived in the car park and they all started to get out it was like, "here they come!" We had to "extend" the dojo outside with carpet. Luckily it was such a beautiful day, and some of the sensei took the newest Nanseikan members outside for some intensive training, leaving the rest of the space for jikeiko. The format of the morning was first zokin (cleaning), which was pretty hectic but with so many people it was over in about 45 seconds! Next we posed for a group photo, then had the usual welcome speeches and exchange of presents (Nanseikan gave each of the sensei a packet of Madura tea, since it is grown and made in Australia, is different to Japanese tea, and is something that is not breakable or heavy for their luggage. And the Japanese love a nice cuppa!). Then we introduced the sensei ...

On 9 October we will be hosting more than twenty (20!) sensei of (I believe) 6 and 7 dan. They are headed by Yoshiyama Mitsuru sensei, who I had the pleasure of meeting and training with last year in Osaka. Yoshiyama sensei has written quite a famous kendo guide which has been translated into English, on how to pass your 4th to 7th dan exam. He will be accompanied by some notable 7 dan sensei including two who are exponents of Itto Ryu Kenjutsu , one an exponent of Mizoguchi-ha Itto Ryu, and the other of Hokushin Itto Ryu. Itto Ryu was one of the main forms of swordsmanship from which kendo evolved. Training is normal time and not extra fee is being charged for this special event. Even though we are sure to be outnumbered, I hope as that as many Nanseikaners as possible will be there. Yoshiyama sensei lecturing recently in Canada. Click to go to video. These are the main sensei: YOSHIYAMA Mitsuru Sensei (Kyoshi 7dan) President of World Kendo Butoku Washinkai SHIINA Kazue Sensei(Ren...