Annual MWKF Summer Camp

August 6-8, 2004  Kalamazoo, Michigan
All photos by Dave Christman, unless otherwise noted.

Here is some photos of the kata practice.

 

Craig Dieringer, our only club nidan at the moment, is carefully watching Yamanaka sensei explaining the uchidachi role in the kendo kata. As many years as he has been around, this was his first Summer Camp. Now ask Craig about how he feels about summer camps.

Here I am speaking to Kanno Takeyoshi. He was the 2004 winner of the Izui Scholarship, this gave him a free ride to summer camp. Every year one MWKF member is allowed to attend camp free of charge. You must fill out an application a month ahead of time. One of my duties as president is helping to decide who receives that scholarship.

 Kanno is a member of the Chicago Kendo Dojo, and never misses a Summer Camp.

Photo by Aaron Robadey

Shinai drills finally took over, and once the men was on, it didn't come off for 2 1/2 hours. 

Saito shows the proper way to do attack the men.

Saito shows how not to hit the kote.
Sugawara sensei (right jodan) was really put through the ringer by Yamanaka sensei (left jodan) during the free sparring sessions. Aaron Robadey captured digitally a moment where sensei banged Sugawara off the gym wall, leg swept him, and proceeded to hit his men four times as he tried to get up.

Photo by Aaron Robadey
Sensei wanted to have session also on Saturday night. Normally we reserve this for "party time" and renew old friendships and make new ones. Well. we still did do a lot of that, but only after a tough 2-hour Saturday night practice.
Our normal Saturday night "practice" didn't get started till long after 10 p.m. It lasted until, well...I'm not sure, I gave up about 2:30 a.m. 

I actually got a bit worried when the "sumo" wrestling started. It was going on right next to the grand piano. I think we partied so long and hard that night because everyone (but me) practiced so hard. 

Kanno gets a private lesson from Saito sensei, I just hope he remembered what he learned the next day.....
Tagawa sensei (left) from Detroit Kendo dojo, has been a firm supporter of Summer Camp, and he always shows up with a good sized contingent. Here he is discussing the state of kendo in the US with Yamanaka sensei....or not!

Photo by Aaron Robadey

 Mike Murphy from MSU teases Sugawara and takes a picture of the swollen bruise on his right wrist, after all, he was Yamanaka's motodachi (receiver) for the kote portion of the day's session.

Here Saito sensei had Sugawara swinging a bokken for at least 2 hours, trying to perfect exactly "something" I couldn't understand. Of course if I could speak Japanese.....

Once when Saito was swinging near Sugawara's head, Sugawara just swayed a little (the beer) and was *whacked* on the left side of his head, luckily Sugawara could laugh it off, as it was just over his left ear.

Photo by Aaron Robadey

 

 

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