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Volume 6 Issue 1 |
Editor: Dave Christman | JAN/FEB 2004 |
All Photos by Dave Christman, unless otherwise noted (copyright 2004) |
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CHAMPS VISIT DETROIT Feb 14/15, 2004 |
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The Detroit Kendo Dojo every year tries to bring a special guest instructor to their tournament. Tagawa sensei wants to not only have a tournament but a "seminar" where his guest can teach, or at least give some insight into their method of practicing kendo. This year was the 6th annual, and he brought over from Japan probably the finest fighting champion in kendo in the past 50 years. His name is Masahiro Miyazaki, Kiyoshi, 7th dan. He just happens to have a younger brother who is almost his equal. His name is Fumihiro Miyazaki, 7th dan. They actually had to face each other in the 1997 World Championships, in Kyoto. Masahiro won that one. He has reigned over the All Japan Kendo Championships for ten years, starting in 1990, winning 6 times. His brother Fumihiro winning once, in 1997. |
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Fumihiro Miyazaki sensei (standing-left,) speaking through interpreter Yamamoto (standing-right) |
Seminar This began bright & early, Saturday at 9:00 am at the Birney Middle school. "Lil" Bob and I met at the dojo at 6:00 am and I drove while "Lil" Bob napped. We arrived in plenty of time. Unable to practice, I put my gi on anyway, and took notes all day. After formal introductions and a lot of applause, the two brothers split the participants into two groups, shodan and below went with Fumihiro, nidan and above went with Masahiro. A divider curtain was pulled down the middle. There was no room, every inch of the gym was taken up by kendoka eager to learn just how a man can be so strong as to dominate over the worlds' best for ten years. Matsuura sensei was tapped to be Masahiro's interpreter, and Gordon Sakamoto was Fumihiro's. Now I'm not going to tell you much more, because I want you to participate in these events. You have to go and learn these things yourself. The Detroit event is only a 2 hour drive for most of you, and as far as seminars go, it was not expensive. |
I spent all my time listening in to the nidan and above seminar. I will say this about Masahiro, he is well organized, wastes no time, and has a "rhythm" to his teaching. He says only what is exactly needed to teach or describe the waza or the theory he is trying to convey. He told us from the beginning he was going to teach us some of the things that worked for him. He assumed we were already proficient in our basics, so he didn't cover them much. He stresses that you should experiment, and that there is infinite ways to do each waza, you should search for the way that works best for you, that still satisfies the rules of proper striking.
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| Following the teaching, there was an opportunity for everyone actually practice with the champions. Well, the very lowest ranks and the children did uchi kome men 3 times, the shodan and nidan and sandan did kiri kaeshi, and only the yondan and up were allowed to actually free-spar with the brothers. |
| Testing
results: Congratulations
everybody! Battle Creek people all passed their exams.
"Big" Bob Mack passed sandan (3rd degree) Craig Dieringer passed nidan (2nd degree) "Lil" Bob Covill passed ikkyu.
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Big Bob into the shoto section of the kata |
Craig going into nihonme (#2) of the kata |
| Apologies to "Lil" Bob. There is no pictures of his test, as Matsuura and I was actually sitting on the board of his test, but let me say, none of the other sensei said one disparaging word about his test, and his abilities for the rank never came into question. Apologies also to Big Bob, as I gave him some bad advice about the kata, but thank God he passed the exam anyway....... |
| Welcome Party A great location (if you ask me) is to have the banquet right in the same hotel that everyone is staying. I love that. Less driving around the big city streets with booze on the breath. I was forced (against my will) to sit at the head table with all the big shots. I did make a new friend though, Hideki Iwakabe sensei, the president of the Rocky Mountain Kendo Federation sat next to me. We talked and talked, and he invited me to visit him in Englewood CO. He is 5th dan in kendo and iaido, and a skier also. Man, did I party Saturday night, forty of us must have closed down the bar. I finally crashed somewhere near 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. If anybody in our dojo is ever thinking about crashing in my hotel room at one of these events please talk to Terry or 'Lil' Bob first..........you may change your mind (it has to do do with snoring). |
| Tournament Kan sensei tried to get this event going a little earlier than the 9:00 am Sunday official start, but that is like lifting a locomotive with one hand. As a dojo we put in a good showing. In the individuals, Terry fought like a mad devil, just like a novice should, "Lil" Bob had to face two women in a row (what is the chances of that?) but he whipped em' both, then lost his third match. Craig didn't go far, but Matsuura sensei won his first match easily, then had to face the eventual Champion...nuff said. Mitsui was hot! In the team matches, we came very close, Terry again fought like a demon possessed and made his higher ranked opponent work hard to eliminate him. |
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The two brothers did a wonderful demonstration of the kendo kata during the mid-day break. |
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| Our "crew" who attended the tournament, minus Terry.... |  |
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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ALL MICHIGAN Taikai: May 16th, Eastern Michigan University wants to hold a taikai for the Michigan dojos only, a low key event. I'd like to have a good participation from our dojo. AUSKF Iaido camp: June 10-13, 2004 at the University of Colorado, in Boulder CO. Click here to find the registration forms: http://www.yamakagekendo.com/camp.html AUSKF Kendo camp: Jul 23/24/25, AUSKF Summer Camp. More info Later MWKF Summer Camp: We Have scheduled this for August 6 - 8th. It will be held again at Kalamazoo College. We will be hosting Yamanaka sensei ( 8th dan) from Saitama, Japan. He will be our guest instructor for this summer's camp.
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New Monthly Feature |
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I've collected a lot of stories, quotes, koans, poems and haiku. Here is one I really like: "Musen muso"
No design, no mind, or no conception - this means the ability to act calmly and naturally even in the face of danger. It is in the highest accord with existence, when a mans word and his actions are spontaneously the same.
(Miyamoto Musashi) |
e-mail the editor: let me know your comments at: dtc12(nospam)@comcast.net to reach me just remove the (nospam) from previous address.
