From The Needle Watcher by Richard Blaker

BKA News Online

Issue # 21 December 2005

Contents

Submission Guidelines

Contact Details

Introduction

Notices

Reports

Diary of Events

Grading/Taikai Results

Shopping & book list

Articles

Training at the IBU

The Will Adams Festival

Shu Ha Ri

Why?

Jodo European Championships

“ENGLAND EXPECTS…”

History of The British Kendo Association

Seminars/Competitions: Forms & Details

Last Words

Submission Guidelines:

Submitting articles for use online (and thus the newsletter) is easy - just email either the editor and/or the Webmaster with the article/idea and take it from there. We are constantly looking for people to write articles and contribute to the website, so please don’t be shy.

This news online is produced courtesy of the website, please remember, we can only publish things that we get, so if we don’t get anything relating to a specific event, then we can’t do anything about it. You can help us by:

Registering your interest to do an article before an event

Be conscientious - if you say you are going to do it, then do it!

Supplying content in digital format (with pictures)

Get someone to proof-read your article

Spell-check it!

Electronic submissions must now be supplied in HTML format, or WORD in an uncomplicated format, pictures sent separately in JPEG format [small resolutions please] if not inserted correctly into the document

Items that involve the team in retyping or reformatting will not be undertaken and returned to the originator. However some typewritten formats may be acceptable, as these items can sometimes be electronically scanned and included.

Send Postal Submissions to: BKA Newsletter, 1 Bayman Cottages, Lye Green Road,

Chesham Bucks. HP5 3NQ

Contact Details:

President John Howell

president@kendo.org.uk

Chairman: Geoff Salmon

chairman@kendo.org.uk

Vice Chairman: Gavin Murray-Threipland

vice.chair@kendo.org.uk

Treasurer: David Spacey

treasurer@kendo.org.uk

Membership Secretary: Mukhtar Hussein

memb.sec@kendo.org.uk

Secretary: Ric Schofield

secretary@kendo.org.uk

Kendo Bucho: Paul Budden

kendo.bucho@kendo.org.uk

Iaido Bucho: Vic Cook

iaido.bucho@kendo.org.uk

Jodo Bucho: Alan Nash

jodo.bucho@kendo.org.uk

BKA PRO: Fay Goodman

bka.pro@kendo.org.uk

Kendo PRO: Steve Bishop

kendo.pro@kendo.org.uk

Health and Safety Officer: Stuart Shirreff

health.safety@kendo.org.uk

First Aid Advisor: Trevor Chapman

first.aid@kendo.org.uk

Webmaster: Carl Ranger.

bka.webmaster@kendo.org.uk

News Online Editor: Paul Budden

editor@kendo.org.uk

National Phone line

01494 581503

Automated response for a BKA leaflet

and Club list only.

A comprehensive and up-to-date list of BKA contact details can be found online

Introduction:

Dear members,

BIG phew…. We made it… one hectic year and yes it looks like there’s lots more to do again next year, so please check out the ‘Diary of events’ and start planning ahead.

Notices:

The following are the guidelines for the opening and registering of new BKA clubs in Kendo, Iaido & Jodo and must be followed in order to qualify for PI insurance, full BKA approval and official recognition, including a listing on the club directory

1] That the dojo leader is a fully paid up BKA member and has been so for one full calendar year

i.e. from Jan 1^st to Dec 31^st.

2] That the Dojo leader has the minimum grade of 1^st Dan in the relevant discipline and is BKA,

EKF or IKF registered

3] That the Dojo leader has the minimum coaching qualification of BKA Level 1 or BKA approved

Equivalent

4] That there is a registered first aider in the club or if in a sports facility then duly qualified

members of staff. Certification will be required in either case as confirmation of compliance.

5] That the BKA Health & Safety procedures are accepted and applied in full.

Final approval will always be at the discretion of the BKA Executive committee.

All existing clubs are assumed to be fully compliant.

Postal voting

This is an important notification on Postal voting:

Due to there being only one candidate nominated per EC position

It will not now be necessary to use the postal voting procedures for 2006…. So you get what you get

The appointment of these candidates will be confirmed at the AGM on the 18^th February.

Copies of each candidate’s résumé will be available at the AGM

Regarding the post of Membership secretary, there have been No Potential candidates nominated, this position will have to be filled at the AGM or alternative procedures may be required.

Postal voting remains in place for the election of officers in 2007.

Positions unapplied for, or becoming vacant by resignation will be appointed at the AGM for a period of 1 year only and then subject to reapplication at the end of that year.

AGM & Hatsugeiko:

The BKA Kangeiko for all three Bu will take place on Sat. 18^th February between 10. 30 am and 1.00pm at Light Hall School, Hathaway Road, Solihull B90 2PZ.

AGM commences at: 2pm

The Full AGM agenda will only be published on the website and made available in due course.

Newsletter

Due to the high cost of producing this newsletter, it has been decided to reduce it down to 4 copies per year, and it will be a much slimmed down version, without all of the articles. The Newsonline ‘as we know it’ copy complete, will continue to be produced and published on the website every two months with articles etc and you will be asked on your membership renewal if you still wish to receive the quarterly edition by post or prefer to download the bi monthly edition from the website instead.

Membership Forms

Are being redesigned so that it in future it will only be necessary to print off one copy from the website, as it will feature a tear off receipt. However both sections will still need to be countersigned by your Dojo leader and sent with payment to the Treasurer.

To Dojo leaders and Secretaries and those applying for membership.
Please be aware that ALL membership applications go to the Treasurer at the
Edinburgh address.  This applies also to the old forms which still have the
Northumberland address on them.  ALL are to go to the Treasurer at:

PO Box 28774
Balerno
Edinburgh
E14 7WW

I am no longer Treasurer (for those who are not aware) and although I have
been forwarding any applications I receive on to the Treasurer, it still
causes delays and expense.

G.S. Murray Threipland
Vice-chairman

Over the recent months

There have been several ‘grumbles’ about there being no open forums for our relevant disciplines: Kendo Iaido and Jodo or a BKA members general discussion area.

This has been due to the fact that the BKA website is an information/news/downloads based site and the content tends to be positive as the design is not conducive to forum sessions in the way the for instance a yahoo group is - classic critic routine.

So we are now very pleased to offer through a link ‘Open forums’ for all.

We would like to thank Gerry Kincaid and Kendo UK.net for hosting and making these forums possible.

Please read the information on the website front page in the PDF and follow the link.

Kendo Bu Notification: Southern Area Kendo Grading.

Sunday the 26th March 06, 1st Kyu to 4th Dan.
The venue will be: Kodokan in Rickmansworth: 10.30am to 5pm.
Signing in to confirm registration will be done on the previous day:
Saturday the 25th at the special 'Grading seminar' 2pm to 5pm.
There will be no charge for taking part in this seminar, but all persons wishing to grade, must attend in order to qualify.
Members who recently failed the Kata section have the opportunity
to retake that part as per the guidelines published under 'Grading' on the BKA website.

Kendo Grading Questions will in future be only published on the BKA website; all candidates must bring their completed papers with them on the day of the examination.

There will also be a grading for all three disciplines: 1^st kyu to 3^rd Dan at IKET next year

Carrying weapons.
Members are reminded that in public, weapons are to be carried in a manner
which is both safe and legal.  This means that they are to be bagged or in a
case and not readily useable.  When driving, it is best to have weapons
locked in the boot and out of sight.  This applies to shinai, bokken and jo
as well as to iaito and shinken.  It is also incumbent upon members to have
access to their current membership documents when carrying their personal
arsenal around, so that if necessary they can calmly explain themselves to
the authorities without getting dragged off to the nearest police station
and thrown in the clink.

The law, as it currently stands, allows possession and carriage of martial
arts weapons (with some exceptions, such as shuriken, live kasurigama and
certain types of knives, amongst others) provided that they are stored and
carried safely and you have a reasonable excuse.  Going to and from training
is reasonable, as is carrying them to a place for sale or purchase.

One reason for this reminder is that the legislative environment is
inexorably turning hostile to weaponry of any sort, and blatantly carrying
weapons in the open does nothing to ease the situation.  Common sense and
discretion go a long way.

G.S. Murray Threipland
Vice-chairman

ITV Channel 4 have confirmed that Kendo will be one of the featured challenges on their next series of the Games, scheduled for Transmission and leading up to the finals in March 2006.

Filming starts in December.

End of Year Reports:

Kendo Bu report 2005

This year has seen the fullest diary of events to date, including extended programmes to squad training with introductory sessions for males, female, and juniors.

The appointment of the National Kendo Coach Honda sensei, has proved to be the most significant and beneficial step in raising the overall standard of Kendo here in the UK for both squad and ordinary members, with visits and mini seminars being organised right across the Country, we are still receiving and accepting more applications for these visits so please apply.

A Ladies Coach: Matsuda sensei has also been appointed to assist the programme of events.

The ongoing Ladies and junior seminar/event days which are being offered at no charge to encourage and increase participation have proved to be extremely successful judging from the attendance.

In line with the tightening up of grading requirements in respect of Kata, there has been a marked increase in attendance at Kata and General Seminars, resulting in an overall improvement in Kata awareness and raised standards.

Successful seminars were held in Glasgow, Watchet, and Stoke culminating in the 20^th anniversary of the Kodokan seminar with both Sumi sensei and Matsumoto sensei being present, together with Tashiro, Yanai, Kumamoto, Nagao and Shinbo sensei. [Look out for the article by Gary O’Donnell on the event for the full background].

Throughout the year there were also private visits from highly respected teachers: Ozawa, Takizawa and Harashima sensei, which were very well attended and greatly appreciated, many thanks to the hosting clubs.

Taikai rules have also been updated in line with both Health and Safety and the Child Protection Polices and whilst we can appreciate that this is may not be to everyone’s liking, it is vital that we keep ahead of legislation and maintain the Association’s responsibility i.e. ‘duty of care’ that we as the NGB have in this country.

The standard of refereeing at Taikai has also been improved with the amendments to procedures and the appointment of newly qualified Shinpan and the established refereeing seminars.

High grade practices have been held around the country that have been both well received and well attended with a varied programme of practice and active discussion at these sessions.

Changes and improvements to the Coaching programme will see the level and standard of teaching rise dramatically, presenting a more professional approach in the running of clubs/dojo. This is coupled with an ambition programme to open new clubs in areas of the Country where there is currently no Kendo representation and increase the overall population of the Association.

IKET again proved to be one of major the highlights of the year with the return of top level teachers: Sumi, Chiba, Ueigaki, Tashiro, Yanai and Hayashi sensei together with outstanding displays of the major Japanese Budo including both Iaido & Jodo being presented by high grades from the BKA.

In closing it was wonderful to see Sumi sensei being made a Fellow of the British Kendo Association. To mark the special relationship that exists and the lasting effect that this relationship has had, through his continued support for British Kendo over the past 18 years.

A special thanks to all of the senior grades, coaches, officials and the organisers of all events for your support during 2005 but mainly from you the membership, without this support, it would just not be possible.

Let’s see if we can make the year of the 13^th WKC 2006 even better.

Paul Budden

Kendo Bucho.

PRO REPORT NOVEMBER 2005

NEWS AND RADIO COVERAGE

During October a radio interview was set up with Geoff Salmon for BBC Radio Kent to represent the BKA and talk about Kendo. Iaido and Jodo were covered during the same week on an independent live interview from BBC Midlands with a live link up to Radio Kent.

BBC Midlands also had a 20 minute interview on martial arts, including Iaido and Jodo, promoting dojo both locally and nationally. With this in mind, an approach has been made by Magenta to see if the BKA would be interested in having a monitoring agency on line. A trial is available but it is quite costly. They quoted around £2,000 per annum. This is negotiable but not sure this would be of significant benefit at this moment in time. However, in view of need to see just how much profile the BKA is obtaining, it would be a very useful media tool.

Over 30 telephone calls were received locally as a result of the radio coverage, requesting information on local clubs in the West Midlands in particular.

GENERAL ENQUIRIES

On average there are 3 enquiries per week asking for information on local dojo. Callers are directed to the website or given local dojo leader contact.

SENI

The BKA secured coverage on the SENI website which has an average of 2000 hits per day and near SENI this increases to around 50,000 per month. Coverage also secured at no cost in the SENI Magazine which promotes the BKA Stand and three arts. Information and referrals in combat, fighting arts and other related magazines have included some editorial and photographs. 146 people registered at the stand for further information e.g. local dojo contact and general background on all three disciplines.

FUTURE PR AND PROMOTION

The BKA would benefit from having available DVDs on all three disciplines which contain a brief history, etiquette, clothing and equipment required, sample basics and kata. These would act as both promotional material for sale at events such as SENI and also further afield e.g. Amazon. Well-produced DVDs will ensure the BKA is seen as the official Number One body in the UK representing the three disciplines. The funding of such products will help circulate membership capital input into the organisation and raise BKA profile in the wider martial art world.

Fay Goodman

3 October 2005.

Diary of Events

Here is a list of all Kendo, Iaido, and Jodo related events in the U.K. and others of interest in Europe. Events that span all three disciplines are marked (All).

This information is Provisional at the time of going to print and will be updated in future issues.

The CLOSING DATE for all shinsa (gradings) is TWO CALENDAR MONTHS prior to the day of the exam. Contact FOR ALL UK shinsa is the Grading Officer and NOT the person in charge of running the seminar. For all overseas Grading, members must contact John Howell for a letter of permission.

Date	Description / Details	Location	Discipline	Contact (addresses not expanded can be found in Contact Details)
15th January	Kendo Squad Training: 10am to 5pm	Kodokan Rickmansworth	Kendo	kendo.coach@kendo.org.uk
20^th January	Seminar and Keiko	Dublin	Kendo	dublinkendo@gmail.com
21^st January	Irish National & Goodwill Taikai	Dublin	Kendo	dublinkendo@gmail.com
22^nd January	Kendo Grading	Dublin	Kendo	dublinkendo@gmail.com
9^th to 12^th February	EKF Referees seminar	Brussels	Kendo	president@kendo.org.uk
12^th February	EKF Kendo grading up to 7^th Dan	Brussels	Kendo	president@kendo.org.uk
18^th February	BKA AGM and Kangeiko. AGM starts 2pm	Light Hall School Solihul	All	Ric Schofield secretary@kendo.org.uk
18^th February	Kendo Squad Training	Light Hall School Solihull	Kendo	kendo.coach@kendo.org.uk
19^th February	Kendo Squad Training	Light Hall School Solihull	Kendo	kendo.coach@kendo.org.uk
4^th & 5^th March	Kendo Squad Training	Kodokan Rickmansworth	Kendo	kendo.coach@kendo.org.uk
11^th March	Scottish Kendo Seminar & High Grade Practice	Taiseidokai Glasgow	Kendo	Gerry Kincaid: Taiseidokai
12^th March	Scottish Kendo Grading 1^st Kyu to 3^rd Dan	Taiseidokai Glasgow	Kendo	grading.officer@kendo.org.uk
25^th March	Southern area Kendo Grading Seminar 2pm to 5pm	Kodokan Rickmansworth	Kendo	kendo.bucho@kendo.org.uk
26^th March	Southern area Kendo Grading 1^st Kyu to 4^th Dan	Kodokan Rickmansworth	Kendo	grading.officer@kendo.org.uk
1^st & 2^nd April	Ozawa Sensei Seminar	Kashi no ki Ollerton	Kendo	Trevor Chapman Kashi no ki
8^th & 9^th April	Kendo Squad Training	Kodokan Rickmansworth	Kendo	kendo.coach@kendo.org.uk
15^th April	National Kendo Refereeing seminar& Taikai experience workshop	Kashi no ki Ollerton	Kendo	Trevor Chapman Kashi no ki
21^st to 23^rd April	Five Nations Cup	Berlin	Kendo	kendo.coach@kendo.org.uk
22^nd April	Coaching course	Light Hall School Solihull	All	Ric Schofield secretary@kendo.org.uk
6^th & 7^th May	Kendo Squad Training	Kodokan Rickmansworth	Kendo	kendo.coach@kendo.org.uk
13^th May	First Aid Course	Kashi no ki Ollerton	All	Trevor Chapman Kashi no ki
20^th & 21st May	Kendo Seminar	Tsunami Watchet	Kendo	Adrian Rowe Tsunami
21^st May	Kendo Grading 1^st Kyu to 3^rd Dan	Tsunami Watchet	Kendo	grading.officer@kendo.org.uk
3rd & 4^th June	Sir Frank Bowden Taikai & Premier’s cup	Kashi No Ki Ollerton	Kendo	Trevor Chapman Kashi no ki
June/July	IKET: 3^rd Int Kendo Enbu Taikai	Edinburgh University	Kendo	Steve Bishop Edinburgh Kendo Club
June /July	Kendo, Iaido & Jodo grading 1^st kyu to 3^rd Dan	IKET: Edinburgh University	All	grading.officer@kendo.org.uk
15^th July	Kendo seminar	Kagami shin Stoke	Kendo	grading.officer@kendo.org.uk
16^th July	Kendo grading 1^st Kyu to 4^th Dan	Kagami shin Stoke	Kendo	grading.officer@kendo.org.uk
19^th to 20th August	21^st Int Kodokan Kendo seminar	Kodokan Rickmansworth	Kendo	Paul Budden Kodokan
20^th August	Kendo grading seminar members only 1^st Kyu to 5^th Dan	Kodokan Rickmansworth	Kendo	grading.officer@kendo.org.uk
2nd September	British Open Kendo championships	Kashi no ki Ollerton	Kendo	Trevor Chapman Kashi no ki
3rd September	First Aid Course	Kashi no ki Ollerton	All	Trevor Chapman Kashi no ki
22^nd October	Kendo Grading, 1^stKyu to 4^thDan	Mumeishi Cranford	Kendo	grading.officer@kendo.org.uk
October	Kyusha Seminar and Grading 7^th to 2^nd kyu	Kashi No Ki Ollerton	Kendo	Trevor Chapman Kashi no ki
November	Mumeishi 3’s Taikai	Mumeishi Cranford	Kendo	Terry Holt Mumeishi
2^nd December	National Kendo Refereeing seminar & Taikai experience workshop	Kashi no ki Ollerton	Kendo	Trevor Chapman Kashi no ki
8^th to 10^th December	13thWKC	Taipei, Taiwan	Kendo	president@kendo.org.uk
11^th December	13thWKC Kendo Grading up to 7^thDan	Taipei, Taiwan	Kendo	president@kendo.org.uk
Kendo Squad Training & Schedule Squad training sessions are usually held once a month. These take place over a weekend. Anyone interested in being involved with the squad is welcome to attend. There is a charge of £3 per session to help cover costs.
Training Dates for 2006: January 15^th one day only 10am to 5pm at Kodokan February 18^th & 19^th at Lightwater School Solihul March 4^th & 5^th at Kodokan April 8^th & 9^th at Kodokan May 6^th & 7^th at Kodokan
The next training weekend will be held at Kodokan Dojo in Rickmansworth on Sunday the 15^th January 06 Times Saturday: 2:00-5:00pm Sunday: 10:00am-1:00pm Venue Kodokan Kendo Dojo Princess Marina Sports Complex The Royal Masonic School for Girls Chorleywood Road Rickmansworth Herts. WD3 4HF Directions (View a map) By Road: From the M25 Junction 18 (Amersham/Chorleywood exit) take the A404 towards Rickmansworth for about 1 mile. The school is on the left hand side; use the second, signposted entrance (the first is closed). If you reach the Rickmansworth Station roundabout, you’ve gone too far, so go back up Chorleywood Road (A404) and the entrance is about 400m on the right. Parking is in the main school car park. Access to the sports complex is on foot (follow the signs). The gates are not locked, but please close after entry. By Rail: Rickmansworth Station is on the Metropolitan Line (Baker Street-Amersham) and the Chiltern Line (Marylebone-Aylesbury). The school is just a short walk from the station. From the station front entrance, turn right and follow the above directions from the station roundabout. Accommodation Check out: www.stilwell.co.uk Hertfordshire inc Rickmansworth and surrounding area.
We particularly want to encourage more women to come and join the squad. The only requirements are that you are keen to compete and willing to attend squad training sessions Please contact The National Coach to register Males: kendo.coach@kendo.org.uk or The Assistant Kendo Coach to register Ladies: ladies.coach@kendo.org.uk

Shopping:

BKA Book List (available from nine circles)

Kendo The Definitive Guide - Ozawa

Looking at a Far Mountain - Budden

Fundamental Kendo Vols 1 & 2 - ZNKR (BKA Only item)

Japanese-English Kendo Dictionary - ZNKR (BKA Only item)

Check out the ‘Kendo World’ list of available titles

Nippon Kendo Kata - All Japan Kendo Federation – NEW

Iai Manual - All Japan Kendo Federation – NEW

The BKA have the following items on offer to members only!

39 Shinai ‘Gold quality’ @ £30 each

BKA tenegui @ £5 each 

may be purchased by cheque/cash by contacting:

Trevor Chapman, Rob Wix or Dean Wormall

Kashinoki.kenyukai@btopenworld.com

If you have budo related equipment item[s] that you wish to part with then please email us with

details and you can be included in the next newsletter (online and printed version).

This can include books, shinai, clothing, 2^nd hand bogu, etc - anything relevant.

Grading Results: Mumeishi 23^rd October 2005

My name is Daniel Winiarczyk and I’m a member of the Taiseidokai Kendo Club. Last year I participated in the 1 year Budo/Kendo Specialisation Program hosted by the International Budo University in Katsuura, Japan.

The Budo Specialisation Course has been set up 11 years ago to give foreign students/martial arts practitioners an international perspective based on the martial art spirit. The participants are selected from a number of applications the university receives each year. There are around 20 students (both Kendo and Judo) from all over the world plus the Exchange Students from their final year at the Korean Yong-In University.

The course consists of Japanese language and culture classes, kata/theory classes for Judo/Kendo (depending on the given student’s major) and the university Judo/Kendo club training sessions.

The feeling of being in a place that is designed for kendo is fantastic. From the exclusive kendo dojo (and not a kendo-jo/basketball court/soccer field/loose-blubber-in-a-day gym) that was open 6-11 and free, to the cigarette-smoke filled changing rooms with a personal space for your gear to the showers.
So what did we (the foreign students) actually do over there?
During the week, we were allowed to participate in a mix of kendo classes with the different university year groups. We did lots of kata classes. 3 periods (4.5 hours a week) of kata which broke down into the following: 1 period with the head instructor Makita-sensei doing kata with Iaito, 1 period with Waikiki sensei learning each kata from scratch, 1 period with Anima sensei learning the kihon-kata and the methodology of its instructing.
We had a lesson with Iwakiri sensei covering shiai preparations, judging and rules. That had to be the best class of them all as basically all students were put in groups of 3 and for 1 semester, once a week, we had a 1.5 hour shiai which we participated and judged.
And lastly we had a class with Marubashi sensei which was called “introduction to kendo.” We managed to get all sorts of students who never did Kendo, but wanted to have a crack at it. It was a good way for us to see how Marubashi-sensei handled complete newcomers (and around 6 classes later it gave a chance for all of us to finally start scoring ippon on Japanese kendoka. We didn’t acknowledge the fact that they never did kendo before).

Classes finished around 4 o’clock, which gave everyone a chance to get into the changing rooms, get bogu’ed up and rush into the main dojo for the club practice.

During the club practice we all did a warm-up routine, lined up and waited for the sensei to arrive from their changing rooms, do rei, get menned up, and start the show.
We usually started off with about 15 minutes of kirikaeshi (which, due to the waiting in line phenomenon, really translated into 4-5 rounds of “half-kirikaeshi”) and then for the remainder we had keiko.

During the keiko, all the sensei, 4th years, and 3rd years lined up in the centre and did motodachi duty while the remainder of us lined up against whomever we wanted to fight and we waited until our turn came. This meant that for 2 hours of keiko, you usually got 2 good sensei fights or 3-4 student ones.
The most important thing was to do the social thing and try and make friends. As you can imagine, for me being from Taiseidokai, that didn’t come easy. Turns out that decking and taitataring into walls is not how they say “let’s be buds” over there.

As the practice was nearing the finish time, the keiko session turned into a real free-for-all with everyone 'duking' it out with whomever they wanted. This usually consisted of the 3rd/4th year sempai venting their frustrations on the 1st/2nd year kohai.

All in all the quality of training was good, but could have been better. Biggest problem was the way that we were treated by the students (for example waiting 20 minutes to get a keiko, only for the guy to let you do 2 men cuts, then stop, tells you to do ippon with him, which he promptly gives to you).
Thankfully near the end of the year we all had a small number of students that showed spirit when fighting with us and we fought those few guys almost every day. Unfortunately it took 6 months + to figure it out, and by then the time was running out.
As the practice was finished, it was time to line up and thank the sensei for the practice and listen for any words of wisdom they provided. While the language barrier existed, all the sensei made a great effort to put their point across.

While these training sessions were good for getting tips on general fighting/shiai methods, we (the foreign students) definitely lacked in basics.
We compensated for this by doing our own kihon sessions in the morning. We were lucky enough to be joined by one of the 4th years, Kuragai Manabu, who showed up, every week-day, punctually 7 in the morning to take us through the basics. Kirikaeshi, basic strikes, various hiki waza. After a month of this kind of training, we all felt how our kendo level sky rocketed. Additionally once in a while we had Iwakiri sensei show up with some of his 3rd year guys to give us a few pointers. As usual the smallest changes made all the difference.
We were also lucky to have evening sessions with Michael Komoto in the Katsuura, Oohara and Kanagawa dojos. After doing 2 hour keiko (which were really 3 fights and lots of waiting as I said before) being able to go for 1 hour of practice and do kendo non-stop with nana-dan sensei was absolutely amazing.

I still ask myself the question: what did I gain from doing the bekka course at the International Budo University.
I still analyse things that happened and read over the entries in my kendo diary that I kept while I was there.

I discovered a lot of things about myself. I found out my strengths and I identified many weaknesses in my character, I would have to say that at many points I reached my limits (both physical and mental) and with the help of the people I meet there, I managed to go past them.
I would have to say that the most important discovery I made (for myself at least) was about the purpose of Kendo. In ideal conditions people are able to train kendo 1 or more times a day, year in and year out. At one point when I realised this, I began having doubts in my motivation to train. Kendo will not teach me to defend myself in a bar fight (not as effectively if I took Aikido or Judo) and times of sword combat are over so what is the point of all this? I started thinking about it more and more, I looked to the sensei (as in people who have practiced the art of Kendo for a long time) and tried to find the thing that training and practicing Kendo gave them. Eventually during a late night drinking session with the visiting friend from the Swiss national team I managed to talk to Iwakiri-sensei and find answers to my questions (actually it turned into him calling me a fool and an idiot and telling me to stop doing kendo, to sell my bogu, to go back to Scotland or whatever and do ping-pong “Baka, Kendo O Yamero na, hayaku Scotorando ni Kaero na”). It was kind of rough, but thanks to my sarcasm-resistance I gained at Taiseidokai, I managed to see through those words and find a deeper meaning in there. This was the biggest eye opener for me and after all the information sank into my thick head I came to this conclusion:
Kendo is a way of educating the mind in ways that universities, high schools, colleges can never teach. Kendo is means through which we learn the way to live our lives. It is a way of learning to cope with hardships, losses, it is a way to confront the daemons within us and eliminate them. It is a way to improve our selves and our characters and become better and stronger people. Kendo is a way of life.

To sum things up, I would have to say that I enjoyed my time at the International Budo University, and that year was characterised by massive ups and even more massive downs. I was able to live and breathe kendo for one full year, and that, in itself, was its own reward. I am very thankful to the Instructors at the International Budo University, in particular to Ijima-sensei for guiding us and trying his best to break the language barrier between us and the Japanese students, to Iwakiri sensei for sharing his wisdom during the few late-night “Kendo Discussion Group Meetings”, to the members of the Izumi-Kendo-Renmei (Nishikawa sensei, Kumakiri sensei, Morisawa sensei and Takeuchi sensei) for allowing me to practice during their training sessions and finally to Michael Komoto for putting up with me through that long year. It’s been a blast.

The Will Adams Festival 17^th Sept 2005

Once again members of the BKA took part in the Will Adams Festival now in its fifth year in Gillingham Kent. The festival celebrates the Gillingham-born Tudor adventurer who led a Dutch expedition of five ships to the Far East, and was final washed up after two years at sea on the coast of Japan in 1600.

After being initially imprisoned, Adams went on to impress the newly appointed Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, with his knowledge of shipbuilding and navigation.

He was granted a house and became a ship builder and diplomatic advisor. Later set up the first trading links between Britain and Japan.

In recognition of his services the Shogun granted him the honoured title of Hatamoto (meaning “banner man”) so became the only European to be given a Samurai rank.

Adams remained in Japan marring a local girl and had two children who all disappear after the purges of foreigners after his death in 1620.Today Gillingham is twined with two towns in Japan who also celebrate there own Will Adams festivals.

The day celebrates the culture and traditions of Japan through displays and workshops. Visitors took part in such activities as sushi making, Ikebana (flower arranging) Sumie (calligraphy) and Chado (the Tea Ceremony) with lots for the kids to do as well. Origami (paper magic) Oman (mask making) Hanga (wood block printing) and Mukashibanashi (story telling). With a full programme of Martial arts in the main hall in the afternoon there are lots to see and do.

We had a great day meeting and talking with the public and promoting BKA activities in the local area. It’s always nice to get out of the Dojo and show our skills off to the unsuspecting public. Unfortunately only Iaido and Jodo were featured, as once again there were no Kendo people available, Until the last moment when Hatamoto Dojo volunteered but it was then to late to include them. “Hopefully next year”.

The day was rounded off with the ever-popular Taiko drummers whose raw energy and thundering rhythms shook the Black Lion Leisure Centre. So ended the Festival for this year and we begin to look forward to next years event. Hope to see you there.

For more information: - Giles Milton’s “Samurai William. The Adventurer who Unlocked Japan.”

www.medway.gov.uk/events

Shu Ha Ri

by Jacques Penders (Sheffield)

(This short essay was initially written as an answer to an Iaido grading question.
The original question was: Explain as fully as you can the concept of Shu Ha Ri)

The simplest translation of the Shu Ha Ri concept which I found reads: Shu: keep, Ha: break, Ri: leave. This was then interpreted as Shu: copy perfectly the techniques taught, Ha: apply these techniques, adjusting where necessary, Ri: find new techniques and create a style of your own. Some take this as implying that in the end a new school or a new variant in the school is created. Below I will argue for a much more subtle interpretation, which I find useful for everyday practice.

To explain my point I first consider juggling. Juggling is illustrative because in contrast to an iaidoka a juggler is severely constrained and receives immediate feedback on whether a technique works or not. Balls, as an example, fall at their own pace which limits the available time; any technique that you apply is inevitably confronted with this time constraint.

A three-ball cascade is the easiest pattern to learn; experienced jugglers can continue for hours and use the pattern as a sort of (dynamic) rest between more difficult patterns. Novices strictly following the advice of their instructor can, in a weekend, master 10-15 throws. However, for fully mastering the pattern the technique has to be adapted to the juggler’s own body and peculiarities. The way to do this is to meticulously repeat the basic pattern while exploring step-by-step how new techniques can be added. Repeating the basic pattern over and over again does not to lead to full mastery; experimentation with new variations is necessary. The whole training, up to mastering the three-ball cascade, takes about three months.

Before juggling five balls, the usual intermediate step is to juggle four balls; it takes about a year to master this. In the basic four-ball pattern both hands work independently and that allows moving from two hands throwing in parallel to throwing alternately. It is interesting to note that the parallel throwing brings the juggler into a heavy cadence that soon leads to fatigue whereas the alternate pattern flows with a much lighter rhythm. I guess the same thing occurs in walking-cutting exercises in Iaido, where a long series of cuts made while taking two steps feels heavier then the same cutting exercise while taking three steps; the latter flows in a lighter rhythm as well.

The journey onwards, from juggling four balls to five balls, is hard and not very rewarding. It takes many people two years just to be able to have the five-ball pattern last for 30-100 throws. The difficulty of five-ball juggling is probably best indicated by the fact that for instance at European duration contests hardly any one can keep the balls up for more then 10 minutes. If you ever watch a circus performance, notice how short any five ball juggling lasts in the jugglers’ act.

The difficulty of five ball juggling is surprising as the basic pattern is exactly the same as the three-ball cascade. When learning the five-ball cascade, there is basically no new technique to learn - it is simply the same as the three-ball but faster, and that is where the shortage of time becomes overwhelming. When first starting, you have to throw each of the five balls before the first has returned, but doing so you will not be able to tell which was the first ball you threw, let alone that you will be able to catch it with the proper hand. In five-ball juggling there is not enough time for your mind to direct any of your movements, such as to decide which is the ball to catch. Whenever or whatever you try with your mind, the balls are on the floor! Training consists of learning to keep the mind at a distance and letting the body autonomously apply the known techniques to find the required new techniques. And as with three-ball juggling the way to improve is to meticulously repeat the basic pattern while exploring how new techniques fit into it; in theory, all variation you know for three balls are applicable for five ball patterns. The first big hurdle is to make your hands deviate from the regular pattern, without the mind applying too much concentration to this task. In a later stage of the training, when the pattern starts to appear, you see that the pattern is going wrong, but you are incapable of making adjustments.

What the case of five-ball juggling shows is that while practising the body is creating its own style, but there is no place for an interfering mind, and certainly there is no chance that arguing and reasoning will improve your juggling. With juggling we have a case where the series "keep/break/leave" (or Shu Ha Ri) defines an iterative process. First you have to learn the basic pattern, and therefore you have to keep to or stick to the basic pattern when you practice.

When the pattern is roughly there, you explicitly have to break the pattern and insert new techniques into the pattern, as this is the way to improve your pattern. In particular five-ball juggling showed me how hard it is to interrupt the pattern with another technique, and I haven’t even talked about successful integration! When you have finally mastered a certain juggling pattern, you are able to leave it to the body to perform. That is to say, you are not sticking to a particular way of doing it; you are not breaking into your pattern to start a variation but just letting it come and letting changes develop. You have found your freedom with this pattern. (Interestingly some people translate Ri as freedom.) As a juggling book advises: “While learning (a five-ball pattern) you is trying to make yourself do it, when you can do it you watch yourself doing it.”

The parallels that I see between juggling and iaido obviously do not concern the techniques; they are too different. However, the entanglement of time and technique related to a particular mental stance appears in both arts. In juggling time is the very explicit constraint from the first day you start practising.

In iaido the issue of time only very gradually comes to the surface, but as to my experience it is really there; for instance, in what at first seem the single movements of a Nukitsuke or a Furikaburi. These movements are as basic to iaido as throwing a ball is to juggling. Several years ago on a Koryu seminar in Brussels Oda Sensei took me aside and spent nearly a full hour improving my Uke Nagashi. During the breaks to let me get back my breath, he told me, among other things that the position of the hands on the sword changes throughout the kata. Of course I believed him, but my personal experience did not really confirm what he had told me. More recently, encouraged by my regular instructor, I started to focus on the grip and position of the hands in furikaburi. Experimenting with this for a year I noticed, in a reflective mood, that whereas the movement seemed one uninterruptible whole at the start of my practice, currently it seems to have spread out over a longer period of time allowing adaptations. My sword is no longer fixed by my hands but finds its best position, and most interesting is that I do have time for this observation.

Juggling provides many tricks for breaking the basic patterns, but Iaido provides opportunities as well, an obvious example being the couple Seitei Mae and Shinden Shohato. Being a Shinden student, I also have had the pleasure to be allowed to attend Jikiden seminars. Afterwards, returning to Shinden the kata felt neither superior nor inferior, but felt fresh, and performing them was an experience different from what it used to be. It is the same as when returning from five-ball juggling to three balls; the three ball patterns feel fresh and crisp, but still interesting and not too easy.

Concluding from my experiences, I see the concept of Shu Ha Ri as iterative stages in the progress of my practice, ranging from learning the basics as a routine, to slightly breaking the routine to achieve a more natural or free performance. I take it that the concept refers to the internal stages that the practitioner undergoes and not to external achievements.

In particular the Ri phase does not refer to a point where you decide to go your own way with new techniques, or argue why your school is superior to the other; the Ri phase characterises achievements. I strongly believe that over the centuries each school in Iaido has accumulated a huge amount of implicit knowledge into its kata, which can be revealed when practising. But of course the kata have to remain pure; by mixing schools and kata the knowledge hidden in the originals is lost.

WHY? Part 2

This is the second part of an examination of the various factors that may be involved in why people initially decide to enquire into the practice of Kendo, Iaido or Jodo and once having established themselves in the practice of these arts, what actually keeps them there. In the first part of this article I covered the administration of these arts through the BKA and in this section I want to discuss the place of competition both in general terms and specifically how it may relate to attracting new members and how it may or may not help to retain existing members.

COMPETITION

In terms of this article the question posed here is do competitions within the BKA either attract new members or do they enhance the study of existing members in a fundamental way?

With regard to attracting potential members I doubt that the prospect of competitions is really a factor in taking up Iaido or Jodo, though this may be a little different with regard to Kendo which right from the off clearly looks as if it will have a competitive aspect to it. If the potential new member has the competitive element very high on his or her list of priorities when looking for something to do in leisure time then surely the appeals of sports which have a large, local and well established system of regular and readily available competitions such as Football and Rugby, to name two of many, will always win the day. Certainly in my experience of dealing with enquiries from interested parties, and this includes Kendo enquiries, I have never been asked about competitions and for this and other reasons I would suggest that it isn’t really a concern at this stage.

The attitudes of existing members towards competition are naturally different. Having had some experience of what it actually is to be involved with Kendo etc, they now have a base from which to make firm opinions and as we all know those opinions often differ greatly. The debate of art or sport, traditional or modern, whatever you want to call it has been an ongoing one in the BKA probably since its birth. I suppose then it can be looked at from two angles, the more philosophical arguments and practical comments about the position competition presently occupies within the BKA, though strong supporters of the former may not even entertain the latter.

It’s worth bearing in mind that this is a debate that I think is very common amongst Japanese practitioners also. During Ozawa sensei’s recent visit, he gave out questionnaires asking very much the same questions that are often raised here, and surveys occasionally come out on the same type of topic. For example, in a survey published by Kendo World magazine some time ago, when Kendoka were asked about the importance of shiai as an aspect of the practice of Kendo it was clear that most of those asked thought that it was an important aspect, but further, when they were asked if they felt it was the most important part of their practice they were even clearer that it was not!

In terms of Kendo specifically, the debate between art or sport becomes particularly polarised when the prospect of Kendo becoming an Olympic event comes up. Again in the survey conducted by Kendo World that I mentioned earlier, it’s clear that people have very mixed feelings as to whether or not it would be a good thing and I feel the same myself. On the one hand I think that there may be advantages in certain ways, but I would not want to see it affect the essential nature of Kendo and that is certainly a possibility. It’s a difficult question and perhaps fortunately one which most of us won’t have to be too involved in!

For myself, in general I think I take a fairly relaxed view of competitions. I have over the years taken part in competitions for Kendo, Iaido and Jodo and if the mood takes me I may do so again. However, we should be in no doubt that this aspect of Kendo etc is sport; it fits the dictionary definition perfectly. Personally I don’t think that matters, if questioned on it I would explain that what I practice is in my opinion an art, but it has sporting aspects. Ask me if I think competitions are fundamental to the practice of Kendo, Iaido and Jodo and I would first draw a slight distinction between Kendo and the other two and then I would say ‘No’; ask me if I think there ought to be competitions and I would answer ‘why not’, so long as people want them; ask me if the BKA should make it in any way compulsory for members to take part in competitions in order that they may then qualify for things such as gradings etc, an idea that does seem to come up from time to time, and I would have to say ‘DEFINITELY NOT’! Ask yourself the simple question, would you continue to practice if there were to be no more competitions from this day on? If your answer is ‘yes’, then surely this means that you don’t consider competitions to be the vital essence of what you do. In terms of the philosophical arguments, and without getting too esoteric at this point, that’s where I stand.

So, on to more practical comments.

Lets face it, competition can be really exciting and rewarding, both for participant and spectator. Two years ago I was lucky enough to, in a small way, take part in the 12^th WKC in Glasgow and I can say without reservation that I thoroughly enjoyed it in every sense. My own participation was limited to just a few minutes as part of the BKA Jodo embu team, but I was able to attend the competition for it’s full duration and I really enjoyed being there as a spectator. A lot of the Kendo was interesting, exciting and inspiring and there was a good buzz about the whole event. This can also be the case with more domestic BKA events. I’ve been at a number of competitions over the last few years, notably the Bowden kendo taikai where I compete as part of one of the Doshinkenyukai teams and again I can say that I really enjoy it. I have also attended Iaido and Jodo taikai during this period but personally I feel that as events they come second to Kendo taikai, which I think have more appeal, for the simple reason that Kendo more obviously lends itself to competition. Of course that’s not the case for everyone; the Iaido National Championships held in June of this year were I think successful by anyone’s measure. Around one hundred and twenty people took part in the individual taikai, illustrating that there obviously is a good deal of interest there. In terms of numbers, I think that’s about a third of the membership of the Bu, which I would have thought represented quite a good turnout, percentage wise, for any kind of competition.

So, as I have indicated, if people want competitions that’s fine with me, and in terms of member retention I think for the people who feel inclined to take part or in some other way attend these events, things are positive, particularly if the quality of the event is high in terms of attendance, venue and organisation. However, I do have some reservations about the position competition holds within the BKA and in particular the increasing way in which, on occasion, it seems to be presented as being the primary reason to practice and the possible implications this has for member retention and future recruitment.

In an attempt to ensure that my thoughts come across clearly, at this point I’m going to make clearer the distinction I mentioned earlier that I make between Kendo and Iaido/Jodo. I’ll do this in two main respects, the first being, as I think I have already pointed out, that the practice of Kendo is different from the other two in the obvious sense that shinai Kendo is not kata based. Certainly a limited amount of kata is involved, and I think kihon practice could also be included here, but in essence shinai Kendo is about two people fencing in a continually adaptive way, whereas Jodo and Iaido are firmly based in kata, and this in my mind makes a substantial difference in terms of competition. Secondly, it seems to me that the way shiai is referred to during the teaching of Kendo, Iaido and Jodo is, at least currently, different. In my experience it isn’t really stressed in the teaching of Kendo in quite the same way that it is in Iaido and Jodo, where on seminars etc it is increasingly mentioned in terms of how technique etc relates to and is perceived in shiai. In the light of what I said previously about the natural leaning of Kendo towards shiai this seems a little strange, but I’ve spoken about this observation to Kendo friends and actually they agree. I’m not sure why this is, unless the link to shiai is so obvious and natural in Kendo that it simply isn’t necessary to refer to it in this way; but actually for the purposes of this article the why of it isn’t really essential, suffice it to say that because of this second distinction most of the rest of this section will be to do with competition in Iaido and Jodo.

Further to that, I should say that I’m most specifically commenting on Iaido taikai, for the obvious reason that I’m writing from my own experience and Iai taikai have least appeal for me personally. I have entered the odd Iai taikai, but as a rule I don’t, they just don’t do it for me, probably for a number of reasons which I may expand upon in the next section of this article, but the most immediate and basic reason being that I see Iai as an individual, primarily internal, practice and of course for taikai purposes there are two people, possibly more, involved at the same time. For that reason the idea of an Embu taikai where competitors go on individually would perhaps be of more interest to me, as I think Iaido presented in that way would show it in its best light, but the logistics involved there would almost certainly make it a very difficult format to run and of course the problem of the refereeing perhaps being too subjective, perhaps even more so than it is with the current format, may be difficult to overcome.

In recent times I’ve noticed on seminars that some teachers, both British and Japanese, have increasingly related their teaching of Iaido and Jodo, particularly Iai, to how it comes across in taikai. I’d go so far as to say that at times it seems that Shiai is being presented as the primary reason to practice Iaido and Jodo, something with which I wouldn’t agree. I’m not really sure why this is, but I think it’s at least true to say that some of the people involved are quite evangelical about taikai and of course the more people they can get to an event the better the event for themselves and others of the same mind. Another thought put forward is that competition is the means by which interest in Iaido will grow, again I’m not sure about that for reasons which will become clearer as I go along. One thing I am sure of is that I’m not the only one to have seen this increased accent being placed on shiai. For instance, Andy Watson, in his article which was published on the BKA website, has also expressed his own concerns over the amount of emphasis placed on taikai recently. His views are from a different standpoint than my own here, being more on how the stressing of taikai may be affecting peoples practice and performance of the kata. He has a point, and the fact that Andy is a regular competitor in Iaido and Jodo taikai only serves to give his opinions more weight. I think the concept of taikai for arts such as Jodo and Iaido has other problems as well, problems to do with the nature of kata arts and how they sit with competition and how consequently the refereeing has to be more subjective than would otherwise be ideal! In the same way as Kendo, will increasing promotion of taikai lead to a fundamental change in what we practice? These though are subjects best left to another time and to others who are more involved with taikai and consequently have clearer and more informed views than my own.

The possible problem with this increased promotion of Iai taikai in terms of membership retention is the effect it may have on the people who practice Iaido, but aren’t interested in taking part in competition. As I said earlier, at the initial point of contact with people enquiring about Iaido, my experience would suggest that no thought on their part is given to the idea of competition at that stage and so I can only assume that their initial attraction to Iaido and their motivation for getting involved were something different and I wonder if whatever that was, is still being catered for in an ongoing way? I would further assume that people’s interest in taikai is something that is developed through exposure to and encouragement towards taikai, but where is the development of other aspects of the practice of Iaido? There are probably a number of different motivations that get people into Iai at first and then keep them there and I don’t want to get too deep into that here as I’d like to explore it more in the next section, but for instance, if it’s that a particular persons real attraction is more along cultural lines then it’s unlikely that a constant referral to Iai in terms of taikai will be satisfying to them. The basic point I’m making here is that people’s appreciation of Iaido differs depending on what they get from it and as an association I think we need to be aware of this and try to provide an environment that takes account of valid differing preferences and motivations within the same subject. It would be wrong if people came away from seminars feeling that their personal reasons for practicing Iai were being devalued by the BKA, simply because taikai was not their cup of tea. I mentioned earlier that the Iaido Nationals had been successful in attracting about a third of the Bu to take part, but that of course means that two thirds didn’t take part! It’s no good switching some people onto taikai, if potentially that switches others off Iaido in general!

In practice this might be addressed in a number ways. At seminars it’s perhaps as much what shouldn’t be done as what should, in so much as it might be an idea not to specifically relate things to taikai on general seminars, this being perhaps better left to be dealt with through the squad practice system. On a more positive note, teachers could be encouraged to give background information to various kata and their practice; historical, cultural or traditional aspects that would give added value to their teaching and would perhaps be particularly of value to people who, for whatever reason, simply don’t think of their practice of Iaido in terms of competition; and in general to promote the attitude that the practice of Iaido is an end in itself and that the practice for it’s own sake is a valuable thing. A radical idea I know! The BKA news is another way in which more diverse interests could be catered for. At the moment most of the items relating to Iaido or Jodo are simple factual accounts of seminars or taikai results, in the seminar accounts there isn’t even usually any technical content; but again some articles along more cultural lines in relation to Iaido would I’m sure be of interest to some people where taikai results would not; and good technical accounts of what was taught on the seminars would be very valuable to everybody and again this is a point I’ll mention again in the next section. I understand that the problem here is that you have to get someone to write these articles and that may not always be easy, still it remains a possible way in which the BKA could help create an environment in which existing members’ varying motivations and interests can be nurtured.

Eventually, there could also be an effect on recruitment in the sense that if Iaido/Jodo come to be generally perceived as arts where the ideal of competition in a sporting sense is held up as a priority, I wonder if they may not then attract the kind of people they do now. Some may not see that as a problem, thinking that the competitive accent may lead to a general increase in interest anyway and will therefore compensate for the loss of potential members whose attraction to Jodo/Iaido lies in other areas. But personally I doubt that would be the case and certainly the best approach for the BKA is to try to appeal to as many prospective members as possible.

To conclude, I think with some appropriate thought and action the association can avoid any of these possible problems. In terms of promotion, I think we need to identify the strengths of Iaido, Jodo and Kendo in order that we can maximize the BKA’s potential in attracting new people and retaining existing members. For Kendo, the sporting competition side may indeed be the thing to stress, but when it comes to Iaido and Jodo I’m not so sure. However, I see no reason why the Iaido Bu, or Kendo/Jodo Bu, shouldn’t comfortably be able to accommodate everybody, competitors or not, so long as their motives fall within what could be considered legitimate and reasonable.

I mention that last point as there are some motives which I think I’d question as being reasonable or legitimate and I’ll elaborate on that in the next part.

In this section I’ve briefly considered the subject of peoples motivations for practicing their chosen art[s] and in the final part of this article I want to take that further, exploring my own reasons for practicing and speculating a little about the possible reasons of others.

Next time: Practice

Keith Rose

Do Shin Ken Yu Kai

Jodo European Championships

Bologna Italy 2005

It is with great pleasure that I can tell you that England once again came away with the gold medal in the Jodo team Taikai after some very nerve racking moments throughout the event.

In the individual competition we saw all the UK players come through their respective pools into the knock out stages, this is the point were we lost some of our players mainly in the lower grades but then as a 5^th dan I would not have liked to fight some of these people as they were all showing a very high standard of Jodo, which is what should be expected in a European Taikai.

Teachers from Japan for this event were Namitomi Sensei (8^th dan hanshi) Ishido Sensei (8^th dan kyoshi) and Shiya Sensei (8^th dan kyoshi).

The Italians put on a very good show with organising, hotels, transport and general all round friendliness, making every one welcome and keeping us all informed. Best of all was the closing speech by Namitomi Sensei praising our Budo spirit in Europe and the high standards that were shown by everyone.

Jodo UK team results posted below for a full listing of the pools and draws please look at the Italian web page at www.ec.2005.it

And a word of warning there is a very slim chance that the UK will be hosting this event next year, so we will be looking to you all to help out as we need to show that we can hold our own after some very well organised events over the last 4 or 5 years.

Jodo UK Individual team entries and medal results

Mudan:

Metin Hasan 0

David roe 0

Shodan:

Helena Khan 3^rd place

Nidan:

Aurelien Nacrour 2^nd place

Peter Gibbens 0

Sandan:

Rik Roberts 3^rd place

Gavin Murray Threipland 0

Yondan:

Andy Watson 1^st place

Steve Boyes 2^nd place

Godan:

Alan Nash 1^st place

Keith Rose Fighting Spirit

Jodo Team

UK - Peter Gibbens, Andy Watson, and Steve Boyes. 1^st place

Netherlands 2^nd place

France and Switzerland 3^rd place

All of the Jodo Squad would like to express their gratitude to the Squad (father) Manager, Vito Tattolli who worked so hard to develop the squad and provide endless support during the event. Knew what needed doing at the right time in the taikai and being an all round nice guy and bringing home the gold once again, we couldn’t of done it without his guidance. Many Thanks. Rock on

"ENGLAND EXPECTS..."

KENDO AT TRAFALGAR 200, June 2005

Tying on “men.” The usual distractions come and go and it’s amazing just what goes through the mind when you do that. Lots of people watching this time too... no matter. Try to keep the heart rate down. Just tying himo, that's all. It's definitely the sounds - even the smells - that get me. The one's that cut into your reverie like a knife and deliver one of those "wake up" moments so that you've never felt more alive. From the shiai jo I'm pierced by a kiai from a team mate who's seen a chance, then roused by a stirring ripple of applause, even though it wasn't a hit. In a moment I'm standing up waiting for my turn. All eyes on me now. Avoid distractions. Just another keiko, here we go...

Packed into H.M.S. Temeraire, a Navy land base in Portsmouth, we were an ad-hoc ten man team, facing another ten man team comprised of sailors from the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force ships Yuugiri, Kashima and Marasame. This Shiai had been organised as part of the massive "Trafalgar 200" celebrations in June this year. The city had never seen an international festival like this before, and probably never would again. One hundred and sixty ships from thirty five countries arrived for one week of commemorations for the battle of Trafalgar, some of them sending crew ashore for sports and cultural exchange gatherings with local people. Playing our own small part in this, we hadn't known what to expect from our guests. Contradictory rumours about just how good Japanese "Navy" Kendo really is had only confused us. But watching their warm up it quickly became apparent that they were indeed rather good...

Communication had been somewhat problematic in the months leading up to this event - we hadn't even known exactly how many of the sailors would turn up to fence with us, what their level of ability was, whether they would have enough bougu and so on. So how to organise? Invite too many of us local kenshi, or not enough? In the end it turned out about right. We felt the British Army Kendo team were entitled to be there, as well as the several colleagues from neighboring Dojo who had regularly visited and helped us to establish ourselves during this our first year as part of the BKA, so invitations were duly sent out.

Looking around me, it was hard to believe it was less than four years ago since we had managed to re establish the Portsmouth Dojo. It began when I booked a ramshackle room in a dodgy part of town for a pittance and put up notices in newsagents windows. "Dodgy" was indeed the word for this new Kendo outfit. No equipment, no insurance, no sensei, nothing to do with the BKA and run by me, a mere ni-dan just back from a three year stint on the JET scheme, teaching English in Japan. But what the heck, my lack of professionalism in such matters made setting up a club as easy as falling off a log and it got off to a great start. Each session was cheap as chips and there was a steady trickle of interest. To be exact, though, it didn't really "begin" there. Kendo really began in Portsmouth in 1962, when the "Bushi Budoukai Dojo" was founded and managed to survive up until about 1990 shortly after the main teacher, Mr. Cyril Chadwick, sadly passed away. It had been British Kendo Renmei in those days, and so those were the people to whom I looked for leadership upon my return to the UK. After about two years, the "Tom Cruise Kendo boom" hit us. I think "hit" is just the right word. I vividly recall entering the Dojo one Saturday to find it packed with about twenty new people, including one chap doing figure of eights on roller blades... “Hi, I'm here to do Kendo...” We didn't quite know what had hit us, though. Having moved to larger premises and suddenly facing more beginners than you could shake a shinai at, with the Renmei much too small to offer us the help we needed, we quickly realised we had to look elsewhere for leadership and teaching. Affiliation to the BKA followed promptly without fuss or controversy. 

So we found ourselves about one year after that trying to hold off what felt like the entire Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force under the watchful eye of Yanai sensei, our Kendo Bucho Paul Budden sensei, the Royal Navy, local press and a great many spectators. Before our Japanese Navy guests arrived, we had begun the day with training in our regular Dojo and we were very fortunate to have Yanai sensei paying his first ever visit to us for this session. Excellent training was had by all, in a much larger session than usual (I think more than forty people) since we had also invited several guests who had helped us out over the year, as well as the British Army Kendo squad. It was good to see the Dojo so packed. After a short break we all headed off en masse to the nearby Navy base where, still feeling well warmed up, we awaited the arrival of our Japanese guests who arrived promptly courtesy of Royal Navy transport. As a "Navy town,” twinned with the Japanese "Navy town" of Maizuru, we were especially pleased to welcome them and began with a short opening ceremony in which we exchanged "welcome" speeches. After a brief consultation, a friendly shiai with two teams of ten people was arranged.

Well, unlike the battle of Trafalgar, the victory wasn't ours. We did manage to win one fight and draw another though we'd had the time of our lives doing it. We know that experiencing Kendo with as wide a variety of people as possible is vital, and we'd managed to expand our experience very nicely. It was just a pity they couldn't stay with us for longer. We completed the event with a short closing ceremony and an exchange of gifts, our club receiving lots of fascinating Japanese Navy tenugui with ships knots on. But I'm glad to say that wasn't the end to the day's proceedings. After all, the whole festival had been organised in the name of international friendship, so entertaining our guests afterwards was seen as equally important. After a few months at sea I'm pleased to say they were glad to share a barbecue with us at a local pub, sample some English beer and actually managed to keep straight faces while some of us practiced some of our beginner’s Japanese language with them. It was agreed all round that it was a pity they had to leave so soon.

The event was a much bigger undertaking than any of us had initially imagined, but most certainly worth the effort. Sadly unrepeatable since Trafalgar 200 will never happen again. Although the festival commemorated a war, the thirty five countries who took part did so in an expression of international good will and friendship - a vital part of what Kendo is all about.

A very big thank you to the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, staff at the Japanese consulate who helped,  The Royal Navy (especially commanders Govan and Amos), Yanai sensei, Paul Budden sensei, the British Army Kendo Team and to all others who attended, many of whom came a long way, in order to make the event a success.

Clive McNaught

Portsmouth Kendo Club

History of the British Kendo Association

By John Howell.Koyshi.7thDan. President BKA.

First I would like to say that I have tried to give an accurate account of the birth of our Association with all the records that have become available to me, where there are gaps; these have been filled by numerous persons with their memories of the events incurred.

This is a general overview, to write in great detail would indeed be very boring in lots of places

Lets start as far back as is known.

This is an extract from the Times on Monday 12^th January 1885.

“The fencing, as those who saw the display of masks, pads, gloves and bamboo swords sent from Tokyo gymnasium to the Health Exhibition will suppose, was quite unlike anything to be seen in Europe. The long bamboo rods are held in both hands, and the combatants, who were protected by a mask for the face of wire bars, with a quilted cover over the head, a sort of breastplate of lacquered leather, and padded gloves, strike and thrust freely. So well did the two performers warm to their work yesterday, that the umpire had to interpose himself and his fan between them two or three times.”

The next piece of information I have is as follows.

It was in 1937 when Mr Lidstone showed his skill in front of the then Prince Chichibu at a garden party given in his honour at Hurlingham London. The Anglo-Japanese Judo Club gave the display.

I understand that there was Kendo at the Shinto Ryu Kendo Club in 1962 with such persons as Mr.Lidstone, Jock Hopson, Keith and Brian Feltham, also Dr. Peter Parsons.

However I must start my story from 1967 when I joined the Association, for previous 5 years I am unable to give any information accurately, except to say that as far as I am aware The British Kendo Association was inaugurated by Mr. Roald Knutsen and a proper committee was formed in 1964. Although the BKA was I think started in 1962. Mr Knutsen with Count Robert Von Sandor from Sweden set up the European Kendo Federation with other Federations in Europe. We are a founder members of the EKF.

After the Association was formed I understand the main premiere Club in the UK at that time was Nenriki Dojo which was inaugurated in 1966 and after 2 weeks had 28 members, also at the same time there was Bushi Budokai (Portsmouth) Shinbukan (Liverpool/ Llangothen), Brighton Dojo, Zanshi in Bristol and Blyth Dojo. I am more then pleased to say that some are still going strong. The only other club in existence to my knowledge, when I joined the Association was the Shinto Ryu Club in London, I may be mistaken but at this time it was privately run. I do have a record of the then called London Kendo Club. (Shinto Ryu) being made a member of the BKA on 15^th November 1968. .

The Association’s first President was Sir Frank Bowden and Vice President was Mr. Kozo Takizawa 7^th Dan Kyoshi and its first Chairman was Mr.R.A.Lidstone; Mr Knutsen took over as Secretary General with Mrs.Pat Knutsen as Treasurer. I started Kendo in early 1967 and came into the committee in 1968 as membership secretary.

In 1969 Mr.Lidstone died in Nenriki Dojo at the age of 72. His grade was 4^th Dan and he was so respected by the ZNKR that they awarded him Renshi posthumously. Possibly the only ever 4^th Dan Renshi

The Association carried on without a Chairman, run by Mr.Knutsen and his wife as Treasurer with some hiccups along the way, but seemed to be going ahead quite well up to late 1969. The committee then elected another Chairman Mr.Bill Prytherch, who served in this position until September 1975.

At that time we had a Japanese 4^th Dan at Nenriki Dojo (Mr O.Fujii.) there were 6 other Japanese teachers in Europe as well. The All Japan Kendo Federation approached these Japanese teachers with a view to getting under way the 1^st World Kendo Championships.

In 1970, they were Mr. Fuji, Mr.Shiga, Mr Morioka, Mr Yoshimura plus two others whose names I cannot remember; one was living in Sweden the other elsewhere in Europe.

The job of putting together all the details and handling the grant from the ZNKR was down to Mr.Fuji. He selected a team that he considered was the best to represent GB.

For the 1^st WKC these members were Jock Hopson, Keith Feltham, John O’Sullivan, John Howell, Len Bean, Victor Harris, and Deborah Hopson. The first 5 were the team and all 7 were to be in the individual’s matches.

Lots of strange things began to happen on the day before the Championships started.

Mr.Knutsen turned up with a second team stating that they were the official team which he had selected as he was the Secretary General of the BKA and had not been consulted about the make up of the team to represent GB. This situation had to be decided before the next day, and as a result all the team members were up until well after midnight in consultation with our Vice President, Mr.Takizawa, who eventually said that the team selected by Mr Fuji was the one that would take part in the Championships and represent GB. For an Association so young in experience the team did extremely well. Fighting ourselves through three rounds with Jock Hopson getting the better of the Captain of the Hawaiian team who was a 6thDan, myself managed the same thing in the individual matches. The 1^st WKC and its upsets was the start of a lot of bad feeling within the BKA.

Later on there were many minor upsets within the Association, one I can remember quite well was a visit to the UK of a large Japanese delegation, which included a couple of 9th Dan. Len Bean was asked if he could arrange the venue and food for this event.

He did so but on the afternoon that the teachers were due in London we were informed that Mr.Knutsen had rearranged things and had booked the venue and party at Woodstreet Police Station without notifying Len Bean. Many other problems like this arose, and things were coming to a head when in 1973 Mr Knutsen refused to allow any team to go to the 2^nd World Kendo Championships, we were represented by Mr T. Holt who went as an Individual player.

Things erupted in 1973 when we had our AGM. Victor Harris was put up for the job of General Secretary against Roald Knutsen. Votes had to be taken twice for this position, the first set of votes were by clubs only which resulted in a draw between the two. As I had been instructed to form a committee to write the first constitution in which as membership secretary I had included a vote per member, it was agreed that a vote should be taken on that basis the result was that Victor Harris was elected. Roald Knutsen was not satisfied with the results for it went against him. He complained that the Hopsons (Jock and Deborah) were not members of the Association. I had to contradict him as I had issued the membership cards to them at the beginning of the year and there was no reason to reject their applications. Things started to get ugly and in the end Sir Frank Bowden, who was chairing the meeting, ruled that Victor Harris was the General Secretary on the votes taken, even if there were only 2 votes in it. The new committee suggested, and was agreed by all the members there, to offer Mr.Knutsen a Life Vice- Presidency.

After much talking back and forward with the assembly he accepted the post at the meeting, but within a few weeks threw it back and started his own Association called Eikou Kendo Renmei the Japanese for the British Kendo Association, he also removed 7 Clubs, and their members, who supported him from the Association.

This you can imagine put the BKA in a very difficult position, for all the central contacts were with Mr Knutsen, so it was like starting all over again, we had a person as General Secretary who was also respected in Japan Mr. Victor Harris. We were lucky to have this person as GS at that time.

The Association was also extremely lucky to have the backing and counselling of Mr.Koichi Kikuchi 7^th Dan Koyshi at this time, who was First Secretary at the Japanese Embassy, his work and advice enabled us to go forward and hold a World Kendo Championship. This highly respected person in Japan, we are pleased to say accepted a Vice Presidency of our Association. He was resident in this country from late 1972 to the end of 1976.

Prior to the meeting in 1973 GB had requested, from the International Kendo Federation permission to hold the 3^rd World Kendo Championships in1976. This was accepted by Japan; Mr.Knutsen also expressed to Japan that for this event only he wished Mr. Schofield to be considered as Chairman of the 3 WKC.

Later in 1973 Japan was informed of the situation in our Association when Mr Kasahara said that they supported the then committee of the BKA. .

Meanwhile the BKA was holding the Japan AirlinesTaikai, the Sir Frank Bowden Taikai, and the 1^st R.A.Lidstone Taikai.

In the May of 1973 Zanshin Dojo invited the members of the BKA to participate in ”The Bristol 600”year anniversary fair, also in November of that year we held the first International Goodwill Match GB.v.France; this was the forerunner for the 1^st European Championships, which was to be held at Bletchley Leisure Centre in 1974

April 1974 was the time for the EKF meeting and viewing of the venue etc: for the 1^st European Kendo Championships. It was at this meeting that again Roald Knutsen contested the validity of the BKA,

This meeting was being chaired by Count Robert von Sandor with Mr.Kasahara the General Secretary of the International Kendo Federation in attendance.

Because of his previous standing and the letters he wrote to the EKF members (Count Von Sandor said he had about 5 kilos sent to him) he was allowed to speak for only 10 minutes, where he claimed to have 24 Dojo and 300 members and was larger than the BKA, and on this basis he wished to put a Team into these championships. This of course was nonsense as he had only broken away from the BKA six months earlier. This was purely a paper work exercise to impress others.

All the countries present said that to accept two teams from GB was impossible and if the EKR wish to take part then they must join the BKA. A vote took place at the General Assembly and the decision was made by all EKF member countries present that his Association would not be allowed to participate at the Championships, if however they joined the BKA and were selected, his members would be allowed to compete. There would not be two teams representing GB. This was stated as unacceptable to him and to the EKR.

All the Countries voted that Mr. Knutsen Association was outside the EKF and therefore the IKF as well. The BKA was recognised as the only official body for Kendo within the UK.

GB took all six Gold Medals at the 1^st European Kendo Championships.

The next International match to take place was the Goodwill between GB.v.Germany in London; again we won the medals, followed on by a goodwill match between GB.v.France in 1975 in Burge France. We did the same again taking all the medals. Meanwhile the Japan Airlines, R.A.Lidstone and the Sir Frank Bowden Taikai continued throughout the years.

In 1975 we started our own taikai, The British Open Championships.

The 3^rd World Kendo Championships was held at Bletchley Leisure Centre in 1976, the Goodwill matches that preceded the Championships were held at Crystal Palace London.

We had great support from companies with materials and gifts in kind and of course our members. For example, they did the actual building of the wooden floor at the Leisure Centre in Bletchley to take the Taikai, working very late into the night before the Championships. The Japanese who arrived to see the venue the day before could not believe that everything would be ready in time; it was of course, due to our member’s hard work that night, and it was the start of the whole event being a success. The great thing about this was that we broke even on the costs. I know that this is correct, as I was the Treasurer for this event.

Later in 1976 we had another International Goodwill Match with Germany in Berlin, success again. April 1977 the 2^nd European Kendo Championships took place in Brussels this time we took Silver. At the latter part of April 77, we did a demonstration at the Queens Jubilee at Crystal Palace Sports Centre.

Again throughout 77 The Sir Frank Bowden, Japan Airlines, Lidstone and Northern Kyu Taikai were taking place.

1977 we became a founder member of the Martial Arts Commission. MAC was disbanded by the Sports Council in 1992. During its period we managed to obtain quite a considerable amount of grant money for our International Matches. The Sports Council then devised SCAGMA (Sports Council Advisory Group for Martial Arts) we were one

of the 7 bodies accepted, and this continued until the reorganization of the Sports Council into its regions. It was part of the strategy of the Sports Council to let it die out on the new organization changes.

MADEC (Martial Arts Development Commission) a successor to MAC continued from 1992 to about 1999.

Throughout our membership of MAC we were looked on as the most respected member by other Martial Arts. We kept out of all the in fighting and our opinion was always respected.

1975 a Dojo Leaders I day course was run at Nenriki Dojo, which led to the establishment of our Coach Awards, MAC used the pattern we set up for it’s own Coach Awards System.

In 1978 the 3^rd European Kendo Championships were held at Chambrey France we managed individual Silver here. All our standard Taikai’s took place during this year.

1979 saw another International Goodwill Match in London against France, on this occasion we put forward 2 teams, the result was “A” team lost “B” team won.

This year was also the 4^th World Kendo Championships, which were held in Sapporo Japan, our team came 6^th on points, a wonderful result.

The year 1979 was one of the milestone in the BKA; Jock Hopson was living in Japan and during the summer he met Ishido Sensei, and his concept of Iaido was completely changed. To quote Jock he thought that Iaido was “something best done alone, without an audience and in the dark” but after training with Ishido Sensei he found that it was difficult, complicated, mentally and physically demanding. Ishido Sensei travelled to Supporo to watch the World Kendo Championships. I met Sensei then and that was the first contact with the BKA.

As Sensei had never been to Europe he returned with Jock to the UK.

Their first trip was to Glasgow, he was not impressed with what he had seen, asking quietly in Japanese if they would like to be flattered or told the truth, well the students chose the truth and the stage was set for 25 years of unfailingly honest and unflattering instruction in Iaido and Jodo which has benefited the BKA and it’s reputation in Japan.

His next trip was down to Vic Cooks dojo, Vic like Jock had been well under whelmed by the Iai he had seen up to that time, but when he saw the 34 year old 7^th Dan going through his paces with speed, skill and smoothness, he said “if this is how Iaido can be done, then I want to do it too”

As the years passed Ishido Sensei’s visits continued; to date he has made over 200 trips to Europe and South East Asia on private and AJKF sponsored teaching trips. To the enormous long term benefit to those practicing Jikiden-Ryu Iaido, Haruna Sensei joined him for the summer seminar for the first time in 1981. The following year the famous Jodo teacher, Hiroi Sensei joined the party and the summer seminar grew to include both Jodo and Iaido training under 8^th Dan instructors. It is without doubt due to the commitment of these teachers, their teaching skills and enthusiasm that many of the early students now hold 6^th and 7^th Dan themselves.

Over the years, the summer seminars have generated enough interest for our Association to increase the number of teachers invited. As an Association, we have been extremely fortunate that many first class young Jodo and Iaido teachers of several styles have accompanied Ishido Sensei on his summer visits to the UK.

To my knowledge at the European Iaido Championships GB Teams took Gold in 1996, 99 2001, 2, 3, &4 and Jodo 2003 &4.

It is most unfortunate that I am unable to list all the achievements of our British Iaido and Jodo teams, they have won so many Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in the various category’s at the European Championships and friendly international matches,

I hope later that a complete listing will become available and will be published.

To jump forward some years, it has been with great pride that the title of Shihan for Iaido and Jodo to this Association was accepted by Ishido Sensei in 2004.

On the occasion of the 4^th and 5^th European Kendo Championships GB Team took 3^rd place and in the 6^th Silver, the 7^th Fighting Spirit and the 8^th in 1987 again 3^rd place.

During the time from 1987 to 1990 the 10th EKC where we again took 3^rd place there were many goodwill international matches such as the Paris International and the Italian International in all of these we were in the medals. At the 8^th World Kendo Championships in Toronto we reached the highest place coming 5^th in the world. Our next success was in 12^th EKC 1993 again 3^rd place and the 13^th EKC held in Glasgow 3^rd Place.

1994 was not a good time for the Association. We found financial misdealing by our Armourer of around £9000. We went to the Police at Crawley and put the case to them, they passed it on to a policeman who had just come off the beat and joined the fraud squad; the outcome was that it was presented badly to the DPP and was rejected, so no prosecution resulted. When the papers were collected from the police station in Horsham which was close where I worked, I was informed that if it had been handled correctly there would have been a different outcome. A hard pill to swallow as we had a signed paper by the Armourer to an agreed sum of £5000 which he said he would repay. Sadly it was not admissible in court as it was not signed in the presence of a solicitor and the Armourer deemed that it had been obtained under threat and pressure, which of course it was not.

The position of Armourer for the BKA was withdrawn from the Constitution and members and clubs dealt with outside suppliers themselves.

The BKA moved forward after this disappointment, and thought that it had put this bad business behind it, we had various troubles during the next few years over this but none that was not surmountable, our greatest move was to increase our membership which had seamed to be very stagnant for rather a long time.

The year 2000 was as bad a year as one could imagine, the Membership Sec: had always dealt with the member fees and insurance. Upon this occasion the Treasurer and I were invited to meet the insurance representative as well. It was at this meeting that a remark was passed by the Membership Secretary that did not seem correct to me concerning the amount of members we were suppose to have, and were paying for.

The Lidstone Taikai was due too take place in just under two weeks, so I asked the Membership Secretary on the prior Saturday to send me a complete list of paid up members so that it may be checked at the Taikai, I knew that he was going to Japan on the Wednesday before the Lidstone and would not have time to do any doctoring to the membership list.

That Saturday the Treasurer checked every person’s details upon entry.

The Treasurer came to me afterwards and said that the list and the persons did not match up with the amounts he had received to bank on behalf of the M.S.

So the stage was set, and an investigation went ahead; letters to the bank to authorise the complete accounts and many other details. In the middle of this I had already booked my airfare to Japan to try for my 8^th Dan, so we had to bring in a third person to take over while I was away, we approached the Vice Chair, and am very pleased he agreed to continue the investigation while I was away. One must realize that such investigation had to be kept quiet as we were only working on suspicions and not concrete evidence.

By the last EC meeting in December we were able to accuse the Membership Sec: of fraud of BKA money, to the tune of around £40000 over the previous 4 years.

He admitted this in front of the EC. The Vice Chair and 3 other members accompanied him to his home and removed all BKA equipment and paperwork.

The following day the Vice Chair and I went to the Surrey Police in Camberley and reported the incident to them. They took it up from then. The outcome of all this was that he was accused and convicted of the charge of defrauding BKA funds to the amount of £33000. Sentenced to 3 years later reduced to 11 month due to ill health.

This was a very trying time for the EC. It was said that they should have found out earlier, but as one sound minded person said at the AGM, “if a person wishes to defraud you, he will, and it may take a long time to find out or a short time”

From 2001 our membership has grown and grown, and we now have around 1500 members. Different Financial Procedures are now in place, which we hope should not give such an opportunity again.

The year 2003 was a bench mark in our Association, we had asked, and were granted the honour of holding the 12^th World Kendo Championships in Glasgow.

Geoff Salmon, Paul Budden and myself formed a limited company, with the three of us as Directors, there by removing any liability of finance from the BKA. The overall cost was just under £350,000 and we were pleased to announce that we came out with a small profit, which went to the BKA. We did not receive any sponsorship from either Sport England or Sport Scotland. Our biggest achievement was the visit of Her Majesty the Queen and His Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to these Championships.

To build upon the success of these Championships in 2004 we inaugurated the International Kendo Enbu Taikai to be held in Edinburgh. We invited six 8^th Dans to participate. A seminar was held the day before which had many people from Europe attending.

On the day of the Embu we had demonstrations from Iaido, Jodo, Judo, Karate, Aikido, and Kyudo as well as Kendo; also workshops in the squash court were ongoing for all these disciplines. There were displays of Ikebana, Sword appreciation, Bonsai, and Japanese food. This was a resounding success and showed the Association disciplines to the full.

We repeated this IKET again in 2005 and once again it was a success.

This year 2005 Sumi Sensei, who has been coming to this country for 18 years to run seminars and has enhanced the Kendo in the UK accepted a fellowship of our Association.

We have from the turbulent start of our Kendo Association with so few members made great strides both in numbers, which in 2005 stands at over 1500 plus around 440 temporary members, also in our technical ability within all our disciplines.

We as an Association have a great future in front of us, let’s use all the resources we have to make even greater strides forward in the years to come.

As for me it is a great pleasure that I have been connected with the BKA from its early beginnings, and will continue to serve the Association as long as its members require me to do so.

The 21^st KODOKAN International KENDO Seminar

Friday 18th to Sunday 20th August 2006

Supported by the BRITISH KENDO ASSOCIATION

____________________________________________.

With: MASATAKE SUMI 8^th DAN, HANSHI,

Assisted by Junichi Tashiro 8^th Dan Kyoshi and Morio Kumamoto 7th Dan Kyoshi

With Susumu Nagao Sensei 7^th Dan Kyoshi, Junpei Matsumoto 7^th Dan Kyoshi.

This Years Seminar will again take place at our Dojo in the Princess Marina Sports Centre, Rickmansworth. Herts.

All location details are on our website: www.kodokankendo.org.uk

The official Check in is from 9am on Friday.

This seminar is fully residential ONLY: Inc. Accommodation/ Light lunch/ Evening Meal, Friday & Saturday (plus Breakfast) and Breakfast/ Lunch on Sunday.

All single and shared room accommodation.

NO External visits or attendance will be permitted

PRICE £220.00. Plus additions as listed.

All communication will be by e-mail following receipt of deposit/payment

As in previous seminars, there will be a practice on Thursday evening 17^th August and bed & Breakfasts are available, prices as indicated on the application form.

Places are limited to seventy, so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

On Thursday the 17^th there will be a special senior grade practice for one day only, for 3rd Dan and above and Dojo leaders even if their grade is less than 3rd Dan.

Times: from 10am until 12pm and 2pm until 5pm. The cost for this practice will be £35 per person inc.lunch and you do not have to be participating in the rest of the Seminar, to attend. [But you do need to apply, please use the application form]

On Sunday the 20th August, there will be a Dan examination

1^st Dan to 6^th Dan. This grading is open to participants of the seminar only,

No external candidates will be accepted.

Full details from the BKA grading officer: Mr Keith Dawick

This seminar takes place only once a year, so don’t miss it!

I am as always, indebted for the continuing support of Sumi Sensei in this the 21st Seminar. Don’t forget: SEVENTY PLACES ONLY. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

The price increase reflects the 2006 costs for accommodation, food and facility hire.

Best regards. Paul BUDDEN

Application Form for the 21st KODOKAN International KENDO Seminar:

18^th to 20^th August 2006

Please reserve (No of places at £220).................

Payment enclosed. (Please circle) Full. £220. Deposit. £60.

Balance due: £60 by 25^th April. £50 by 25^th June. £50 by 25^th July.

NAME………………………………………………………..[m/f]…….

ADDRESS…………………………………………………………………

………………………..Tel No…………………e-mail…………………...

GRADE……………AGE…………NO.YEARS PRACTICE……………

PHYSICAL CONDITION OR SPECIAL NEEDS (No funnies please).

……………………………………………………………………………..

DIETRY NEEDS…………………………………………………………..

I require evening meal on Thursday 17^th @ £12

[yes/no]

Bed &Breakfast Thursday night and Friday morning @ £25

[yes/no]

Aprox arrival time........…..

Thursday the 17^th special Senior practice 3^rd Dan or above

or Dojo leader @ £35 inc lunch.

[yes/no]

Please add all of the amounts to your final payment here. Total £…….....

Send this form with your payment ASAP. Cheques payable to:

KODOKAN Kendo Dojo. C/O Paul BUDDEN.

Gomm's Corner, Copperkins Lane, Amersham Bucks. HP6 5QB

Maps and itinerary will be sent out on receipt of your final payment.

Refunds for cancellation [in full less admin charges] will only be made if notification is given before the 31^st July 2006

All communication will be by e-mail following receipt of deposit/payment

Attendance is at the organiser’s discretion.

Last Words

We would like to have the ability to communicate via email with every single BKA dojo. The contact doesn’t need to be the dojo leader or secretary, though this is preferable - any member of your dojo could be a point of contact. This will greatly assist in distributing information. Please email your dojo contact information to Webmaster.

Also, if dojo could check their contact information on http://www.kendo.org.uk/ and make sure any email addresses are valid that would help us greatly.

* Any dojo that are hosting events are more than welcome to send out documentation with the newsletter. The newsletter comes out every 2^nd month. See the contact Submission Guidelines / Contact Details at the top of the newsletter.

* Reminder: National Phone Line - 01494 581503. This is for information only and has a recorded message. This is to generate a written response to enquiries received from other than the web site [Combat magazine/ libraries and other sources] together with information leaflet and a Dojo list. We would appreciate if you would circulate this number, wherever you may feel the need for people to contact the Association who may not have Internet access. This number is NOT for contacting the Association about general matters or members of the EC such as the Grading officer or General Secretary.

Please help our web presence by 1. If you have a dojo website that is not listed on the website please supply it to us: 2. Adding a link to http://www.kendo.org.uk/ to your website; 3. If you already have a link please ensure that it points to the correct URL: 4. If you have a BKA dojo listing please remove it ASAP - you are displaying wrong information.

* Visit the BKA website - http://www.kendo.org.uk/

Thanks for your time and best regards for Christmas and the New Year from the News Online team.

Data Protection Act 1998

The Association reserves the right to [a] hold your membership record - name, address, telephone /fax number and e-mail address [if any] and Kendo, Iaido or Jodo interests notified to the Association by you, on computer as part of the Association’s membership list, [b] to distribute that list among Association members, and[c] to disclose your name and address to the Association’s printer/distributor to permit the distribution of the ‘ BKA News Online’ by them by means of computer generated address labels, along with any loose advertising material the Association or it’s editor may wish to include with a particular issue of the publication. Members who object to this may register their objection in writing to the Association’s Secretary and their names and data will then be removed from the computer record and lists for the future. Your consent to these procedures will be presumed unless you object.