Issue #5, February 2003
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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. 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:
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Contact Details
A comprehensive and up-to-date list of BKA contact details can be found online. |
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Introduction
Dear members, Akemashita omettedo gozaimasu - happy new year! Another bumper edition with ten articles, plus health and safety information (snail mail version only). We are now up-to-date with whats online, so we need some more articles - get submitting please! It doesn't need to read like Shakespeare, nor be as long as the Lord of The Rings... all we need is articles of interest and the odd bit of digital photography. Articles do not necessarily have to be event-based either - surprise us! A big thanks to all contributors from last year, especially Alan Nash for getting the ball rolling on the Iaido / Jodo side of things. There are lots of things of interest in this issue, so please take time to have a look at the notices below. Notices - You should all now be aware of the introduction of Postal Voting for the election of all forthcoming BKA Executive Committee (EC) positions. That means that every member will now receive a notification of the positions up for election [this info will be published in the newsonline during the year], the nominees and why they wish to be elected. You will also receive from 'Electoral Reform' [an independent balloting company who will handle the logistics of running the ballot and publishing the results] a voting slip and prepaid envelope, so now there is no excuse for not voting. What we would like to see is a more positive involvement from you the membership both in voting and offering your services to the Association, we know there is a wealth of expertise out there so please actively involve yourself in what is and always has been = 'YOUR ASSOCIATION'. Future AGM's should now run more smoothly with added time available for discussion and we believe that more of you will attend to enjoy the 'cut and thrust' of debate now that this process has been adopted. Positions that will be vacant at the end of this year are: Vice Chairman; Membership Secretary; Iaido Bucho; Jodo Bucho; Kendo Ordinary Member. - Stuart Shirreff has very kindly offered to act as Health and Safety Officer pending official appointment by the EC. He will be dealing with matters relating to Risk Assessment, Safety Statements and procedures as well as Insurance and First Aid accreditation. Trevor Chapman is the First Aid Course Organiser and Adviser. If you have a query or require information on any matter relating to these items then please contact them through the BKA e-mail address [see Contact Details above]. Enclosed here are sample forms, an introduction and explanation from Stuart. Please remember that we have the registrations completed in full by 30th June 03. - Lottery: we need to make a target of 500 tickets sold by the 30th April. If this is not met we will open the lottery up to all IKF members as well, and the draw will be held at the Sayonara party. We would prefer to make this a BKA member only event, so please please get yourself a ticket if you have not already done so. Tickets are £10/pop and the prizes include - 2 Tickets to Japan, 1 set of Bogu, WKC12 Shinai Bag, 5 Shinai, Handmade Bokken, 2 Bottles of 12yr old Malt Whisky, 1yr Subscription to Kendo World, Kendo Dictionary, etc. If you've lost your ticket (sent out with last newsletter) or haven't got one, then please contact John Howell for more. Members can buy more than 1 ticket. - SENI (26/27th April): we have been allocated 'Prime time' for demonstrations in all 3 disciplines, which promises to guarantee maximum publicity for the Association during this year of the World Kendo Championships. Actual times/schedule for SENI are still to be finalised. Many thanks to the local support from Nagamitsu: Malcolm Goodwin, Derek Raybould and Fay Goodman. Please check the website for updates during the coming weeks - Members wishing to grade at the WKC this year must submit their grading application by the end of February. This information has been on kendo.org.uk since mid-January. - Details for this years University Championships have been finalised. It will take place on Saturday 8th March 2003, at the University of Kent in Canterbury. Information and an application form are available to download online, or you can contact Lawrence Pereira / 07764 292047. - The 1st National First Aid Course for Kendo Iaido and Jodo: Kashi No Ki Dojo, Ollerton: 3rd and 4th May. 5 hours tuition at £20 per day. 1 day gives you the necessary certificated Insurance requisite. Please register with the Health and Safety Officer. We are restricted to 20 people per day so be quick. - Shiai League: 'Have you issued your challenge yet?' Many Dojo are waiting...just how good are you? ... don't be afraid...stand up and be counted....Fight the Good Fight...become a legend in your own lunch time. The rules are reprinted again in this issue of the newsletter....MAKE THAT CHALLENGE..... - Selected 12th WKC Personnel: if you have not done so yet, then please confirm your availability to Ric Schofield for the period stated and your chest size for your polo shirts. There are people out there that will take available slots, so if you cannot make the times specified please tell us so we can fill that slot. - The Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport, will attend the WKC this year. |
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Diary of Events
Here is a list of all Kendo (K), Iaido (I), and Jodo (J) related events in the U.K. and others of interest in Europe. Events that span all three disciplines are marked (A). The CLOSING DATE for all shinsa (gradings) is TWO CALENDER MONTHS prior to the day of the exam. Contact FOR ALL shinsa is the Grading Officer and NOT the person in charge of running the seminar.
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Shopping
12th WKC Commemorative Merchandise - PRICE LIST. November 2002 A visual presentation of the majority of these items is now available online. With this months newsletter comes a price list and an advance order form. All Items are Inclusive of UK VAT [Value Added Tax] @ 17.5%
From HENRI LLOYD. A range of items from the Famous Marine Technical and Fashion clothing manufacturer. All with 12th WKC Embroidered logo on the sleeve :
Nine Circles Nine Circles will act as the official distributor of BKA merchandise, including books, videos, and BKA tenegui. Address : Nine Circles, PO Box 54, Gloucester, GL1 2YS Tel/fax : 01452 500655 Website : http://www.ninecircles.co.uk/ EMail : quentin@ninecircles.demon.co.uk BKA Book List (available from nine circles) Kendo The Definitive Guide - Ozawa This is Kendo : The Art of Japanese Fencing - Sasamori & Warner Complete Kendo - Donohue The Heart of Kendo - Craig Looking at a Far Mountain - Budden Fundamental Kendo Vols 1 & 2 - ZNKR (BKA Only item) Japanese-English Kendo Dictionary - ZNKR (BKA Only item) Got stuff to sell? If you have an budo related equipment 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, 2nd hand bogu, etc etc - anything relevant.
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Iaido and Jodo European Seminar, Amsterdam, August 4th-9th 2002
The Nederlands Kendo Renmei hosted the Iaido and Jodo seminar, run by Ishido Sensei. As in previous years we were based in Amsterdam - a great city with many cultural delights. The Japanese delegation this year was made up of: Ishido Sensei, 8th Dan Kyoshi Jodo, 8th dan Kyoshi Iaido Yamamoto Sensei, 8th dan Kyoshi Jodo, 7th dan Kyoshi Iaido Aoki Sensei, 7th dan Kyoshi Jodo, 7th dan Kyoshi Iaido Yano Sensei, 7th dan Renshi Jodo, 7th dan Renshi Iaido Yoda Sensei, 5th dan Jodo, 7th dan Renshi Iaido Nakaseko Sensei, 7th dan Renshi Iaido Mr. M. Karakama, 5th dan Jodo, 6th dan Iaido Mr. Y. Orihara, 4th dan Iaido. We started the first day of the jodo seminar with some trepidation, as we were told there had been some changes made in the Seitei Jodo kata. Luckily these were not major changes, but did help to reinforce some of the fundamentals of good Jodo, especially posture and correct maai (attacking distance). One of the bits of information that has changed is in the commands, So Go No Rai, has now changed too So Go Ni Rai (bow to each other). We started practice every morning by going through the individual kihon techniques, to get us warmed up and to correct any errors, before the paired kata practice. Despite the rainy weather outside, the hall soon got very warm, and we were all melting under the pressure from the Sensei and the heat. For the first 2 days, the Seitei Jodo was covered. And on the last day grading practice for those taking an exam. For the rest of us we went on to practice, or learn for some, the Omote (the first of the koryu schools) - thanks to Jock for suggesting it. I must be getting older as I found this seminar very taxing on the mind and muscles, then again tea breaks and rest periods were very scarce. Although this did force us to concentrate on getting our techniques correct, as we grew more tired. It also served to make our kata softer and more fluid, instead of using strength to bully our way through the kata. One of the major points on the seminar was the variety of kiai used, ranging from deep throated bellows to high pitched screams, often using a variety of different words instead of the two Kiai used in Jodo - Ei for strikes and Ho for thrusts - in my corner we even heard a Kiai of yaba dabba doo - thanks Mr.Chris Buxton. This is an important point, which will need to be addressed at our future seminars and squad training. After 3 days of this, we started the Iaido half of the seminar. Those of us who had done the Jodo looked some what the worse for wear, with aching muscles and stiff joints, while the new influx of iaidoka all looked fresh and ready for some action. As we had in the jodo seminar we started with warm ups and practicing correct technique with most of the seminar being taken up with the Seitei Iaido kata before breaking up into groups and practicing Shoden (the first of the koryu schools). This was followed by practicing the standing tachi techniques from the Okuden, as by the last day peoples knees had given out. The Japanese sensei assisted by the European High grades worked very hard this year to correct all the errors and to show the meaning behind the techniques. One of the points mentioned was that we should not be too concerned with the minutiae details, e.g. should the sword be an inch further to the left etc. but look at the whole technique: Is it effective, are the cuts at the right maai, is their proper seme, zanshin and intent in the form? Once again the Dutch put on a well run seminar, with around a 100 people practicing Iai and Jodo. Congratulations to those who passed their gradings, and many thanks once again too Andy Watson for his translating skills. But the main thanks have to go too the Sensei who come to teach us. - Alan Nash, Jodo Bucho, Seishinkan Dojo |
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Iaido and Jodo Summer Seminar, Birmingham, August 18th-23rd 2002
One good thing can be said about the British weather -at least when it comes to the summer seminars we are not left in panting heaps of exhaustion in the corners of sports halls. There the praise stops. This year we were honoured by the visit of an old friend as well as a new face. Oshita sensei, 7th dan iaido kyoshi came for the nth time and was joined by Shiiya sensei, 8th dan jodo kyoshi and 7th dan iaido kyoshi from Tokyo. The seminar was held at Birmingham University in one of their adequately sized sports halls. The plan for the week was the usual Jodo seminar and grading held with a simultaneous iaido koryu session in a separate dojo by Oshita sensei. This to be followed with a three-day iaido seminar for all. We started each day with the ACME Tokyo-style warm up which I also experienced during my time training in Chiba and then ran through tandoku-dosa. Shiiya sensei's style is very similar to the original Hiroi sensei style taught in Britain in the early days of jodo. Postures are very strong and consistent. While the kendo-influenced face-on posture seems to be being phased out in recent years, Shiiya sensei's style is very direct. We then split up into groups, Jock Hopson sensei kindly took the elementary class while Shiiya sensei hosted the intermediate and senior grades. The first of the jodo sessions concentrated on seitei kata and the recent clarifications which have taken place. Shiiya sensei's teaching style was quite relaxed and his humour and cheer kept people interested and motivated (up until tea break anyway). While nothing much had changed, sensei was very keen to ensure that proper sword technique accompanied the jo movements, so much so on the second day he had all of us going through the range of sword postures together explaining the important points of each. The second day provided us the opportunity to train in jodo koryu and we focused on the Omote forms, the first set of koryu kata in the jodo syllabus. This training was extremely useful in reinforcing the understanding of the contrast between the Fukuoka style which we had recently been exposed to and the Tokyo style which the senior grades had initially been trained in. The Tokyo style's simplicity and directness was it's prominent feature and it was very rewarding to be clearly shown the kata in this way. The third and final day of the jodo allowed those taking the grading the chance to hone their skills. Jock once again put those grading through their paces and many of us up at the other end were frequently left in giggles and sniggers hearing the immortal chant "No! Not that way!", Chris Buxton also adding sympathy and support. The grading itself went very well and pass rates were high. Sensei's final words at the end of the grading was that everyone should ensure they understand the commands and routines of the grading especially of course, reiho. A formalised article for this will be published soon. While all this was going on, Oshita sensei was running a Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu seminar downstairs in the smaller dojo (dance studio really but I can hardly call it that it in the world or the warrior!!!). By all accounts he was putting the class through their paces with some strictness. Outside of the dojo he is relaxed and easy to be with while in the dojo he is appropriately strict. I heard moans of pains in the knees and other such symptoms of loadsa seated koryu. Yvonne from Holland kindly provided translation. The following three days saw the main iaido seminar take place with members of both schools coming together to train under the watchful eye of Oshita sensei. Sensei's Vic Cook, Loi Lee and Greg Drewe kindly provided assistance in teaching the various groups. Before splitting into groups we would run through the seitei kata together while Oshita sensei observed to see common errors and habits. He would then highlight these and had everyone breaking down what they were doing into component parts to ensure the kata became correct. The group training looked very rewarding as it ensured the teaching was relevant for the level of students. For the elementary group, it was emphasised that basic correct technique was adhered to and that there was no need for unreasonably fast technique. On the second day where I joined sensei in the advanced group, emphasis on strong posture and a positive cutting feeling were reinforced. The third day of the seminar saw the iaido grading preceded by a pre-grading training session. The advanced group ran through Omote koryu in either MJER and MSR depending on what version you had been installed with. Interestingly enough , sensei was comfortable doing either style. Shiiya sensei joined the panel for the afternoon's grading which was reasonably strict. Oshita sensei's words, "The decisions we make during the grading are for your benefit, pass or fail." The strictness was a fair and clear reflection of the level required in Japan nowadays. I pass on some of the important points which Oshita sensei expressed to the class which I am certain is consistent with other Japanese patron-sensei:
Many thanks to those in mission control (especially Patrick and Dougie) for organising both the seminar and a number of evening "apres-ski" events, to Alan Nash for running the sensei's around and putting them up - you certainly earned your beer - and to all the British sensei who assisted in the teaching during the seminar. My closing word is something that Oshita sensei repeated several times during the seminar - "Regardless of grade or style, it is of absolute importance that we train hard and work together. Only by operating as a co-operative group will be make strong progression." Hope to see you all at Darlington (that's me, not sensei) - Andy Watson, Seishinkan |
17th Annual Kodokan Seminar, Rickmansworth, August 22-25 2002
This was the 14th seminar led by Sumi Masatake Sensei (8th Dan Hanshi). Kumamoto sensei and Taishiro sensei accompanied him this year and it was marvellous to see them again. Sumi sensei is now listed as an official of the ZNKR on their web site, and is playing a central role in the development of kendo in Japan. An added feature of this year's seminar was that Sumi sensei's wife attended, and practised naginata with a few friends from France and Holland including Andre Raboen. This is the third time that she has been to the seminar. She has revived interest in her art in the UK and it is always a treat to see her beat down the kendoka's egos. Planning and organisation was carried out by Mr. P. (the buck stops here) Budden, and Mr. T.Holt. The venue was the same as last year's - Paul's permanent dojo location St Joan of Arc RC school. Simon Boyd is the catering manager at the school and once again did an excellent job of looking after us. In official attendance were 85 kendoka and practitioners of naginata from England, Scotland, France, Holland, the USA, Italy, Wales, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Norway, Japan and a strong contingent from Geordie land. A few other friends arrived during the weekend with Jeff Humm attending on the Saturday to put the British squad through their paces. Overall the atmosphere was friendly and everyone mucked in together to make the seminar a success. The system of teams was once again employed with generals having charge of a team of about 10, and captains being selected to lead practices and shiai. All the participants gain from this as there is always someone in your team to ask advice of or to help with practices. The teams worked well together and I am sure that everyone enjoyed making new friends. Names of famous swordsmen were given to the teams: Bokuden, Yagyu, Musashi, Ittosai, Tesshu and Tadaaki, and as always competition was added to help teams with motivation. A slight change this year was that the Yagyu team was almost exclusively made up of British squad members, this team was led by general Honda and captained by Simon Bradley. During the practices Paul and Terry asked questions about what we had been shown by Sumi sensei, or to test general understanding, grasp of terms and concepts. For Shiai and refereeing the teams worked well and everybody was given the opportunity to hone and improve their skills.
Controlling your body appropriately and safely is essential when practising kihon. This is a theme that we have visited many times before with Sumi Sensei, but it is one that is most crucial in developing a good form and a constructive attitude to practice. He pointed out that the role of motodachi also needs very careful consideration. It is often the case that Kakari te's (the attacker's) poor performance can be attributed to the actions of the motodachi. With that as a background to our training we proceeded to our first taught session, the Kata. At this point Sumi Sensei broke with the published timetable and took us straight through to lunch working on katas 1 to 6 (a 2 ½ hour session). Points in Kendo No Kata Due to space limitations we practised a shortened version of the katas where we did not do the three steps to close in. Only shidachi steps back and then steps in to start the kata. Just as he did last year Sumi sensei asked uchidachi to make three cuts in each kata. The first two are allowed to reach the target so that uchidachi can more effectively measure distance, timing and the shape of the cut. On the third attack shidachi responds and the kata continues to its conclusion: 1. When uchidachi takes Hidari jodan he should ensure that he is in a hanmi (Turned position) and that his left hand is directly above his left foot. This means that when shidachi directs the point of his sword towards uchidachi's left hand he will be moving it out of the centre and effectively leaving the centre open for uchidachi to cut. If this is not done it leads to that very awkward feeling that is often apparent in Gohonme where uchidachi feels that in order to cut he must put his hand onto the point of shidachi's sword.
5. in Roponme Shidachi begins the kata by applying pressure with his posture and by directing the point up at uchidachi's fingers. Uchidachi must withdraw before the swords touch. A further point to consider is the position that uchidachi takes as he moves back to Hidari jodan (his left hand is above his left foot). Shidachi must direct his sword at uchidachi's left hand. It is critical that the uchidachi attacks kote from a wide position (where the points are just crossing) and that he reaches in sufficiently to cut the kote. This year Sumi sensei emphasised the importance of doing the suriage with the shinogi of the sword. The point must go forward, up and to the right side all at the same time if the technique is to be successful. 6. Attempting to master nanahonme. After Aitsuki shidachi's first step should be small but forwards, the second step crosses the left foot in front of the right and at this stage turn the hips slightly towards the opponent and keep the back straight. The cut should land as the left foot touches the floor and the left foot should point across to the left. The final step must allow the right knee to be placed smoothly on the floor. Shidachi must cut strongly then allow the blade to fold back so as to avoid hitting/touching the Uchidachi. The final part of the cut should be a continuation of the line that was established in the first part of the cut. 7. In the kodachi no kata we worked on Uke nagashi. Sumi sensei said that the hands must be taken well above the head and the grip allowed to soften (but don't open your hands). We were to make contact with a snapping sound not the usual dull thud that signals a thick contact (this would damage a real sword). 8. The final kata needs to be done smoothly, and when applying surikomi it is important to step in strongly and break uchidachi's posture with your hips. The left arm should not be bent. Overall the kata sessions were very enjoyable and also very hard, with many adjustments and fine points being developed. If only we could all fence with such control (as Sumi sensei does). There is a great deal to be learned from watching him do kendo no kata. It is very real when he does it. You only need to look at how his opponents are sweating and see how twitchy even the seventh dans become when they do it with him. Cutting practices The first afternoon session was where we began to get into the theme of the seminar. We did a variety of uchikomi practices. In each practice we simply had to cut Kote, Men and Do. The role of motodachi is very important in these exercises. Kakari te should cut only the targets that have been opened. For men motodachi raises his point to the right, for kote to the left and for do both arms are raised. The same movements are used when making openings for hiki waza. Kakari te must pay attention and cut the open targets. 1. Start in issoku itto no maai and stepping in with sliding footwork to cut. Ki ken tai is with the front foot. After the cut do not move forwards. Wait a moment with zanshin and then take two steps back to the starting distance (issoku). 2. Start at toi maai motodachi steps into issoku and kakari te uses sliding footwork to cut. (Ki ken tai is with the front foot). After the cut do not move forwards. Wait a moment with zanshin and then take two steps back to the starting distance (issoku). 3. Starting at toi maai kakari te steps into issoku and uses seme to make an opening. Use sliding footwork to cut. (Ki ken tai is with the front foot). After the cut do not move forwards. Wait a moment with zanshin and then take two steps back to the starting distance (issoku)
9. Starting at toi maai kakari te steps into issoku and uses seme to make an opening. Use stamping footwork to cut. After the cut motodachi moves out of the way. Move forwards and through turning to keep eye contact with motodachi and maintain zanshin 10. Starting at toi maai kakari te steps into issoku and uses seme to make an opening. Use stamping footwork to cut. After the cut move forwards with taiattari meeting hands in the centre and immediately stepping back with hiki waza to the target that motodachi has opened. All the above practices were done in a very controlled way with particular attention being payed to the sound and accuracy of the cuts, maintaining posture and getting the maai right. In the latter stages of the practice we began to do up to 5 cuts in one breath. In all of the practices you must keep zanshin throughout from the first cut to the last. The next step was to attempt to do a variety of different attacks. Kakari te decides on when to attack, motodachi decides on what target will be attacked and whether kakari te will stop, use taiatari, or cut through. Kakari te does not choose what target will be hit or how the technique will be finished off, he must stay alert, control his body and follow motodachi's lead. Of course one might say this is just uchikomi geiko, but because of the build up to it, the quality of the uchikomi was excellent (showing the quality of Sumi sensei's pedagogy). The last step in this practice was to do kakari geiko. Sumi sensei stressed that kakari geiko is attack practice. It is an opportunity to practice your shikake waza. You should use tobekomi waza, katsugi waza, harai waza, ni san dan no waza. This is gruelling training but you should be practising your attacks not just working on stamina. In kakari geiko it is most useful if motodachi raises his point to the left eye leaving an open centre. Both practitioners control the keiko 50/50 and decide what targets will be cut and how techniques will be finished off. The kakari geiko was for 1 minute. This is too long for very quick and continuous attacks so we had to measure ourselves and pay more attention to the quality of the seme and the techniques, this seemed to fit in nicely with Sumi sensei's plan. In this practice motodachi was to use oji waza, or deflect attacks or accept them, always keeping kakari te alert by changing the pattern. However. Motodachi must help kakari te to succeed by not breaking his rhythm and timing unduly. So what is kakari geiko? And what is it for? The second kihon session took place on Saturday and began in the same way but developed into a much more robust affair. It culminated in a practice where 6 motodachi were arranged along the hall and everyone had to move down the line doing 20 seconds uchikomi on each motodachi in turn. The British Squad were singled out for the most serious attention in this session but they all put everything into it and impressed us mere mortals. Shiai As usual there were two team shiais where everyone was given the opportunity to take part in matches and also to referee. This went very well with some excellent matches taking place. Sumi sensei always stresses the importance of shiai in developing the mental aspects of your kendo. Shiai and shinsa are the things that drive us to improve our kendo. They are the achievable points of focus that we can take small steps towards. Concussion and blunt instrument trauma The theme of Ian Parker-Dodd's lecture this year was one that has fairly obvious links to our art. However he stressed that serious injuries are very rare. The main worries are impacts to the back and sides of the head from the shinai (often caused by ducking to avoid being cut) and impacting the head with the hands causing the neck to be jarred or the head pushed back. Another big concern is Inaccurate tsuki. This can be caused by either poorly executed technique, or by the person receiving the technique pulling their head back. If someone is hit in the neck or throat this is of concern and needs investigation. To stress the points Ian gave an example of how a student had been struck with a fairly normal men cut and collapsed. It transpired that the previous day he had fallen and banged his head. Even a normal cut to the head caused further problems. This person passed in and out of consciousness all the way to the emergency room causing Ian considerable concern. This example opens a very considerable can of worms and at this point the lecture took a new direction. When someone turns up for kendo is it safe for them to practice? How do we know what has happened the day before. If they are a new student they may have injuries from previous activities that could preclude them from taking part. Many suggestions were made but this particular problem is one that needs to be looked at by the executive, perhaps in consultation with our insurers. One thing to be very wary of is that the defence of violent non fit injuria cannot be claimed if an injury is caused by a deliberate or reckless action. Demonstration matches and Social This year we were treated to a number of demonstration matches: Naginata against naginata where Madam Sumi fenced one of her students, and then three matches of naginata against shinai. First up was one of the Dutch contingent against Kumamoto sensei. It was a very even match in the end but the first few cuts all went to the naginata. Next Taishiro sensei fenced against naginata. Almost as soon as the match began he received a tsuki. This really sparked him into action and he got very much on top of his opponent in terms of spirit and pressure with many resounding men cuts going in. However his shins must have been quite sore as his opponent had numerous hits on this target. Last was Sumi sensei V Sumi sensei. Quote "One wonders how they settle disputes in the Sumi household" (I.P.D). This was a very tight match with both making excellent points. I felt that Mr. Sumi came out the winner but I am almost certainly biased in my opinion. Finally a seven-a-side shiai was held between the members of the British squad who were present and a select team from the rest of the seminar's participants. In each match the two competitors were of approximately equal grade and experience. The quality of the refereeing was excellent (Sumi sensei, Kumamoto sensei and Taishiro sensei). The match swung one way then the other. All the competitors performed well and in the end it was a dead tie for wins and points forcing a sudden death fight off between myself and Simon Bradley. The national squad captain did his job and the squad won the match, well done! Back to the drawing board for me. This was an excellent spectacle and I am sure all those who took part and the spectators enjoyed it. Following on from this was a most excellent barbecue and party where prizes were awarded to the winning and losing teams and where much alcohol flowed (both ways), and friendships were forged or renewed. Some rash kendoka even issued challenges. It was an excellent evening with a variety of delicious dishes being offered up by Simon Boyd and his hardworking staff. Shinsa It is some year's since a grading was held at the end of the Kodokan seminar, not since Keith Holmes was bucho I think. The grading was open only to participants of the seminar and was from 1st kyu to 5th Dan. It is without doubt one of the most positive gradings I have ever seen with 5 out of 6 people passing yondan and 3 out of 4 passing godan (wow!). The quality of the matches reflected the amount of effort put in and Sumi sensei's teaching. It shows just how good this seminar really is.
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