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Maggies Workshop - 2000 Kirikaeshi for Cancer

Saturday 23rd February

Kodokan Kendo Dojo The Royal Masonic Girls School Rickmansworth

On Saturday 23rd February a number of apprehensive Kendoka gathered at Kodokan Kendo Dojo in Rickmansworth for the Maggies Workshop Charity event. It was excellent to see Kendoka from Kodokan, Mumeishi, Hizen, Reading, Cambridge and Akai Ryu (Wales) ready to push through the pain barrier for such a good cause. After an initial warm up and some words of encouragement from Kazuyo Sensei it was time to get started. With Sensei Budden counting on the Taiko ably assisted by Natasa officially counting the completed Kirikaeshi, we started. In no time at all we had completed 200 then 500, things were getting tough, then 800 (really only 800 - how will I keep going! - Think of the sponsorship) then 1000!!

Hurrah a break! 10 minutes later it was back on with the Men with a new dry tenegui really wondering how we would achieve the next 1000. We started full of energy, chocolate and sport drinks to try to complete this marathon! Again the first 200 seemed to fly by but then things started to slow down, after 2.5 hours we had completed 1500, fantastic, only 500 to go (only 500 to go - who am I kidding I can hardly raise my arms!) The next 30 minutes were a painful blur, Kirikaeshi, move to the left Kirikaeshi, move to the left UNTIL Sensei Budden said we only needed to complete two more sets and our challenge would be over. With renewed vigour and much louder Kiai we raced to the finish line.

Fantastic we had finished! We had achieved our goal! Congratulations to all who took part. 2000 kirikaeshi between 18 people in just over 3 hours or 112 repetitions for each person is an excellent achievement. Thanks go out to Kazuyo Sensei for organizing this event, to all who took part and for all who have sponsored. If you wish to sponsor this event you still can, follow this link.

http://www.justgiving.com/maggieskendo2008

I look forward to next years challenge - I think my shoulder and back muscles should have recovered in time!

Maggie’s Kendo Workshop 2000 kirikaeshi

Adrian Wagstaff Kodokan