2009 wrap up

In the short 16 month life-span of kenshi247.net we have published over 130 articles over a large spectrum of budo-related (not just kendo) subjects. The heaviest bias is of-course on kendo related material, but we do hope to expand it as time goes on.

By far the greatest thing has been the comments, both on the site, on facebook, via email, and face to face. Its clear to me that kenshi247.net is filling a niche market: a regular, interesting, educational, and at times topical online magazine. I don’t know of any other website that comes close to what we do.

However, I have also received comments from people I’ve asked to contribute saying that the level is “too high” or there is too much original work with which they “can’t compete with.” I want to stress that what you see here is all amateur work. Nobody posting is a kendo professional, nor are we university history professors. We are simply passionate budo individuals (like you) putting our ideas and experiences into black and white. Nothing more, nothing less. Even if you feel you can’t contribute now, I hope you will do so in the future.

Stand out articles this year include (apologies for adding some of my own here!):

• The outstanding Tanka of Eishin-ryu series by Richard (not finished);
• The invaluable translation of portions of Takano Sasaburo’s Kendo Kyohon by Kent;
• A bio of Gordon Warner, the American kendo pioneer by Leiv;
• An exploration of dead and/or dying kendo waza;
• The topical Tsubazeria rules changes in high school kendo;
• The popular story of Fujimoto Kaoru;
• Loads of editions to our Kendo Places series.

There is – of course – many more great articles out there, so please browse around.

Thanks.. and remember to join us on facebook and syndicate us! Have a good new year!!