Yamato Kendojo
The second leg of my travels brought me to Montevideo. Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay. Uruguay is wedged between the two biggest countries of South America: Argentina and Brazil. It has a population of about 3 million. Their claim to fame is that they won the first football world championship in 1930 and a second time twenty years later. Which is quite a feat by a country which isn’t so densely populated. The first time they won the world cup they also invented the honorary round in the stadium to show of the world cup.
The main trade commodity of Uruguay is beef. It’s being exported all over the world. In Argentine restaurants in Europe it’s being served as Argentine but apparently only Uruguayan beef meets the strict quality demands of the European Union. If you’re a vegetarian you’ll be having a hard time although nowadays there is fish on the menu’s of the restaurants. Word of warning: the meals consisting of said beef are copious to put it mildly. I never have seen so much beef piled on a plate which was regarded as an after keiko snack…
After keiko snack
Yamato dojo is where I practiced during my stay in Montevideo. It’s a shared dojo with an Aikido club. So after the marble floor in Brasilia it was the other end of the spectrum in Uruguay. The dojo floor consists of mats and a (for want of a better word) sail covering it. Perfect for Aikido or Iaido kata on your knees. It’s a bit difficult for Kendo if you’re not used to it. It brought me back to the stone age time when I started Kendo also in a dojo where we had tatami mats like this. After a while you don’t know better and you get used to it. When practicing again at a regular floor it seems that you’re faster because you have been kicking yourself away with more strength than you’re used to.
The members of the Yamato dojo returned from vacation or other leisure activities just for a hastily scheduled keiko on Sunday morning with a guest from the Netherlands. I felt quite honored and burdened to spoil their Carnaval (Mardi Gras?) weekend. Keiko was regular but differed that they start with kata every lesson. Even the very beginners are taught all the kata from one to ten. It’s an interesting concept and maybe they’re onto something.
When I was there I didn’t have a chance to meet the instructor in chief Kubo Sensei. Kubo Sensei is a retired school teacher and is living in Montevideo as part of a program to spread Japanese culture throughout the world. He stays in a foreign country for two years and then moves on to another place in the world. He was in Turkey before he went to Uruguay. I can’t imagine a better vehicle to promote Japanese culture than Kendo.
On Monday was a regular practice day and they gave me the honor to lead the class. I just did what we always do back home but I only did kata one to three to explain the theme’s of the kata’s as it has been explained to me. I ended with a vigorous uchi komi geiko for the beginners and ai kakari geiko for the advanced. After keiko this time the food and drink was not so heavy as the last time and even more fun. This due to the fact that a woman ending her night painting the town red insisted that the “New Zealand” master should show his “Aikido” moves privately to her. Since I’m not a master nor from New Zealand and have no clue about Aikido I respectfully declined. Luckily another member of the dojo who has practiced Aikido took it upon himself to guide the unsteadily walking lady from the pizzeria to the dojo to show her a thing or two about Aikido. I suppose it was a dirty job but someone had to do it. Thanks pal you saved my life, I’m forever in your debt…..
Kendo in Uruguay is not well known to be honest. In Europe it’s on the fringe of the Martial Arts scene as well with Judo and Karate and such as the majority. But then again most countries in Europe have more inhabitants than 3 million. Never the less the Asociacon de Kendo del Uruguay (AKU) boasts a membership of about 50. Which is relatively a lot. Last year they managed to organize a tai kai which was attended by lots of kenshi from the neighboring countries. They are planning to make it a yearly event. If they have enough members (I think it should be 100) they can join the FIK which would allow them to participate at the World Championships and other events.
The Uruguayan kenshi are very dedicated and make the best of the situation which isn’t optimal. They have the good fortune with Kubo Sensei to guide them but when he leaves they’re on their own.
For anyone who is able to show Aikido moves to pretty Uruguayana’s and enjoys the easy Latin American life do visit Uruguay. The scenery and nature are vast and spacious and in fact reminded me of New Zealand(!). If you get tired from the easy life hop on the ferry to Buenos Aires to get back into the urban jungle life that you’re used to. Don’t forget to visit the Yamato Dojo for keiko and otherwise having a great time.
My sincere thanks to: Gonzalo Tihista, Leon Barboza, Daniel Velazquez and all the others who made my stay one to remember for a long time.
Muchas gracias y espero que nos encontremos otra vez pronto.
If u come to Curitiba (Brasil) fell yourself welcome in our dojo.
I don’t know how do you do to make contact with the kendo clubs.
just look at orkut or http://www.kendocuritiba.com.br
Thank you very much for your kind words and all you have been doing since then to help us, Alphons. It was really our pleasure to have you here.