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kendo

I am a deshi

Even if Japanese is not our main language, in a kendo environment we often use the Japanese term “sensei” to mean teacher. What about the other 1/2 of the equation, the student? I can’t recall any Japanese terms being used in any of the 10+ countries I’ve had the fortune to do kendo in. Traditionally, […]

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kendo theory

Pursuing the spirit and modern kendo (part 4)

This is the fourth part in a five-part series that translates a lecture made by Morishima Tateo. To see the rest of the published series plus a bio on Morishima sensei, please click here. 心の修行と現代剣道 Pursing the spirit and modern kendo PART 4. 3. Mai (間合) and ma (間) MAI is the physical space between […]

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kendo theory

Pursuing the spirit and modern kendo (part 3)

This is the third part in a five-part series that translates a lecture made by Morishima Tateo. To see the rest of the published series plus a bio on Morishima sensei, please click here. 心の修行と現代剣道 Pursing the spirit and modern kendo PART 3. (2). From “technique kendo” and “power kendo” to “spirit kendo” The steps […]

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kendo theory

Pursuing the spirit and modern kendo (part 2)

This is the second part in a five-part series that translates a lecture made by Morishima Tateo. To see the rest of the published series plus a bio on Morishima sensei, please click here. 心の修行と現代剣道 Pursing the spirit and modern kendo PART 2. 2. The road to regenerate kendo (* due to length, this section […]

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kendo theory

Pursuing the spirit and modern kendo (part 1)

This is the start of a five-part series that translates a lecture made by Morishima Tateo sensei in December 2007. The speech was made to senior kendo sensei and its theme was about the state of modern kendo, and what can be done to change it. A brief bio of Morishima sensei can be found […]

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history iaido kendo kenshi

A Lineage all but Forgotten: The Yushinkan (Nakayama Hakudo)

(Note this is a guest post from Jeff Karinya) Introduction There are few martial artists in history who have been able to influence an entire generation of politicians, military personnel, police, educators, and civilians alike.  Who’s student’s (if only for a day) talked about their experiences with him in detail nearly seventy years after his death.  The first […]

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kendo

How to pass hachidan

About 2 and 1/2 years ago I posted an article entitled “How to pass hachidan.” In it was the advice a sensei of mine received, plus his own advice about attempting what has been called the hardest test in Japan. Flipping through some old kendo magazines a few weekends ago I found a similar piece […]

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history iaido

Thoughts on Tameshigiri from Famous Swordsmen

(Note this is a guest post from Richard Stonell) Tameshigiri is a very popular element of swordsmanship today. This is perhaps thanks in part to the spread of Toyama-ryu, a system originally created in the 1920s to teach fundamental sword technique to officers in the Imperial Japanese Military. Tameshigiri forms a central part of training […]

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kendo kenshi

Osaka police captain: Teramoto Shoji

Osaka people: Police tokuren captain, Teramoto Shoji (35) (The following is a quick translation on a newspaper piece on the hugely popular Teramoto Shoji. The article was published in Osaka version of the Mainichi Shinbun on the 18th of January 2011. The picture at the top of the article is by George and was taken […]

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history

A lineage all but forgotton: the Yushinkan dojo

Editors note: This is the first in a series of articles by Tokyo based budoka Jeff Karinja. In this series, he will introduce Yushinkan dojo and talk about its history, esteemed lineage, and ethos. Enjoy! The Yushinkan Dojo (有信館道場) is perhaps one of the most distinguished training halls in modern budo history. The dojo, once […]