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On Thursday May 23, 2009 two Japanese carpenters arrived, right on time, to install a pair of shoji at Ken Zen Dojo. It was not quite 3 weeks since my first appearance in the Kyoto Taikai.

When we moved into our new dojo location, in 2000, it never occurred to me that I might participate in Kyoto Taikai. But after I passed 6-dan in the summer of 2007, I knew it might be possible. When I applied for, and received Renshi, in the summer of 2008, the goal was nearly in sight.

As number 6 on the East side, I was in the very first group of Iaidoka. Luckily for me, I was in the back row. Waiting on the bench with the other members of the first group, I could hear the gentleman sitting next to me, who looked about my age, breathing deeply, just as I was. The younger members of the group were either not breathing at all, or hiding it better than the two of us.