Everything has been so busy in my life this year that the last few months have kind of whooshed by me … and all of a sudden the summer seminar was upon me! I took an overnight flight to Scotland on the 16th of July, arriving on the 17th, then did kendo everyday until I left on the 24th. Since coming back, things haven’t slowed down, but I have managed to cobble together some time today to mash a mini article together. It will be a rushed affair including lots of instagram embeds (past seminar articles usually have more details)!!
This was actually the tenth time in 17 years that I have flown back to Scotland to teach/run a seminar in my favourite city in the world, Edinburgh. Yano sensei came back with me again this year, plus I invited a special guest: newly minted 7dan female kenshi Hayashi Ryoko sensei.
The numbers joining this year was about the same as last year – a manageable 60. Kenshi travelled from all over the U.K. to participate, as well as the odd person from abroad (Romania, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Canada, and so on).
Anyway, let’s get to it.
Pre-seminar keiko (Friday)
About 30 kenshi joined us for keiko on Friday evening. This introductory session was run by yours-truly and was a quite simple affair: a few rounds of kirikaeshi, some basics, mawari-geiko, then jigeiko. Nothing too complex!
Seminar day one and two
Except for a mix-up with the start times on day one (we had planned for 9am but on the website it said 9:30am) both days went off without a hitch and with no injuries. Like prior years each day was set into a morning and afternoon session, the former focusing on fundamentals and the latter on different techniques or patterns. Emphasis was always put on mechanics, and we didn’t do anything too too crazy this year.
In previous years, we saw lots of people end up with foot/leg problems due to the large amount of ashisabaki and/or oikomi drills we added, so this year we deliberately toned that part down so that people could make it though both days.
Although I think there could be a cause made for it, we didn’t split people into technical ability and/or experience level, though that is something I think needs consideration for any future seminars.
Also, like I have stated before, for as long as I am involved in the seminar I won’t add any shiai or grading portion. As an instructor, this would make my life easier as I could sit back, delegate, and chill… but as a kenshi who believes in the “keiko, keiko, keiko” doctrine of shugyo, I much prefer people to focus on doing kendo for themselves, rather than doing something to impress other people (i.e. success as defined by a third person rather than oneself). Maybe that’s just me!
On Saturday evening we had a lovely “Sayonara party” (although nobody was leaving) in the centre of Edinburgh, where the whisky flowed as freely as the kilts did in the wind. What a great time!
Post-seminar keiko #1 (Monday)
For the first post-seminar keiko we handed the baton over to Ryoko sensei, who used the time to review things were taught at the seminar, after which we did mawari-geiko and jigeiko.
In past seminars it has been a deliberate theme of mine to hand over one of the post seminar sessions to one of the assistant instructors.
Post-seminar keiko #2 (Tuesday)
At some point over the weekend, Yano sensei was having a chat over beers with one of the Edinburgh kendo club members… the result of which was we all ended up attending an unexpected Tuesday morning asageiko session! About eight of us rolled up at the dojo at 6am for a one hour session consisting of kihon and mawari-geiko.
Yano sensei, Ryoko, and I got back to the flat at 07:55 and immediately some cans of beer were opened (not my idea, honestly!)!!!
On a purely personal note, I found out later this day that Ozzy had passed away. Although nothing to do with kendo, I have been a fan of his since I was 14 or 15, and I was currently staying in a flat about 3 mins walk from where I saw him on the No More Tears tour in 1992 (I saw him on a Black Sabbath reunion tour in 1999 as well). RIP The Prince of Darkness !
Post-seminar keiko #3 (Wednesday)
In the past people have become fatigued by the time we hit Wednesday so we have done kata sessions, this year however, everyone was fighting fit, so we just did another basics session followed by mawari-geiko and jigeiko (led by yours truly).
This evening we were joined by Mr Scott Brooks from Charlotte Kendo Club in North Carolina, who was in Scotland on holiday. Thanks for joining us!
Back in Japan
After a whirlwind trip to Scotland it was back to crazy temperatures (40 degrees!) and kendo as usual: my usual work keiko, a joint keiko session with a private school, an all-day shiai… plus I did some extra summer lessons for third year students preparing for their university exams. Tomorrow I am going on a proper holiday to Cebu (I did contact the kendo club there but, well, sometimes I have to give my time to my family). No rest for the wicked!
Thanks
Thanks to everyone who attended, whether it was your first time or you come every year. Remember, kendo is fun ☆
Last but not least, a BIG shoutout to everyone at Edinburgh Kendo Club for hosting the seminar and looking after us as always. It really really is an honour. One day I will move back!!!!!
Postscript
Due to my job transfer it will be difficult to continue running the seminar in Edinburgh at the same time next year (we can’t run the seminar in August due to the Fringe festival so we have to do it before). Well, that’s not exactly true: it will be difficult for me to go during that period. Potentially – nothing has been worked out yet – we have two options: 1) for the seminar to continue with Yano sensei but without me; 2) we move the seminar date to match my new schedule (basically late March). At the moment I am leaning towards option 1… but we shall see. If that is the case I may instead look to join (or even run?) a seminar in August somewhere in Europe maybe. Hmmm…
