Volume 8 Issue 2

Monthly Newsletter

Volume 8 Issue 2

Editor: Dave Christman

March 2006

All Photos by D.Christman, unless otherwise noted

Photo by Vlad Trusevich

G.R. Visit, March 4: Several of our dojo members have been traveling up to the Toyoda Center, to practice with the Grand Rapids Kendo Kai almost every Saturday. So March 4th, I went along also, there was so many students, we actually broke into 3 groups. Vlad Trusevich (a student & a pro photographer) took some very good pictures that day. Here are some of them.

The Grand Rapids kendo Kai has a great future, there is a huge population in that area with a great interest in Japanese Budo. We here in Battle Creek, because we had an earlier start, have a good foundation, and connections in the realm of USA kendo, and we would like to extend that experience to the people of Grand Rapids. We are only a little more than 1 hour apart, by automobile. We consider GR to be our first "little sister" dojo. All thanks to the motivation of Yutaro Matsuura sensei, who's given up a lot of Saturdays to get the GR scene going strong.......

WMU Demo, March 19: Terry asked me to do a iaido demo at the WMU International Festival on behalf of the WMU Japan Club. So I traveled over to Kalamazoo early afternoon on Sunday the 19th. We were required to run through a "rehearsal" at 1:30 of our demo's because the event was so lengthy and had so many small skits and demo's of many different countries fashions and various customs. I admit I was a bit put off by the fact I had to "rehearse" a martial art demonstration, then hang around for 3-4 hours only to then do the actual demonstration. But I just bit my lip and did it anyway. It helped that Big Bob met me at the "roadhouse" down the street to kill a few hours with a snack and a couple of beers..............Photos below by T.Tokuhiro

Terry was my sword "valet"

Here is a photo that Scott Watson shot...I believe it is the noto of ukenagashi (#3) I was surprised the event was so well attended. There was food & information booths set up by the different student groups, i.e. the Latino Club, the African Students, the Malaysian students, the Indonesian students, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, etc.

CMU Visit, March 26: Several of us traveled together up to try and boost the morale of the Central Michigan University's Kendo Club by showing up with a small force of kendoka. Big Bob, Terry, Tonya, Fernando (2) and myself did what used to be known as a "field trip". We represented all levels of proficency. We are from 14 years to 53 years old.....We went up to blow a whole Sunday afternoon there. Well, CMU responded of course with the fearless leadership of Ashley Wolf. Also in attendance was Ben, and Ayako Hadano. After a nice strong practice with Ayako finally having a chance to do jiyu geiko with at least 5 other people, we all went out to dinner together at O'Kelleys....great sports bar, exactly the kind of place we in Battle Creek like to go to hang out and talk kendo together. Ayako, the only dan rank at CMU is of course, what CMU is betting on for any future in learning any kendo at all. If she doesn't show up with any regularity the club is doomed. The "guys" in the club (besides Ben) are a bunch of no shows, not one of them (again, besides Ben) has showed the last two times I've been there. They most likely exercise their thumbs on their X-Boxes rather than show up to actually "sweat" learning the way of the sword. Ashley, Ben and Ayako have my respect.....but the others....are sissies. If they want to prove me wrong, they have to call me up and beg me and my club to travel the two hours back up at another time to try and give them a well deserved lesson in the way of the sword. The only way to redeem themselves is to show up at MSU on April 9th. Think of it as a challenge, guys. Soon I will post a photo here of the group of us who practiced on March 26.

UPCOMING EVENTS

	Extra Practice: Soon there will be extra practice times scheduled for those who want to prepare for the Cleveland tournament. Check our Schedule page.

	Peter Boylan (Koryu): the next practice is April 22nd, 10:00 a.m.

	Visit to MSU, April 9th We will be traveling up to MSU to practice with the rest of the Michigan dojo with and annual practice where we all get together at MSU. We will leave the dojo parking lot at 10:30 a.m. and carpool as best we can. There will be a "banquet-party" after the practice in Lansing.

Cleveland Tournament, April 22-23, 2006: The Cleveland kendo Dojo has announced it annual tournament. Information should be here on their web site.

Michigan Family Tournament, May 19th, 2006: Eastern Michigan University kendo Dojo has announced the 3rd Annual tournament. Information can be picked up at the dojo, please mail in your registration form soon.

MWKF Summer Camp, August 4-6th 2006: The University of Wisconsin at Madison will be taking over for us, as the Kalamazoo College has changed its policy. The registration forms will be available soon, but in the meantime please clear your calendar and plan to attend this event. We are trying to bring back Yamanaka and Saito sensei for just one more year.

I've collected a lot of stories, quotes, koans, poems and haiku. Here is one I really like:

Many stories of fiction and legend have accumulated around one of the greatest swordsman of Japan. This man is Sekishusai Muneyoshi Yagyu (1527-1606). This is one of my favorites: It is said during some of the rougher times of political upheaval in medieval Japan, a ninja was hired to kill Muneyoshi. The ninja shadowed the sword master for weeks. He thought his chance came when the 70 plus year old man was vacationing in the Settsu province at a spa famous for its hot springs. Sitting on a stool with only a short dagger, he was admiring a hawk that was sitting on his gloved wrist, his swords several feet away on a rack. The killer leapt in, sure of easy quarry, yet in the blink of an eye, Yagyu drew his dagger and slashed first, killing the ninja. Without upsetting the bird on his wrist, Yagyu's demeanor never changed, and as the ninja's body was carried out, Yagyu maintained the same unruffled vigilance that comes from a lengthy devotion to "zanshin".

-True Story or Legend?

E-mail the editor, let me know your comments at: mailto:dtc12@comcast.net to reach me.

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