The Iaido Newsletter
A publication of shared distribution dedicated to the Japanese sword arts, Iaido, Kendo and the Koryu A Sei Do Kai Publication (Incorporating the OKF News)	Vol 10/3 #90 Mar 1998 $5.00 per issue PHOTOCOPY AND SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER!

AUSTRALIA David Kolb, 30 Neville St. Kangaroo Point, Qld. 4169 Australia.

BALTICS Tonis Kunnus, As PreDe, Pirita tee 20, Tallinn 0001, Estonia.

BELGIUM: Erik Pooters Wittestraat 9 Kiel, Antwerpen 2020 Belgie.

CANADA CENTRAL Sandra Jorgenson, 77 Harbour Sq. #3310 Toronto Ont. M5J 2S2.

CANADA EAST Robert Miller, 45 Cedar Cr. Beaconsfield, Quebec H9W 4S9.

CANADA WEST Barry Wiseman, 11038 Greenwood Dr. Mission B.C. V4S 1A9.

CENTRAL EUROPE Zsolt Balassy, H-1046 Budapest, Toth A. u. 19. Hungary.

DENMARK Bjarne Blichfeldt Katholm 210 3670 Vekso Denmark.

ENGLAND Douglas Evans 10 Daglish Close, New Romney, Kent TN28 8XF.

FINLAND Pasi Hellsten, Luuvaniementie 4 D 126, SF-00350 Helsinki, Finland.

GERMANY Klaus Wissmath, Rathenaustrasse 9A, D-91052 Erlangen.

HOLLAND Johan Smits, Dunant Straat 866 Zoetermeer Netherlands 2713 XJ.

JAPAN Colin Hyakutake, Matsubara 4 Chome 6-19, Saga City, Saga Ken, Japan 840.

NEW ZEALAND Hamish Robison 15 Logan Tce. Parnell, Auckland.

SWEDEN Arne Oster, Akerogatan 2, S-417 28 Goteborg.

SWITZERLAND Nicolae G. Bialokur, 18 ch. Champ-Soleil, 1012 Lausanne, Suisse.

USA EAST J.S.S. PO Box 1116 Rockefeller Stn. New York, NY USA 10185.

USA HAWAII Hunter Armstrong, 315 Foothills Dr., Sedona, AZ 86336.

USA S-CENTRAL John Ray, 1909 Archer Trail, Denton TX, 76201.

USA WEST COAST Bill Howell, 2525 NE 23rd St. Portland Oregon, 97212.

SEMINAR/EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

2nd Annual Harvard Invitiational Kendo Tournament

I am sending this to update everyone on the details of the coming tournament. First of all, as the subject indicates, the official name of the tournament will be "The 2nd Annual Harvard Invitiational Shoryuhai Collegiate Kendo Tournament." The tournament will be held on April 4th and 5th. The tournament entrance fee will be $10 per person. The winners of the intercollegiate team competition will have their school's name inscribed on the cup which has been commissioned for the tournament by Prime Minister Hashimoto of Japan. The winning team MUST be made up of only undergraduates currently enroled at the college sponsoring the team. Teams may be co-ed. Mixed teams of students from different colleges or teams including graduate students, etc. may compete in the tournament, but such teams cannot win the intercollegiate title. Competing teams should plan to arrive here the night of April 3^rd. If there is sufficient interest, we will also hold an individual tournament, which will be open to all competitors. As of yet, there are no prizes set aside for the individual competition.

If there is sufficient interest, we will also have an individual competition which will be separate from the cup and open to anyone who wishes to compete. We have just been informed that Tokio Marine co. will be donating shinai as gifts for the top finishers in each tournament. As the tournament is drawing close, it is essential that I receive a confirmation from each team that will be entering the tournament, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Please also send a short description of the history of your club, which we will include in the tournament program. I hope this includes answers to any questions about the tournament. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may still have.

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~kendo

Adam Steinert

Vice President,

Harvard-Radcliffe Kendo Club

Shinkendo Seminar - Oakland, California

Oakland, California - 4-5 April, 1998

The Suigetsukan Dojo is sponsoring Shinkendo and Aikido workshops with Obata Sensei in the Oakland area on April 4th and 5th. The workshops will take place in the Laney College Gym. Our registration mailings haven't gone out yet, so if you are interested, send me or Jorin Bukosky Sensei (jorin@fatnet.net) an e-mail with your address, or you can call the Suigetsukan at (510) 452-3941. The Shinkendo and Aikido seminars will be for all ranks and styles. Please bring bokens only for these seminars.

Patrick Muldoon

IKF Referee Seminar in Toronto, Canada

In preparation of the 11th World Kendo Championships (Year 2000), the IKF will be having at least two (2) referee seminars in North America. The first of these seminars is being held in Toronto, Canada and is scheduled for April 11 & 12, 1998 (Los Angeles will be the proposed site for Spring 1999).

To qualify for consideration as a 11WKC referee:

1) Participants must attend at least two (2) IKF sponsored seminars. (Seminars in Asia or European zones also qualify.)

2) Must be a member of CKF, AUSKF or other IKF affiliated country.

3) Must be rank 5 dan or above, between ages 35 to 70 during 11WKC.

4) Must be engaged in regular Kendo training and refereeing.

This seminar will be held at:

Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) 123 Wynford Drive

Don Mills, Ontario, Canada

Tel: (416) 441-2345

Accommodations may be made at: Radisson Hotel 1250 Eglinston Ave. East

Tel: (416) 449-4111

Inquire about Canadian Kendo Federation rate = $82 cdn/Dbl. Occupancy

Note: Kenshi who are 3 & 4 Dan, may attend and observe the seminar, however, they may only be asked to participate (bring bogu) as mock competitors.

Contact your national federation for registration.

AUSKF: (DEADLINE: April 4, 1998)

Tim Yuge

PO Box 2004

Lomita, CA 90717

Fax: (310) 543-2489

or (213) 740-5737

CKF

Roy Asa

205 Riviera Dr. Unit #1,

Markham, Ont. Canada L3R 5J8

TEL: 416-445-1481

FAX: 416-445-0519

IMAF SEMINAR IN SAN DIEGO

The IMAF (Kokusai Budoin) is having a seminar in San Diego on May 15, 16 and 17. It will be sponsored by Jerry Devine, Director of the Martial Arts Museum of America and Chief Instructor of Pacific Martial Arts. The first day is usually testing and meetings with seminars starting on Saturday and continuing through Sunday.

Among the featured instructors will be:

Tadao Ochiai Sensei, Hanshi 9th dan Muso Jikkiden Eishin Ryu Iaido; Shihan, Kokusai Budoin Iaido Division

Shizuya Sato Sensei, Chief Director, Kokusai Budoin, Japan; Hanshi 9th dan, Nihon Jujutsu; Hanshi 8th dan, Judo

Ikuo Higuchi Sensei, Kyoshi 8th dan; Chief Instructor, Gima Ha Shoto Ryu karatedo; Kyoshi 7th dan Kobudo

Hugh Davey Sensei, Kyoshi 7th dan, Sennin Budo Ryu Aiki-jujutsu; Kyoshi, Nihon Jujutsu; Branch Director, Kokusai Budoin (U.S.A.), Director, Sennin Foundation

Please contact me if you wish further information at <mikehu@wacad.org> or contact Jerry Devine at <pmafsd@home.com> or 619-299-8650.

Thanks,

Mike Cimino-Hurt

BKA EVENTS

Iaido and Jodo seminar March 21 to 22 venue Watchet Somerset England Contact me for details.

Iaido Seminar August 5th to 9th with Haruna sensei and Oshita sensei details from : Mr V Cook Iaido Bucho British Kendo Association

I will send his address direct to interested parties , we will be holding an Iaido grading up to Yondan details from Mr P Wells BKA grading Officer same rules as above folks.

Keith K Hazlewood

Membership Secretary British Kendo Association

Tel 0171.515.8653 Pager 01523.128608

Fax 0171.531.6362 E Mail bka@dircon.co.uk

US Naginata Federation

The USNF Board of Directors has approved the proposal from the [regional] Rocky Mountain Naginata Federation to host the 1998 Biennial Tournament and Annual Seminar & Shinsa. The dates are 6-9 August 1998, and the location is Weber State University in Salt Lake City, Utah. As always beginners are welcome to attend the Seminar.

The Unison Way Kendo & Iaido

Invitation to Grand Opening Ceremony and Seminar

The Unison Way Martial Arts Centre cordially invite all Kendoka and Iaidoka, 3-Dan and higher, to a weekend of Kendo and Iaido seminars, being held to celebrate the official grand opening of this new martial arts centre. The seminars will be held under the supervision of Narasaki Hanshi 9-Dan, Nakanishi Hanshi 9-Dan, and Haga Hanshi 8-Dan, and will be an opportunity for participants to practice with some of the best Kendo and Iaido teachers in the world.

Date:

May 23 & 24, 1998 (Saturday & Sunday)

Place:

The Unison Way Martial Arts Centre

238 Fell Avenue (Marine Drive at Fell Avenue)

North Vancouver, BC V7P 2J9

Canada

Special Guests:

Narasaki Kendo Hanshi 9-Dan

Nakanishi Kendo Hanshi 9-Dan, Iaido Hanshi 8-Dan

Haga Kendo Hanshi 8-Dan, Iaido Hanshi 8-Dan

Schedule of Events:

Saturday, May 23, 1998

9:00 am Iaido Seminar

1:00 pm Grand Opening Ceremony:

Kendo Kata Demonstration to be performed by Narasaki Hanshi and Nakanishi Hanshi

Iaido Demonstration to be performed by Haga Hanshi

4:00 pm General Practice:

Kendo in Main Dojo (2nd Floor)

Iaido in Second Dojo (1st Floor)

Sunday, May 24, 1998

9:00 am Kendo Kata Seminar

1:00 am Kendo Seminar:

Lecture and explanations of reasoning behind waza and various techniques 4:00 pm General Practice

6:00 pm Dinner Party

Also, in addition to the special guests mentioned above, 10 to 20 other Kendo / Iaido Hanshi are expected to participate in the seminars and general practices.

Please note that participants are restricted to those with 3-Dan or higher. Permission has been granted to allow those people who hold less than 3 Dan to participate based on the following, however, one must be forewarned that people with 3 Dan or higher do have priority.

1. Amount of 'space' available

2. Person's rank held (higher rank has priority)

3. Time of application (ie. first-come first-served basis)

For those people who have been interested previously, but did not meet the 3 Dan or higher requirement, this presents an excellent opportunity. For those who would like to participate, please send enrollment information as per the initial invitation letter. All people enrolled will receive a confirmation message.

In addition, The Unison Way reserves the right to limit the number of "spectators" or "observers" as there will not be enough space to accomodate everyone safely.

Please email Suguru Asaoka <sasaoka@direct.ca> if there are any questions, and thank you in advance for your interest in this event.

All participants are required to bring their own iaito, bokuto, and kendo equipment.

All who wish to participate are requested to mail, fax, or e-mail the following information to the contact information below:

Full Name

Full Address

Telephone Number

Rank

Fax Number (if applicable)

E-mail address (if applicable)

Contact Information:

The Unison Way Kendo and Iaido

238 Fell Avenue

North Vancouver, BC V7P 2J9

Canada

Tel: (604) 525-5080

Fax: (604) 520-5999

E-mail: sasaoka@direct.ca

Attention: Suguru Asaoka

All applicants will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis, up to a maximum of 150 participants total. The application deadline is April 30, 1998. The participation fee is US $70.00 or CDN $ 100.00, which includes costs for 2 lunches and the dinner party.

Payment would be greatly appreciated by the application deadline. For those who require accomodation, the following places are located approximately 5 minutes away by car. It would be greatly appreciated if accomodation arrangements can be made by the individual participants.

Best Western Capilano Inn & Suites 1634 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver, BC Tel: (604) 987-8185 Reservations: 1-800-528-1234

Grouse Inn 1633 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver, BC

Tel: (604) 988-7101 Reservations: 1-800-779-7888

Holiday Inn Express Van. Northshore 1800 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver, BC Tel: (604) 987-4461 Reservations: 1-800-HOLIDAY

The Canyon Court Motel 1748 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver, BC Tel: (604) 988-3181 Reservations: Call Collect to Previous Number

If there are any questions, please feel free to fax or e-mail any enquiries to the above contact information.

IAIDO PRACTICE TOPS

100% cotton, sized to you and supplied at cost through the Sei Do Kai. $70 (includes postage). Black or white, other colours may be extra. Measure the chest size at nipple height, shoulder point to shoulder point, and from neck to mid-thigh. Send your measurements to Sei Do Kai. 44 Inkerman St. Guelph, Ontario Canada N1H 3C5.

CKF NEWS

TWO NEW CKF CLUBS

Tateyama Kendo and Iaido Club

President Mr. Frank Blander

Chief Instructor Dr. Christian D'Orangeville

907 169 Lees Ave

Ottawa Ont

K1S 5M2

Tel 613-565-3958

FAX 613-565-0331

The Union Way Kendo Club

President Mr. Daniel Lo

Chief Instructor Mr. Mitsuru Asaoka

238 Fell Ave

North Vancouver BC

Tel 604-525-5080

FAX 604-520-5999

As of March 8, 1998 the CKF consists of 35 Kendo and Iaido clubs across Canada

AJKF DELEGATION OPEN PRACTICE

All Japan Kendo Federation Delegation - Open Practice May 18, 1998

A delegation of kendo instructors from the AJKF will be visiting British Columbia and inviting all members to an open practice May 18 at the Steveston Martial Arts Centre from 7 to 8:30 pm. The delegation will be represented by Mr. Y. Nakajima hanshi 8dan, Mr. T. Kumamoto, hanshi 8dan, Mr. K. Nishimura hanshi 8dan, Mr. C. Ichiyanagi kyoshi 7dan, Mr. A. Komatsu kyoshi 7dan, Mr. K Shimojima kyoshi 7dan, and Mrs. M. Chiba 5dan. We welcome all members to participate. For further information contact Mr. Bob Takagaki, TEL 604-273-8038.

UNION WAY KENDO DOJO GRAND OPENING

The Union Way Dojo will be conducting its grand opening ceremony and special kendo seminars at the Union Way Martial Arts Centre, 238 Fell Ave. North Vancouver, BC on May 23 and 24. Special guests include Mr. Narasaki kendo hanshi 9dan, Mr. Nakanishi kendo hanshi 9dan and iaido hanshi 8dan, and Mr. Haga kendo and iaido hanshi 8dan.

The seminars and general practices are open to kendoka of 3dan or greater. Registration is required. For further information contact Mr. Suguru Asaoka at 604-525-5080 or FAX 604-520-5999. This is a great opportunity to study and learn from great teachers in both kendo and iaido.

QUEBEC OPEN KENDO CHAMPIONSHIPS

The date for the 1998 Quebec Open Kendo Championships has been confirmed for June 13 1998. For further details contact Hiroshi Awaga sensei at 418-651-5224 or FAX 418-651-8627.

SEMINAR REPORTS

Northern California Naginata Federation's New Year's Day Keiko

by Raymond Sosnowski, NH

Introduction. Along with my wife and daughter, I had the pleasure of spending my winter holidays in CA with some of my wife's family. On New Year's Day, Ms. Miyako Tanaka (Kyoshi) held a three-hour long, afternoon practice session in El Cerrito, CA, for the local practitioners of the NCNF (Northern California Naginata Federation) which I attended. The practice was lead by Ms. Midori Yasui (Renshi), who was visiting from Japan. [The next day, Tanaka-sensei and Yasui-sensei flew to New York to instruct at the Naginata seminar at Southampton, Long Island, NY, on the 3rd and 4th. Although I had originally planned to attend, family commitments and the logistics of travel did not permit me to attend.]

Ten other practitioners from the local area attended. Practice was followed by a pot-luck supper at Tanaka-sensei's home nearby. It was nice to renew old ties with these NCNF practitioners, and with Yasui-sensei whom I had met during the seminar and USNF (United States Naginata Federation) tournament and seminar in August, 1996.

Practice. The New Year's Keiko was held at the El Cerrito Community Center where Tanaka-sensei holds some of her regular classes. After bowing in, Yasui-sensei led the group in a spirited session of Ashi-sabaki (foot work) and Happo Buri (literally "eight swings," ako warm up and stretching using the competition-style Naginata). Sensei introduced us to a variation of Jo-ge Buri (overhead swing), which is normally done in place; the variation included a initial step forward on the first swing followed by a step back on the second swing, and then the sequence repeated (this variation was done for both the right- and left-hand sides).

For pair practice, we did Shikake--Oogi #1 through #5. We paired up, did the prescribed routines, and then shifted to the right to pick up a new partner (like Kotai in Kendo). Everyone had several opportunities to work with Yasui-sensei. Tanaka-sensei made corrections of the other pairs as needed. In the second half of this practice, Yasui-sensei had each person in each pair critique their partner after having practiced both roles (Shikake, who initiates the attack, and Oogi, who resolves the attack) of the prescribed Oyo Waza (applied techniques) -- Shikake-Oogi is not considered to be Kata, at least not formal Kata, but rather Oyo Waza.

For the final portion of the practice, we divided into two groups, Yudansha (black belts) and Dangai (under-black belts). The Yudansha worked on Shikake--Oogi #6 through #8, and then Sandan and above worked on the Zen Nihon Naginata Renmei Kata. For the Dangai, two of the difficult Waza from Shikake--Oogi #1 through #5 were practiced in isolation.

From Shikake--Oogi #3, there is a technique called Makiotoshi (flicking down). Oogi intercepts a Shomen Uchi so that the two Ha-bu (bamboo blades) are touching, Shinogi (side of the blade) to Shinogi, at the Monouchi; Oogi then slide steps back, bringing the Naginata down while turning the E-bu (shaft) so that the Sori (curvature) along the Mune (back of the blade) helps to accelerate Shikake's Naginata down [thus creating an opening for an Uchi Waza (offensive technique), Shomen Uchi in this case]. The trick to Makiotoshi is to keep everything relaxed. Lots of practice needed here; there is a tendency to use too much upper body strength (I'm guilty).

From Shikake--Oogi #5, there is a technique called E-harai (knock away with the E-bu). Again Oogi intercepts a Shomen Uchi so that the two Ha-bu are touching, Shinogi to Shinogi, at the Monouchi; Oogi steps forward then back on the opposite foot (changing sides while remaining in the same place) while bring the Ishizuki (butt) end of the E-bu in an upward diagonal arc across the body. The result is that Oogi's E-bu impacts Shikake's Naginata at the Ha-bu, knocking it off the center line [thus creating an opening for an Uchi Waza, a Tsuki (thrust) with the Ishizuki to the Do (the side of the torso above the hip) in this case]. The trick to E-harai is to keep everything relaxed while coordinating stepping with the arm motions. Lots of practice needed here too; there is a also tendency to use too much upper body strength (I'm guilty again). It is quite a humbling experience to see diminutive women execute this technique with grace, precision and power. [Practice, practice, practice, ....]

Party. After practice, we changed and went to Tanaka-sensei's home nearby. We had a pot luck supper, and Sensei served a traditional Japanese New Year's soup, Zouni made with Miso (crushed, fermented soybeans) and Kiri-mochi (square pieces of plain, white, pounded rice cakes). Yasui-sensei had brought "sweet potato jerky" with her from Japan; it has a pleasant taste and texture, but it looks rather odd at first glance.

For "entertainment," we watched the videotape of Ms. Jill Crandall called "The Naginata at Its Best," a 1990 production of Tonfa Master Enterprises headed by Mr. Clifford Crandall (Jill's husband). The attendees were roughly split with respect to those who had previously seen it and those who had not. We were indeed entertained -- this so-called "Omou Kata" is unlike anything we had ever seen [and several of these people have trained in Japan in Atarashii Naginata and Koryu.] It looked like a long, eclectic solo Kata for Rokushaku Bo (six-foot long staff) that someone decided would be more impressive if a "nah-ga-nah-ta" were used: it had front and overhead baton-like (hand-over-hand to twirl the shaft) movements, high kicks, and even Zempo Kaiten Ukemi (front roll) which really looked more like a somersault. [Our own Mr. Bob Peterson (Yondan) donated this copy to the USNF library.] It has good "entertainment" value, but no Budo value (In My Humble Opinion).

Thanks. While with family in Sunnyvale, I met with Ms. Malyne Chiu (Renshi) at a local park in Sunnyvale for an afternoon of private coaching in Atarashii Naginata; later, my wife and I meet her, her husband and her son for an early evening meal at a local restuarant. Thank you to the Chius for everything. Thanks also to Mr. Kurt Schmucker (Yondan) for the ride to and from El Cerrito, and for providing a long Naginata for me to practice with. Thanks to the Garretts for the wine (it survived the long plane ride back in my keiko-gi bag). Thanks to Tanaka-sensei for the practice and the party afterwards, and thanks to Yasui-sensei for being there and leading the practice. I look forward to seeing you all soon (mid-March).

36th ANNUAL STEVESTON KENDO TOURNAMENT

- February 14, 1998

9 Years and Under

1st place - T. Young, Sunrise

2nd place - Y. Nakamura, Steveston

3rd place - R. Campbell, Steveston

3rd place - S. Maruno, Renbu

10 to 12 Years

1st place - J. LeClair, Sunrise

2nd place - A. Akitaya, Vancouver

3rd place - N. Park, NCKF

3rd place - S. Inoue, Sunrise

13 to 15 Years

1st place - K. Chinen, SCKF

2nd place - S. Tomimatsu, SCKF

3rd place - M. Omura, SCKF

3rd place - N. Fukushima, Vancouver

Ladies

1st place - Y. Sugiyama, Renbu

2nd place - W. Nakano, Steveston

3rd place - N. Fukudome, U Victoria

3rd place - M. Taguchi, Sunrise

Non-Degree

1st place - J. Chiang, SCKF

2nd place - R. Chen, Sunrise

3rd place - C. Nojiri, Bellevue

3rd place - N. Sunderland, UW

1st and 2nd Dan

1st place - D. Yang, SCKF

2nd place - K. Kinno, SCKF

3rd place - Y. Kitajima, SCKF

3rd place - A. Akitaya, Vancouver

3rd Dan and Above

1st place - S. Asaoka, Sunrise

2nd place - B. Shirahama, Renbu

3rd place - C. Yang, SCKF

3rd place - A. Shirran, Sunrise

Junior Team

1st place - SCKF

2nd place - Sunrise

Senior Team

1st place - Sunrise

2nd place - Steveston

Yearly subscriptions (12 issues) to the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts are $36 cdn in Canada, $36 US in USA, and $48 overseas. Subscriptions, stories, news, views, and anything else should be sent to Kim Taylor Editor JJSA, 44 Inkerman St. Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1H 3C5.

COMMON SENSE KORYU:

by Meik Skoss Pittsburgh, PA

Recently on the internet chat groups there have been some rather heated discussions with regard to "legitimacy" or learning koryu from a master (?) or something to that effect. Also, there was some stuff about "practical application" vs. the "art for art's sake" approach to training and (the perennial) kata vs. shiai vs. waza vs. tameshigiri discussion.

I dunno about the need to learn from a "master" if one wishes to study budo in a "legitimate" fashion. I kind of doubt there are many, if any, "masters" around, regardless of their rank or title. I probably have a jaundiced view of this, having lived and trained in Japan where kodansha (lit. people with high rank) aren't at all uncommon, but I don't think dan rank or shogo titles really have all that much importance in the cosmic scheme of things. Is the rank "real" or honorary or, heaven forfend! self-awarded, or...? Does a rank really, *truly* guarantee that an individual is a competent technician, an inspiring teacher or, sad to say, even a good person?

I guess that menkyo, dan-i or shogo *should* be objective criteria for both technical ability and pedagogical experience, but the truth is that ranking is a very subjective process. It's sad, but there've been many instances where people have received both rank and teaching titles in modern arts and have not really fulfilled the requirements. In koryu, it's even less objective. That's as it should be, I think, since there are no tests for licenses and each ryu or school is a particular case. All one can do, really, is examine the teacher or training hall carefully and exercise one's best judgement. Is the situation one where you would feel comfortable? Are you comfortable about placing yourself at the physical and psychological mercy of the teacher and senior students? Would you be comfortable if the teacher(s) or senior students of the dojo were to visit your home as guests, to meet members of your family, or teach your children? I don't think that one need answer "yes" to all these questions, but I believe you see where I am going with this: people can probably get a pretty good idea of a teacher's competence (technical and teaching) just by observing training several times.

How to judge? Well, the Oriental martial arts have the cachet of being exotic and super-duper potent. A lot of that's just hype from the media. Here in North America, we're all reasonably familiar with boxing and wrestling, and a lot of us have a minimal degree of knowledge and skill with archery and shooting and there are lots of parallels/equivalents with the Oriental martial arts. Use common sense. My criteria for both weapons and unarmed arts are: does the teacher/exponent know what he's doing with his body? Does he have physical openings or mental lapses in his technique? Is he in good physical condition? Has he got a good fighting

spirit? What is he like mentally and spiritually? (That sounds warm and fuzzy, I suppose, but I'm talking about how I judge budo types) Can and do I trust someone, both personally and technically? If so, then I'd like to train with him (or her).

If it's a classical art, there are definite criteria one can apply as to who is a legitimate instructor. Teachers are usually licensed. Examples of this would be Shinto Muso-ryu, Tenjin Shinyo-ryu, and Toda-ha Buko-ryu.

Where the headmasters or teachers don't generally issue old-style licenses but instead have adopted a dan-kyu ranking system (the Hontai Yoshin-ryu and Daito-ryu come most immediately to mind), their students are authorized to teach.

Sometimes koryu will issue both a dan rank and a license. Tatsumi-ryu does this.

There are also a couple of koryu (Tendo-ryu and the main line of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu are cases of this sort) where a headmaster doesn't or hasn't or won't issue a license, per se, but does authorize certain people to teach. As I've said several places before, it's a "case by case" situation.

That's assuming the system is, indeed, a classical one. There are a number of erstwhile koryu that are either using legitimate names (but are really only the [re-]creations of some wannabe) or using legitimate-*sounding* names. It's really strange, but it's like a religious belief system. When the folks from these homegrown schools ask me or my colleagues at the International Hoplological Society to check out some ryu and it isn't what they want to hear, they say that they "just wanted more information, that they're perfectly satisfied about the lineage/validity of their school and teacher." In that case, why ask?

So, if somebody's got a bee in their bonnet to study a koryu, they'll need to do some homework about the classical schools to determine what it is they'll be looking at (read Draeger's books, Pascal Krieger's book on jo, Reid and Croucher's book based on the BBC series, and, *Koryu Bujutsu* [our book, though I'm saying it as shouldn't] for reliable information), ask around, go to the dojo and observe training. There aren't too many people who have spent enough time in Japan to have been fully certified, and the few who have are generally pretty careful about who they take on as students, but I reckon it will be worth it to those who are interested enough to make the effort.

BUDO VS BUJUTSU

Re: training for the sake of personal discipline and training for practicality, what's the big deal? Nobody, regardless of the provenance or curriculum of the particular ryu, is really doing *bujutsu* per se. The ONLY exceptions are people who're in the military, law enforcement, private security, or work of this sort, where they actually need these martial skills to do their jobs. The rest of us are doing *budo*--training for a number or reasons, in different ways, but not for the immediate practical use of the skills.

*All* the koryu teachers in Japan with whom I trained, passing on traditions that have existed for hundreds of years, are acutely aware of the heritage and original purpose for these arts. At the same time, they

are completely cognizant (and grateful) of the fact that there is little or no likelihood of their art ever being used for "practical" purposes: nobody's gonna go out to slice 'n dice on a battlefield. At least not exactly. Many lessons gained from budo training, especially in the classical systems, are relevant today. There are a number of immediate benefits of training (physical and mental exercise and social interaction) that are beneficial in their own right. We also gain critical awareness in learning to perceive, discriminate and react to danger.

This is due, I think, to a biological foundation: we're "programmed" or "hard-wired" to respond to physical danger or imminent threat in ways over which we've little conscious control. Modern weapons, firearms and highly sophisticated systems have outpaced our inherent traits and abilities. It behooves us to look to our roots and adapt what we already have to meet conditions today. The training methods in Japanese koryu and arts of Southeast and South Asia (and those of the few surviving traditional occidental combat systems) were empirically derived and refined over many generations. They suit us all the way down to our endocrinal, musclular and nervous systems. I think, if people train correctly, all of these benefits will accrue. So why not just get on with it and not worry about all this UFC or Ninja Turtle stuff?

KATA VS. SHIAI VS. TAMESHIGIRI:

This is the same as above. Kata are not special, really, just your basic training

drill. A kata in iai, a takedown drill in wrestling, or a flight or driving simulation. Waza, technique, is what happens when you train really hard, especially in randori or ji geiko; occasionally, if you're lucky, all of the basic and applied principles and techniques manifest themselves in a spontaneous manner that is exactly "right" for the situation. Shiai and tameshigiri are just other forms of training. Sure, competition in a martial art, budo as sport, has extrinsic motivations and rewards, but that's a special case, applicable mainly in society today. Shiai, as first conceived back in the Sengoku Jidai, was only another type of training method. If you examine the Chinese characters you can see it very clearly. Shi/tamesu, is a word that means "to try, examine, or (put to the) test." Ai/awaseru, means "to meet or to join." Thus, shiai is a "meeting to examine/try (out)/test one's technique." By extension, it has come to mean an athletic contest. But back in the good old days, when Real Men wore pleated skirts and waved swords and sticks as part of their job description, it was a little more involved.

GUELPH SCHOOL OF JAPANESE SWORD ARTS

July 17-20. Shiai, Koryu, Iai, Lectures

GUELPH SPRING IAIDO SEMINAR

May 16-19, Ide sensei 8dan Jodo and MSR Iai, Haruna sensei 7dan MJER Iai and Oshita sensei 7dan MJER Iai.

FROM THE SEI DO KAI PRESS

IAIDO MANUALS

BBI-1 KIM'S BIG BOOK OF IAIDO (I):The Manual

8X11" 108 pgs. Kim Taylor:

BBI-2 KIM'S BBI (II): Seitei Gata

8x11" 100 pgs. Kim Taylor

BBI-3 KIM'S BBI (III): Omori Ryu

8x11" 94 pgs. Kim Taylor

BBI-4 KIM'S BBI (IV): Eishin Ryu

8x11" 127 pgs. Kim Taylor

BBI-5 KIM'S BBI (V): Oku Iai

8x11" 100 pgs. Kim Taylor

OTHER BOOKS

PH-1 SONGS OF THE SWORD

5X8" 100 pgs. by Kim Taylor

SD-1 RESISTING SEXUAL ASSAULT

8x11" 130 pgs. by Kim Taylor

SD-2 STUDENT GUIDE TO SELF DEFENCE

8x11" 150 pgs. by Kim Taylor

VIDEO TAPES

VHS/NTSC format only.

VID-1 SEITEI GATA IAI 1993

VID-2 SPRING SEMINAR/TACHI UCHI NO KURAI

VID-3 THE 1994 SENIOR CLASS, SEITEI GATA

VID-4 THE 1994 SENIOR CLASS, KORYU

VID-5 CKF YUDANSHA GRADINGS 1991, 1992

VID-6 CKF YUDANSHA GRADINGS 1993

VID-7 CKF YUDANSHA GRADINGS 1994

VID-8 CKF YUDANSHA GRADINGS 1995

VID-9 THE 1993 UG SUMMER IAIDO SEMINAR

VID-10 THE 1995 JOHN RAY SEMINAR AT UG - 1

VID-11 THE 1995 JOHN RAY SEMINAR AT UG - 2

VID-12 1994 SEMINAR WITH HARUNA SENSEI

VID-13 OMORI RYU AND SENIOR CLASS 1995

VID-14 1996 SEMINAR WITH HARUNA SENSEI

VID-15 CKF YUDANSHA GRADINGS 1996

VID-16 TACHI UCHI NO KURAI (includes material from VID-2)

VID-17 CKF YUDANSHA GRADINGS 1997

COMPANION VIDEO TAPES TO THE BBI MANUALS

VIDBBI-1 BEGINNING IAIDO I

VIDBBI-2 BEGINNING IAIDO II

VIDBBI-3 SEITEI GATA IAIDO

VIDBBI-4 MUSO JIKIDEN EISHIN RYU SEIZA NO BU

VIDBBI-5 MJER TATE HIZA NO BU

VIDBBI-6 MJER OKU IAI IWAZA

JJSA Journal of Japanese Sword Arts $36 Cdn in Canada,

$36 US in USA, $48 overseas.

JINX-1 IAI JINX WRITING CARDS

SEI DO KAI ORDER FORM

Please send me:

BBI-1. $30 __

BBI-2. $30 __

BBI-3. $30 __

BBI-4. $30 __

BBI-5. $30 __

BBI-SET. $120 __

JINX-1 $7 __

PH-1. $17 __

SD-1. $25 __

SD-2. $25 __

SD-SET. (1&2)$45 __

JJSA $36 __ Can/USA

$48 __ Overseas

VID-1. $25 __

VID-2. $25 __

VID-3. $25 __

VID-4. $25 __

VID-5. $25 __

VID-6. $25 __

VID-7. $25 __

VID-8. $25 __

VID-9. $25 __

VID-10. $25 __

VID-11. $25 __

VID-12. $25 __

VID-13. $25 __

VID-14. $25 __

VID-15. $25 __

VID-16. $25 __

VID-17. $25 __

Any 5 Vid tapes $100 __

VIDBBI-1. $25 __

VIDBBI-2. $25 __

VIDBBI-3. $25 __

VIDBBI-4. $25 __

VIDBBI-5. $25 __

VIDBBI-6. $25 __

6 Vidbbi tapes $150 __

TOTAL $_____

Address:

Prices include postage, Send order form to: Kim Taylor 44 Inkerman St. Guelph Ontario N1H 3C5. Payment in Canadian or US funds. Make checks or money orders payable to Kim Taylor or to Sei Do Kai Iaido.

For price quotes on weapons contact Kim Taylor at the above address,

tel 519-836-4357, or email kataylor@uoguelph.ca