From My kendo comics (facebook page)

Yesterday I became shodan. I would not have been able to do it without all the help from my senseis and dojo mates.

Thank you all, 🙂

Misbehaving. Apologies until this gets fixed.

Interesting post on liability insurance and its effect on recent kendo activities in the US.

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Nagasaku sensei from Japan paid a visit to our dojo last Tuesday.

He was a hit with the kids.

I learned the following advice from him:

When doing kendo:
1. Since we can only do kendo with an opponent we must always respect each other. We must help each other do better kendo.
2. “Eye to eye”. Always look your opponent in the eye.
3. “Left hand always center”.
4. Power comes from left foot up thru hips, up thru the back thru left arm and then wrist.
5. In kirikaeshi open up chest and hit with back.
6. “Kihon is keiko and keiko is kihon”. To expand further: kihon = keiko = shiai = shinsa. Everything is practice.
7. Maintain the intensity throughout practice, keiko.
8. Do not give up kendo.

Time to review kata:

Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho

Nihon kendo kata:

Arigato gozaimashita! sensei.

I’m sad. One of my first senseis, Takeshi Ichiba, renshi 6th dan is returning to Japan.

I will always remember him for his attention to basic technique and importance of details and form. He always had a compliment before the constructive criticism.

I will miss him but hope to see him again someday.