Kendo in Montreal?

[Inetaro]

Hi!

This is my first post on the KW forum, my name is Inetaro nice to meet you. I was wondering if maybe some of the Canadian posters could help, my parents might be moving to Montreal and I was wondering if anyone knew any clubs to recommend. Is there alot of Junior Kendo there? It would be great to practice with teenagers my age.

Thanks!!!

[Stan]

Hi Inetaro,

You are very welcome to join us at the Montreal Kendo Club (www.montrealkendoclub.com). We have only one junior in our club but I am certain he would like some company. And we are trying to recruit more juniors to our club. However; if you prefer there is a club at McGill where the average age of the participants is younger than at our club. I am certain that some of the "posters" from that club will fill you in about their club. Rest assured that you would be welcomed in our club. Good Luck

Stan

[AlexM]

Inetaro,

You can come practice at McGill if you wish. We do have one of the youngest clubs in the city (and the best floor I might add ;) ).
If you need to know our practice location there's a map at www.mcgillkendo.ca. For practice times please send me a PM and I can fill you in (it depends when you'll be moving to town, if you do move).

Montreal Kendo Club is good as well (as is Université de Montréal) but you will find more people your age (according to your profile) at McGill. Of course all this might depend on what part of town you live in too.

[kendokamax]

you guys forgot one club...

tsss

[Inetaro]

Hi!

Wow thanks for the quick reply... I don't know what final plans are but thank you for the information.

-Stan: Only one Junior? Practice must be tough at Montreal Kendo Club! How old is he/she? Does Ono Sensei still teach at Montreal Kendo club?

-AlexM: Thanks for the information! It looks like a really happy club :)

-Kendokamax: Which dojo is that?

[Stan]

Inetaro,

The kid is turning twelve and actually we have another kid who is 17 but he will be in Japan all summer. Yeah practice is tough at the MKC, after we hit you men we go after your family(LOL). Like I wrote earlier, you are welcome at our club but if you choose otherwise at least come by and have a keiko with us.

Stan

[kendokamax]

ya you can practice in different club!

its always fun!


....cant wait to fight the 17 years old kid in japan!

[AlexM]

Originally posted by Stan
Yeah practice is tough at the MKC, after we hit you men we go after your family(LOL).

Stan

He's not kidding. I beat on of their guys the other day and woke up the next morning with a horse's head under the covers. :eek:

Seriously,

Should we expect you in town any time soon? Just PM or send an email to mcgillkendo@yahoo.com (either way you're talking to the same person).

Max is right (for once). It's good to go around to different dojo when in a city. All the dojo in town (all 3 of them... yes I know that's a pitifull number) have good relations amongst themselves (that is to say we don't hate each other...)

Also, I don't think anyone would object if you "tried" out the clubs before choosing to join one or another either. Visit, see what you like.

At McGill Kendo we only look happy: on the inside we're dark, depressing and vindictive people... oh sorry, that's just me.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by AlexM

Max is right (for once). It's good to go around to different dojo when in a city. All the dojo in town (all 3 of them... yes I know that's a pitifull number) have good relations amongst themselves (that is to say we don't hate each other...)

I'm glad to hear that, I know there used to be problems years ago.

[kendokamax]

Originally posted by Neil Gendzwill

I'm glad to hear that, I know there used to be problems years ago.

yes i think things are getting so much better betweens clubs here, everyone knows everyone and we are all trying to improve.....I guess you know Martin. It is mostly because of him that people started to go train in other clubs. I did it, other started to do it too. As an example the 17 years old kid trains in 2 dojo frequently.


Sorry to people who dont give a damn about kendo in canada!

[Inetaro]

Hi!

This sounds like a great idea, all of the clubs are pretty close together I suppose? Wow training in 2 clubs?? He must be really dedicated to Kendo, where about in Japan will he be going? I used to live near Chiba... that was long time ago though

-AlexM: I really dont know for sure but probably after summer vacation.

-Neil: What kind of problems before?

Thanks!

Inetaro

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by Inetaro

-Neil: What kind of problems before?

Just politics, sounds like it's all sorted out so that's great!

[Stan]

Originally posted by Inetaro
Hi!

This sounds like a great idea, all of the clubs are pretty close together I suppose? Wow training in 2 clubs?? He must be really dedicated to Kendo, where about in Japan will he be going? I used to live near Chiba... that was long time ago though
Inetaro

He is going to several places but one of which is in Nagano. The Montreal Kendo Club has some friends there. And yes he is quite dedicated to improving his kendo. Some members from the club in Japan may be visiting our club this summer for some kendo and fishin'. Talking about fishin...AlexM when are you and I going to hit some of the nearby rivers/lakes...musky season isn't until the fall though.

Stan

[AlexM]

Inetaro,

After the summer is when we get all the newbies in so that would be fine... in the summer we're a bit more lax and we have less people (it's a University dojo so people return home for the summer months). Although we still practice in the summer. When did you get your shodan by the way? Maybe we graded at the same time last December? At any rate you'll be with the "advanced/intermediate" class if you join (that just means you practice more not less).

As for fishing....
This weekend I'm going to Réserve Portneuf for four days (will miss two practices.. sniff). I will slay many trout (or rather just some to eat... decided to do more releasing this year).
We must set up a little expedition.. although everyone is pushing me to take them fishing these days... As if I do what the hell I'm doing.

[doubissu]

FYI, there used to be a class for kids at U de Montreal as well (although it was rather chaotic due to the age spread (6 to 15 yrs old or so). You might also want to take into account the fact that practice there is 100% French. No big deal but something to consider.

About cross-dojo practice in Mtl, in my mind it's the only way you're going to get close to a decent competitive level (if that's what you're interested in); my main camp was UdeM, but often went to McGill, Isshin, Marianopolis & Shidokan (both closed now). As it was then (7-8 yrs ago) and I'm sure it is still now, UdeM teaches a very funky kendo. Those who know Richard G. will agree... Far from traditional, but somewhat effective. On the other hand McGill is a whole lot more fundemental kendo, thanks to Christian D, my #1 kendoka in Mtl.

I think the other 2 or 3 dojos tend to be quite a bit less open minded than the 2 University dojos. You probably won't progress as quickly there. Maybe things have changed though...

Eddy

[doubissu]

Can someone tell me when was the last time Christian D and Gilles V were seen in the same room together ?? Huh ? When the 2 heads of kendo in Mtl/Que can't even talk to each other without yelling, it tells me that things are not yet cool...

Have things really changed ?? I think not, and they won't as long as the same people are heading each dojos. Fortunately most (but not all) dojos encourage visiting around. But don't suggest "official" visits where the whole group goes to another dojo. That's way too threatening for the little minds at work.

When we organized the first quebec open (and then the Canadians) a few years back, it was an exercise in patience, with all the Mtl senseis disagreeing on one thing or another. The younger ones from all dojos cooperated and we made it a great success.

When we made a Mtl team with guys from UdM, McGill & Shidokan, to go and kick Toronto's ass, it was an awesome display of good kendo spirit. We had a great time and became great friends. We failed at our ass-kicking mission ;-) but we were able to put aside the pathetic political struggles of the old guard and moved forward.

From what I see (I'm not in Mtl anymore), the Mtl area is getting stronger and stronger; that's due to the kids who "just want to do kendo".

Eddy

[AlexM]

Eddy... tu parles trop. There are still occasional disagreements here and there but most people don't care.

The kids' class at UdeM was cancelled years ago for various reasons (si tu veux l'anecdote Eddy, demande directement à Christian).

Your info about kendo in the city is now a bit outdated. There are the 3 main clubs we mentionned (UdeM, McGill and Montreal Kendo) plus 1 or 2 other smaller clubs (both called Isshin).

UdeM still has the "master of darkness" himself in charge but the funky kendo stuff is less prelevant I think. And certainly Montreal Kendo is a very competitive dojo (I don't know if this is new or not, doesn't really matter).

[doubissu]

Yeah, that's what I thought, McGill, UdeM, Mtl Ken, Isshin.

Is it Master of Darkness or Vampire Hunter ?

FYI, did you all know that there's someone from Mtl going to the world champs ? My buddy Juan (UdeM) is going as coach and member of the Chilean team.

Eddy

[Raiza]

I think Sensei (aka Christian D) is going to the WKC for his nanadan exam...

[kendokamax]

Juan Scheinder? (spell?)

really? thats cool!!

Christian Dorangeville is also going to the world actually. He will try to pass his 7th dan there. I hope he gets it. but if not there will be a next time. His son will also be there to see the most honest kendo of his father.

---

Things in montreal are really changing to the good side!. A few months ago, we(mcgill) hosted some kind of TACHIKIRI. (5 people being motodachi fighthing for 90 minutes straight against 20 (alternating) people, the idea was to keep the fights going with the most intensity possible).

People from other dojo were invited to participate to the event. Every time there would be a different team being the motodachi. The team being consisted of the best element of the different dojo in the region. Every time was a different dojo. Quebec , Mtl kendo, Universite de Montreal kendo club, Ishin, all participed to the event. It was a great sucess and great fun.


One of the bad thing about many of the dojo here before was that they were not going to tournament to test themselves against other people<s kendo. (in toronto by example) But this is also changing for good.

Last thing is that a few kendo freaks are born in Montreal 2-4 years ago. Myself being one of them, deciding to go to Japan for a year to improve my kendo (and taking a break from real life). An other of my friend who is going to visit japan, during summer for 3 months, with the main plan of improving his kendo. And Yet there is an other one who will come to study in tokyo for at least 1 year, starting in september, with also a wish of getting stronger at kendo. and many many other kendo freak that wont let us top them!!

That is why I think (hope..) than in a few year Montreal wont have anything to envy from Toronto or Vancouver .


check our website at
www.mcgillkendo.ca

!!!
Maxime :D

[Stan]

Doubissu, I think you have been away from Quebec Kendo for a while!? I remember 5 or 6 years ago when shiai were more like a brawl. Kendo (in Quebec) has changed a lot. As far as the MKC contribution, we are doing our best since Sensei Ono does not teach anymore. We desperately need a Sensei. Regardless, we have formed an alliance with a club in Japan to foster exchange between our clubs. This is part of the reason the aformentioned person will be in Japan for a couple of months this summer. Also, we have hosted a Japanese (7th Dan) Sensei where everyone was invited from Quebec. We will continue this program and hopefully improve our kendo. This summer there should be some friends from Japan visiting our club (4th and 5th Dan) and next summer we are preparing for our 7th Dan friend to return to Montreal. My point is not that some of the "Old Guard" senseis still have some bad blood but rather that nobody gives a damn. We visit each others clubs openely and we at the MKC are frequently invited to go to McGill and UdM and Iishin. Our dojo is small so we can't really accomodate too many kendoka but often the Mcgill folks join us during the exam period because the gym is closed. Basically, I feel that your impression of not only the kendoka but also our kendo in Quebec is a little outdated. Come back and visit us and make your own opinions. I hope to see you soon.

Stan

[doubissu]

... happy to see that things have indeed changed. Sorry if I implied things were now as bad as they were then; it's a reflex ("chat echaude craint l'eau froide")... As you say I haven't been in a long time. Can't wait to go back ang check it out !

Regarding Juan, check out the program Page 32 :
http://www.kendochampionships.com/downloads/programme_2.pdf

Eddy