International Budo University

[kkk]

Hi guys!
I 'm just curious, what exactly are the requirements for entry into the International Budo University (language/knowledge of kendo, etc)? And also how does one get there? Are there any scholarships to that university?
Thanks

[Kenshi]

Hey,

Language : None
Kendo : None (I think... but, obviously, it helps)
Scholarships : In the bumf they send out they mention helping with an allowance.
Website : http://www.budo-u.ac.jp/

There are a few local-men-in-the-know, so I am sure you'll get more information soon.

Start saving.

[kkk]

I've looked at the homepage but I can't imagine why it's called International if there is no English page:(, but thanks for the link anyway!

[hamish]

"Why is it called International . . .?"

That's one of the questions I asked myself for the whole year I spent there!!

The training is top quality, but as for any organisation to fully utilise the potential of the university by the so-called International Office - nil. They got rid of the only staff member with any real vision for what the program could stand for.

You need to pay out a lot up front, but most, if not more than, that comes back in the form of a scholarship throughout the year (at least when I was there a couple of years back) Tuition came to about Y500,000 for the year, with living costs on top of that.

[kkk]

And what if I want to actually major in kendo at the IBU? Do you know anything about that?
Thanks

[KhawMengLee]

Plus, is it necessary to know japanese or will Nihongo Hanase Masen suffice?

[Kenshi]

>And what if I want to actually major in kendo at the IBU?<

You can choose Kendo or Judo when you do the ONE year Budo Specialisation course.... after that its possible to do a full-time course

>is it necessary to know japanese<

No. My friend went over in April and knew nothing.

[hamish]

Most of the students know little Japanese when they start the course. If you want to major in kendo there (I assume you're talking about a full 4 year degree course?), you will need to have good Japanese.

Despite IBU's claims to the contrary, the one year bekka course will not bring your Japanese up to a good enough level to enter the university as a normal student.

[Confound]

Are there any shorter courses for those of us already living here? I haven't poked around the website too much yet. If i were a more considerate or thoughtful individual, I would have done a long search THEN asked, but i'm a little lazy (and busy getting ready for my ikkyu exam on friday).

that said, hopefully someone knows.

c

[kendokamax]

hey

I'm sending my application this week to budo university, for the 1 year program.

It is a lot of money all of this...but good thing they have a scholarship included.

Will be a great experience, especialy since my japanese isnt that good. So It's 2 practices per day / 6 days a week, right? and more if I want!? I dont think I will be able to do happy kendo over there lol, but it's all good.

I hope I get accepted!

the sea looks so beautifull
..

[hamish]

Give it heaps, mix with the Japanese students, and you'll have a great time.

BTW the Budai (IBU) kendo sensei, Makita sensei, just came second in the All Japan 8th dan competition.

Hamish

[Confound]

Incidentally, one of my sempais attended the budo university (4 year course I think), and finished about ten years ago. He said it's pretty cool, however, he is Japanese. There's no language barrier for him. (O, and when you get a little closer to that Japanese sea, I think you will be a little disappointed. Japanese beaches are notoriously dirty, especially on the western side... Chinese industrial waste and other flotsam. Yuck.)

c

[hamish]

Come on Confound, be positive once in a while! It's actually on the Boso hanto, so all you're getting is crystal clear Pacific Ocean, some of the best coastline around!

Hamish

[Ares2907]

Yep, the only pollution in those waters is the jap-boy surfers who pretend to be able to surf (but just sit on their boards for a couple of hours before driving the nanpa strip).

[kendokamax]

hehe coooooooooooooool

loooks like a paradise

[Confound]

Positive? In Japan? Hamish, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but you're a man living in Japan. It's a totally different story if you're a woman. I have nothing positive to say about Japan outside of the people I've met through martial arts. I kid you not. I came here with an open mind, and a great admiration for Japanese culture. I'm now certain that Mishima was absolutely right...

c

[James]

after a post started by someone called kkk we arrive at someone agreeing that a failed coup and beheading might be a good way to start the day - sheesh Hamish you got your work cut out keeping these threads positive...

These sarcastic englanders aren't helping either ... :gasmask:

[Confound]

I meant Mishima's belief that Japan sacrificed the most important parts in exchange for the most soulless and empty parts of Western commercialism.

In exchange, modern Japan isa nation that doesn't like to think, that prefers not to think rather. A nation lost in its own materialistic desires. You can argue the same thing about North Americans, but when faced with a problem, people in the West generally act. They don't sit around and look at the floor, then at the ceiling, then wait for 50 years.

I firmly believe that there has been a drastic 180 degree change in Japanese culture in the past 60 years. I'm not an expert in history, but I do know enough to say that Japan's past would not have taken place in a country with a culture like the one that exists here now. I am steadfastly against the bull-headed culture that stares me down every morning. the people who don't look where they're going, they walk with their heads bowed so low that they're looking at the space between their heels.

It's really quite sad when you think about it. Modern Japan looks cute, cuddly and happy, but I have a strong suspicion that it's a very shallow happiness indeed. Hamutaro and Kitty-chan can only carry you so far. I suggest instead that there's a major depression problem in this country. (Which is well substantiated by suicide statistics...)

At any rate, I've wandered far from my original defence of Mishima. he wasn't a right wing fascist, contrary to popular belief.

c

[JSchmidt]

I'm still puzzled why you stay in Japan, since you hate it so much.

Jakob

[Kendoboy]

I think maybe confound concentrates on the "experience" of being in the country to keep her there. I know many people who hate London yet stay here for that reason, and not everything is ALL bad.

Maybe she's not a pesimist, just a realist. There is a very subtle difference.

Confound, your two cents please.......

[nodachi]

I love Japan! I am having a great time here. Working, learning the language, culture, traveling, and learning Budo. It is a great place.

But I do agree with Confound on the depressed people thing. Granted, there are a lot of people who are happy here, but there are far too many who are severely depressed. I wouldn't say its the majority, but it's quite a bit. I think their workaholism is responsible. The children start out happy and seem that way, but once the real work of junior high hits, some of them are just crushed and burnt out from all the work. I think the national holidays and random sports festivals in schools and required clubs for the students is to force the people to have some fun and relax from time to time or else the suicide rate would be even higher. Just my theory though.

But like I said, I love it here. They just work too hard. It's admirable, but everyone needs some time to unwind.

[kendokamax]

I called today ,
I will get accepted to the program of IBU!

Hamish do you know Bunasawa sensei? He is so nice! He told me to now practice kendo very hard hehehe.

now I need to work extra hard to get enough funds to live there.

this is kinda exciting!

[Ares2907]

Bwahahahaha Bunasawa sensei - nice
ROTFLMFAO
oh yes. wonderful man
*chortle*

Still, if you jump for him, he 'll probably sling you one of the mid-year scholarship bonuses they tend to hand out.

Judging by what I know of you and your kendo, you'll want to get to know Iwakiri sensei. Graduated from Budai about six years ago and has been teaching there ever since. Wonderful guy, completely feral once he puts a men on.

[Confound]

Nodachi: you're naive. So bloody naive. Stay a bit longer, smell the roses, get a dose of reality.

Kendoboy: I have my reasons.

Everyone else: Come live here, enjoy discrimination. Oddly enough, the only decent people I've met in this country are all students or practictioners of some kind of traditional art, from kendou to Noh to basket weaving...

c

[David J]

Originally posted by Kendoboy
I know many people who hate London yet stay here for that reason, and not everything is ALL bad.

Maybe she's not a pesimist, just a realist. There is a very subtle difference.


Surely its a very big difference - pessimism is deliberately looking for the negative, in the same way that optimism is deliberately looking for the positive. Both are as far from "Realism" which (in its common usage) is based on the rather fanciful idea that you can maintain an entirely neutral viewpoint.

And staying somewhere you hate "for the experience"? What kind of masochists do you hang out with? ;) Do they also like to hit their heads against walls cos "its nice when it stops"? You should get them interested in Kendo ;)

Apologies - feisty mood today....

<rei>

Dave

[David J]

Originally posted by Confound
Nodachi: you're naive. So bloody naive. Stay a bit longer, smell the roses, get a dose of reality.


Easy tiger.

So yours is the only experience that counts? I thought you valued contrary opinions? Calling people that have had a different time of it "bloody naive" is harsh to say the least.

And what is "reality"? Your experience or his? Cos you've been there longer? Is my experience of London more "real" than Kendoboy's, cos I've lived here longer?

I'm sure Japan isnt all flashing steel, sushi and cherry blossom, in the same way the London isn't The Beatles*, Big Ben and bowler hats. But likewise I hope your continuing negativity doesnt put people off visiting what is, at very least, a facinating country. And does anyone really think Japan is perfect?

<rei>

Dave

*:yes I do know...

[Antonin]

Confound said:

"Everyone else: Come live here, enjoy discrimination. Oddly enough, the only decent people I've met in this country are all students or practictioners of some kind of traditional art, from kendou to Noh to basket weaving..."

Now now....
maybe our Japanese Friends on this forum are beng a bit too polite to defend themselves, but, funny enough, I have met some japanese people who are extemly nice, even though they don't partake in the aformentionned activities. Does this make my experience less real than yours ? And don't give me the "live here and feel the pain you braindead idiotic misunderstanding moron" routine, please, it was funny for a while, but we've head it before.
sincerely, I DO understand that you're having a rough time, and i almost feel sorry. You do have my simpathy (not that you care about this sort of things of course...), as i understand it can be extemely difficult to live abroad in a very different culture when things go wrong. But to extrapolate from your experience to denigrate a whole people and country as you do strikes me as immature and naive.
Grow up a bit.
Antonin

[kendokamax]

Originally posted by Ares2907
Bwahahahaha Bunasawa sensei - nice
ROTFLMFAO
oh yes. wonderful man
*chortle*

Still, if you jump for him, he 'll probably sling you one of the mid-year scholarship bonuses they tend to hand out.

Judging by what I know of you and your kendo, you'll want to get to know Iwakiri sensei. Graduated from Budai about six years ago and has been teaching there ever since. Wonderful guy, completely feral once he puts a men on.


well you really dont know everything about my kendo and my personality, so please.

I cant believe how boring and negative you guys are.

I wonder if your kendo really live up to all your trash talk. I'm so fed up of it.

[AlexM]

Originally posted by Ares2907
Bwahahahaha Bunasawa sensei - nice
ROTFLMFAO
oh yes. wonderful man
*chortle*


Out of curiousity, what does ROTFLMFAO mean?

I sense too much tension on the boards. . . mushin people, mushin. . . actually it's more entertaining when people go at each others throats so please keep at it, let's see some blood.

[nodachi]

In response to Confound, maybe your experience has been magnified by the fact that you are female. There is a definite difference in the experience one has in Japan depending on the whole gender thing. I do understand that, but in speaking to many of my female coworkers who have been here for years, their experiences have been positive on the whole, despite the annoying aspects of being treated differently because of their gender. They have made an effort to look past the annoying parts of it and are enjoying their stay here. I stand on my statement that Japan is great! I will let you all know my opinion in another six months or so, but I don't think it will change, I am aware of my own little culture shock roller coaster, but I like it here despite my own little downs that happen, the majority is great!

And back to the topic of this post, Kendokamax, congratulations, when you get there I would be interested in hearing about your opinions of the place because I am interested in going in a few years after I take care of other obligations right now.

[Ares2907]

Originally posted by kendokamax
well you really dont know everything about my kendo and my personality, so please.


Um, that's why I said 'judging by what I know of. . .
rather than 'because I know all about. . .

I'm thinking english isn't your first language.


I cant believe how boring and negative you guys are.


whatever. I was attempting to give you some friendly advice (and fire off an in-joke or two for those in the know). You can choose to take it how you will.

As for what I said about Iwakiri sensei, there was no sarcasm intended there at all. I really think he's one of the best kendoka I've seen.


I wonder if your kendo really live up to all your trash talk. I'm so fed up of it.

Hey if you're going to get personal I can go there, but you can take it to private messaging. I'm not going to help you grandstand so you can feel better about the size of your dick.

You sir, are a git.

[mingshi]

Hey, easy easy...... This forum is (yet) the most polite discussion board I've ever found, so please respect fellow members.

Max, I was actually wondering what kind of course you are applying to in IBU? What is the qualification requirements, selection process, and how much is that....?

Their website is so.... confusing!!

[kendokamax]

ah sorry my english is not my first language (french is) so I dont always understand these kind of joke. So lets leave it at that. I'm not the kind of person that like to flame.

sarcasm is hard for me to understand on a message board :(


mingshi

I applied for the one year specialisation program , kendo.
So I will have japanese class and kendo class. Qualifacations are very minimal : not being from japan and being elligible to application in a university in your country. Selections were made today but you can apply for the next year when they have the new applications paper. It is 520 000 yen for the whole year for the tution fees. So you have to pay that prior to you entering the school .. But when you are accepted to the program they will refund you all this money by giving you every month around 45 000 yen.


thats pretty much it

I think they really wanted to me to go since not many people from North America did.

[hamish]

Easy on guys!

Kendokamax, knowing Iwakiri sensei, I understood Ares' comment to be a compliment, but not knowing him you could take it the wrong way, but I think you both over-reacted a bit.

2 people divided by a common tongue...! :-)

As for the website, Mingshi, one day they might even put it into English, but considering that the board didn't even see the point of a website in Japanese, let alone English, I'm not surprised!

Hamish

[kendokamax]

ahlala i will get beat up so bad :(

part of the fun?

I think, I'm still a bit naive about how good kendo in japan can be.
Thinking they cannot be thaaaat good. But from what i'm hearing these days, looks like they are really thaaaaat good.

[kendokata]

Reading over some of the comments and at present time still being a student (except for the fact that I had to return home because of an accident and get to return in Jan.) I have to agree and disagree with some of what was said and add my own 2 cents worth.

First, the kendo there is much faster, but don"t expect that much in terms of waza and drills. Most of the students there have done that since they were kids so at the uni. they rarely do it, it"s mostly just keiko.

Damn is Iwakiri Sensei fast and good. But, I have yet to see him joke around and you really have to work to get even a small bit of acknowledgement.

Language is a barrior. It's easier to go to different countries and do training, when you know the majority of people will be speaking the same lang, but at Budai, generally only you and most of the other int. students will speak the eng (not everybody will), but you'll learn more then just japanese and you'll get to experience more then just the japanese culture (and alcohol [hope this doesn't get me in trouble]). It's definitly a good experience and one you won"t forget.

As for it being more difficult for women. I would probably have to disagree, most of the int. students get chewed out for various reasons and generally the women get treated better in the lang. classes given the instructors for all those classes are women and simpathize, but for the kendo or judo classes you get chewed out for technique and that has nothing to do with sex.

Last - how tough is it ? Remember that is a uni and they don"t change the world over. Some students never go to class or always half ass it, others make it as tough as they can for themselves. You can make your own opinion when your there. Show up to 1 practice a day every other day, or go to every practice, join the Naginata,Iaido, Judo and swimming clubs work out everyday until around 9:30pm and psuh yourself to the limits. Your call. But if you guys where talking tough in terms of kendo, then think about it terms of 18-24 year olds (peak fitness) who only do kendo all day everyday and about 2 1/2 to 3 hours of keiko. You do the math and ask yourself how tough it can be.

Later
Michael Castellani

[nodachi]

Kendo everyday and for all those hours! Sounds cool! I wish I had more time to do Kendo.

Can someone clarrify for me this comment:

"It is 520 000 yen for the whole year for the tution fees. So you have to pay that prior to you entering the school .. But when you are accepted to the program they will refund you all this money by giving you every month around 45 000 yen."

So does this mean that the program is actually free??? Seems that way if they give you all of your money back. That would be great news, but it doesn't seem to make sense.

[kendokamax]

ya free.....but you still have to gather 500 000 yen and more for other stuff..
it isnt that easy.....at least for me

[nodachi]

thank you for the clarification. This is good news.

tempting indeed...

:)

[munenmuso]

Me too, me too!!!!!!!!! As long it's free........:D

[kendokata]

Howdy All,
The japanese government gives the university grants and scholorship funds. So, initially you have to give the university all tution fees upfront (that's the 500000 yen), but each month you get a scholorship (45000 yen). The scholorship is given to every international student in the special exchange program.
So, given that you get 45000 every month (give the uni 15000 for residence, leaving 30000) you will end up getting it all back, plus a bit more. Courtesy of the jap. gov't promoting budo education and increasing international relations and such (makes them look good and you get a free education). But remember, even though you get the money back, it"s what you need to live off for a year.
Also, the requirements are that you have a highschool dimploma. From there you just need to choose a progam (judo or kendo).

Any more questions, just ask
Michael Castellani

[Confound]

3 mon a month to live on? ACK! That's nothing! That's painful top even contemplate. Hopefully there's a meal plan included in the residences.

kendokata, is there iai at the budo university? Also, how long is the course? I know my sempai was there for a long time, but how long does the average international exchange student stay?

c

[nodachi]

3 mon is not that bad to live off of. Not trying to pick a fight or anything, I do live a modest and simple lifestyle, don't spend too much money because I don't have it. After all my bills and rent are paid, I can get by on 2 mon a month. Of course, not drinking and cooking for yourself will help this severely.

[mingshi]

Mr. Castellani,

So you were in that course before? I have more questions for you:

1) What level of the martial art do they expect you to have?
2) How many people do they take usually?
3) As Confound asked, how long is it? What do you do, learn, and get?
4) Girls?
5) Accomodation is catered right :p? Gotta keep all costs down.
6) How to apply?

I don't think my Dad will ever let me do this stupid thing, but it'll be good to know. Meanwhile I should concentrate on my formal studies. But since my nationality does not qualify myself as a JET... at least there's something to dream for.

Thanks again.

[Confound]

I send a large chunk of my money home every month, but I travel. That and video games are my main expenditures.

However, without food costs and bills, 3 mon might be alright. there probably wouldn't be much time for travel anyway.

c

[kendokata]

Howdy Folks,
First, slow down, once again too many assumptions and stuff. Like I said, you get 45000 yen a month and 15000 goes for the res fees, the 3 mon is for food and everything else. Yes it doesn't seem like much, no there isn't a meal plan, but there is a cafeteria with reasonably priced meals. So between cooking for yourself and the occasional cafe meal you can get by easily.
As for the level required, there isn't. Each year different people from different countries and levels show up. The only real requirements are a high school diploma and a good recommendation.
Course length. It's a 1 year program from april 2002 to march 2003, one full year, but the classes go from April to mid-July, then summer vacation, then from mid-sept to feb. the time off is yours to do what you want (travel and train with whom/where ever you want. During the summer break I stayed at Budo almost the time because while kendo practice ceases, the nagainata club goes all day everyday in preporation for upcoming tournys. In feb, I'm going to have to spend some time making up for time lost, but then I'm going to go stay with some of the ken/iai instructors I know in various parts of japan and train with them.
Number of people, the uni only has 1 residence and it is only for the international students, so they except about 20 (the capacity of the res.), each from different countries, no particlular preference - except that about 6 spots are automatically taking from Korea from a university the Budo has an exchange program with (so about 14 spots).
What do you learn and get. You learn kendo and some japanese, but you don't get a degree or anything, but you can apply to the uni. after the year is up to become a regular student (4 year program).
GIRLS. I wih I had good news guys. There arn't that many and remember it's a sport uni so the ones you get arn't that great. But there are definitly some cute kendo girls and the naginata club is packed with cuties (that's not the only reason I do nagainata [no really]).
As for applying, you just missed the application deadline for the the 2003 year (starting April 2003), but if your still interested and want to apply, just email me and include your address and I'll pass your info. on to the office and have them mail you out a package.

Hope that helps and feel free to ask away (both on forum or personally email me)

Michael Castellani

[Ares2907]

During the year that I spent there ('99),
there were 1 hour morning trainings, at least 1 x 1.5 hour class during the day, then a 1.5 hour class in the afternoon (mon-fri), then 2-2.5 hours on Saturday. I believe that morning classes have been stopped.
As for the Japanese students, at that time, Budai was purported to be the largest club in the world with 400+ members (150 of those were women).
The guys had a lot of success in tournaments that year, coming second in the Kanto region team taikai, and the captain, Wako, coming third in the individuals (imho judging was the only thing that prevented him from winning).
I didn't train with the women much, but the few I had an opportunity to do keiko with were staunch. The guys (whom I trained with mostly) were for the most part highly talented, even if their kendo was completely daigaku-poi (well duh!).
Wako especially was a tough sonofabitch. It took me more than six months before I was anywhere near able to hold my own against him.
Really, you can train as hard or as little as you wish. No one there will push you, you really need to hold yourself to a high standard.
The main dojo at Budai is 300-jo large, the second dojo is 200-jo.
They did have iai when I was there, the teacher was a several-times all-japan sei-tei iai champion by the name of Kaneda. I was able to take iai and even got my shodan while I was there. I also did 6 months of kyudo, but that wasn't really the norm.
Academic classes are pretty lacking. Contrary to the brochure, they will not be able to teach you enough Japanese to be able to enter their mainstream 4-year course in the 1 year that you spend there. If you already speak Japanese, chances are you will take classes with the other Japanese students rather than the other international students. For those of you who are somewhere above beginner level, but below fluent (like me) you may have a bit of freedom, they had no idea what to do with me, so I asked them if I could do some other budo, hence the iai and kyodo)
If I had my time over, I would probably do the bekka-course at a university closer to Tokyo, but I enjoyed the time I spent at Budai for the most part, made some great friends, both Japanese and foreign and certainly wouldn't discourage someone from wanting to attend.

[ShÖgun]

This sounds great, i wish i could go there.

[ShÖgun]

what is the age range in the university like???

[kendokamax]

3 months to go!!!!!

I need to find a cheap plane ticket :P

[Confound]

kendoukamax,

This may seem strange, but may I suggest that you want until fairly close to your departure date to buy the ticket? As the departure date of a flight grows closer, the price increases if it's a domestic flight, and decreases if it's an international flight.

In my limited experience, Air Canada isn't the cheapest way to fly. You might try Thai air or that crazy american airline whose name I never remember, is it united or continental? That wasn't so helpful. However, keep your eye on the flights, and leave it intil about 3 weeks before, or less. It may sound careless, but if money is a serious concern, when isn't it so, then that's you're best option.

c

[kendokamax]

eh

thanks for the advice, money is certainly an issue but I think it's also important than my 20? hours or so flight is not too painfull.
What airline did you take when you went to japan?

[Jerry Wellbrock]

Kendomax....I went to Japan this past April-May and flew Northwest out of Detroit to Osake....my trip originated in Cincinnati and my round trip airfare was an unbelievalbe $618.00 US...I booked my trip about ninety days out on the advice of a travel agent....service was good and the flight was about 13 hours from Detroit to Osake.....shop around and check frequently for the best ticket price....Jerry

[alch]

Anyone know what the naginata practice at Budai is like? I.e. how much practice a week, what kind of practice, etc.? (Although I practice both kendo and naginata at the moment, my preference goes to naginata. But a whole year of both kendo and naginata sounds pretty cool.)

[Ares2907]

send a PM to Hamish. He did a fair amount of training there during the year that we were there.

[nodachi]

I have talked to some people about IBU and asked about what it is like there. They all seem to have the same consensus that it was a good experience, but that the program is somewhat flawed.

I didn't ask at the time because I was preoccupied with other things, so I will ask now. How is the program flawed?

And let me reiterate that they all said it was still a good experience. I am not trying to bash IBU. I want to go in the future. Just looking for the whole picture.

[Nagi David]

My young brother is actully in Japan to study Naginata.
He will train at the Budo University from April to June, but was already there for a few weeks in August 2002.
He said that the level was very high and they had 6 hours of training a day. If you want to talk about that with him tell me and I will give you his email address.

[kendokamax]

really?

I d like to do around 5-6 hours of naginata per week..(around the same time i do kendo here)

is that possible?

I'd like to have the email of your brother

[kendokamax]

Time surely flies!

I will fly off to japan on the 31st....so in 10 days..

[titus]

Originally posted by Ares2907

If I had my time over, I would probably do the bekka-course at a university closer to Tokyo, but I enjoyed the time I spent at Budai for the most part, made some great friends, both Japanese and foreign and certainly wouldn't discourage someone from wanting to attend.

Hey Ares, could you let me know what other courses similar to IBU are available in Japan? Are there any in/very close to Tokyo?
I don't speak any Japanese though.

Tnx.

[Nagi David]

If you go to Tokyo Budokan you may be able to train in kendo, but you'd better ask officially before

[Ares2907]

I am led to believe the majority of the sports specific universities have similar programs. Not precisely sure how you'd go about investigating that though. If I had to put forward a personal recommendation, I'd say go for the one at Nihon Taiku Daigaku (Nittaidai).