Orlando Kendo about to get a BONUS

[tango]

Word is that Shinobu Maeda-sensei (7.dan), formerly of Tennessee Meiji Gakuin (TMG) in Sweetwater, TN is going to relocate to Orlando, Fla.

It is also my understand that "they" (whoever "they" might be) are planning to build a type of "kendo university(?)" there and Maeda-sensei will be the top dog.

Jealously doesn't come close to describing how I feel about this!!

You guys in Orlando are about to get a fabulous asset down there. Have fun.... you bastards! :)

[Kapplow]

Word is that Shinobu Maeda-sensei (7.dan), formerly of Tennessee Meiji Gakuin (TMG) in Sweetwater, TN is going to relocate to Orlando, Fla.

It is also my understand that "they" (whoever "they" might be) are planning to build a type of "kendo university(?)" there and Maeda-sensei will be the top dog.

Jealously doesn't come close to describing how I feel about this!!

You guys in Orlando are about to get a fabulous asset down there. Have fun.... you bastards! :)


From what I heard it will be a military school where Kendo will be offered as a course. It will be located in Bartow FL. BTW "they" will be putting in a real dojo floor! I cant wait.

[Masahiro]

I am going to visit as soon as i can, please keep us updated. Maeda sensei is a very very good teacher. cheerful always, and amazing tenouchi.

[MikeW]

That sounds very cool. Maeda sensei is a real class kendoka and sensei.

[bullet08]

Word is that Shinobu Maeda-sensei (7.dan), formerly of Tennessee Meiji Gakuin (TMG) in Sweetwater, TN is going to relocate to Orlando, Fla.

It is also my understand that "they" (whoever "they" might be) are planning to build a type of "kendo university(?)" there and Maeda-sensei will be the top dog.

Jealously doesn't come close to describing how I feel about this!!

You guys in Orlando are about to get a fabulous asset down there. Have fun.... you bastards! :)

no kidding.. lucky bastards.. disney world, and now maeda sensei.. it must be raining beer down in orlando.

pete

[Kapplow]

Found an article about the school...

http://www.polkcountydemocrat.com/articles/2006/03/16/news/01asummerlinacad.txt'

[tango]

Yeah.. the word I heard is that "they" will be building a special structure solely for the kendo class... ....35,000 sq ft is what I heard, but maybe that's a bit inflated. I don't know. Don't care.
I'm happy for my friend, but... I'm kinda pissed about it at the same time.... y'know, he could have moved here instead.. Memphis being such a fine, upstanding, great city in which to raise kids and all that.. [/sarcasm]

We used to look forward to going to TMG every year because that was generally the one place we could count on going to... Now, that leaves the next closest dojo as Atlanta --- which has great kendo and great instructors... but they didn't have that year-to-year gettogether like we counted on from TMG.

*sigh* .... great news for the Orlando folks.. I'm just depressed about it.

(BTW.. if anybody remembers my telling of a story when I was ikkyu and full of mock ego... and I told my instructor I would kick Maeda-sensei's butt! ... and he emailed Maeda about it... Yeah.. And so I finally met sensei and he said, "I hear you will kick my butt. Please wait..." ...and he proceded to turn his tare around backwards... "I must first protect my butt!"

... that should tell you a little bit about his sense of humor.. but his kendo is still deadly serious. Outstanding kendoka and sensei.

[David]

Jeeze...I wish my school offered up martial arts as PE credits. That would have been great! Anyways, yeah, great news for the Orlando guys. I've only met Maeda-sensei once, but he was a great guy. Very good kendo.

[Omnis]

Orlando is actually the angriest city in the united states. What a paradox for the happiest place on earth...

My club was talking about this last week, though. They were also saying that there's now a possibility of florida becoming its own federation in the future, with maeda-sensei living here. Don't quote me.

[Masahiro]

really tango? at ikkyu you were "that" full of yourself? and i thought i was an egotistical (<<is that even a word) bastard, hahahaha.
I "tried" really really hard to give it my best and kick Maeda sensei butt, but, yeah it didn't work. It only lasted about .02 seconds before i realized there was no opening in his stance, his feet moved so swiftly that by the time i realized he was in my attacking range, i was also in his. and of course, i am just full of opening for him. sigh, so sad. I can only count a number of instances where i feel like that. well, but anyways, he is a great teacher to learn from. Not the type that sit on their high horses and "expects" you to bow to him just because he' a nanadan, Maeda sensei truely has my respect.

[tango]

Well, no.. I've never been that egotistical.. I was doing it absolutely as a joke, but my sensei (Harry Dach) has even bigger sense of humor and decided to pass it on to Maeda sensei.
The "I'll kick your butt" has gone on for a number of years now.. it's not as prevalent as it used to be. He always brings it up at least once when we run into each other. This past May, for example, he said, "Rogers-san.. I hope we get to keiko. I need to get my butt kicked. Hahahahah..."

YEah, so.. anyway.. I was like ikkyu (or about to test for ikkyu) and Maeda sensei was just a mere 6.dan at the time. ... a couple more years, I probably could've taken him, but alas, I'm over 30 now. (hahaha)...

[tango]

btw.. good point about his 'not posturing'... he's very humble. His kendo is great and it gives me fits, but he's so good at bringing his kendo level down to anyone else's level... then he ratchets it up just enough to make you work for it. Just an outstanding teacher.

That he managed to pass 7.dan when he'd basically been around nothing but kids for so many years is a real testament to his person and ability.

Of course.. every time I see him relaxing, he's smoking a cigarette, which really infuriates me even more.. because he'll stay on the floor for an hour straight of jigeiko while everybody else is dropping like flies.

Here he is... third guy from the left on the front row (directly in front of Lew Murphy)
http://www.kanki.us/kendo/SEUSKF2004/SEUSKFAnnualTournament2004/images/DSCF0058.jpg