Training with AMAZING sensei

[kendo_chick]

I have a question...

Has anyone ever trained with say... Chiba sensei? If you have, how did you handle your nervousness and what did you learn.

The reason I ask is because i have the fortunate opportunity to take a seminar with Chiba Sensei and I am REALLY nervous. I could use all the advice I can get.. Thanks!

[AlexM]

Don't be nervous. Just remember... there is a reason they're so good: They do kendo for a living. If you did kendo for a living don't you think you'd be pretty good too? These guys aren't Gods, they're just professionals (granted, they're very good professionals).

I'm not sure that helps. No real reason to be nervous: Being nervous might make them uncomfortable when you think about it. The worse Chiba could say is: your kendo is bad. Which, in the grand scheme of things, is not all that important.

But then again, I've never really fought anyone very important so I have no idea how I'd react.

[kendokamax]

well amazing or not. for me almost everyone is much more superior than me at kendo in Japan (for now..)

so well, advice #1 is: just go there and enjoy ?

adobaizu nanba- tsu,

he might be amazing at kendo but im sure he is a drunk too..so try to be more amazing than him at drinking after the seminar and he will find you even more amazing than his own kendo.

personaly, even in these situations I still fail miserably

[kendokamax]

btw when and where is that seminar?

we have a 1 week gasshuku during last week of August.
if you are interested..

[Danny Boy]

From my limited experiance i would have to say that their reputation is what might make them seem scary.
He's not going to hurt you...if he says your kendo is bad, he is bound to explain why (and to an 8th dan, im sure that everyone elses kendo has something bad), if he says your kendo is good then even better, either way, its a win win situation.

I like Kendomax's advice...its funny... because well its true :P.

Dan Winiarczyk

P.S.

Isnt Chiba sensei the head of Tokyo Police Dept and an 8th dan in Aikido ?

P.S.S.

Seminar by chiba sensei in UK ? Dont you mean the chidokan seminar by Sumi sensei ? I'll be on that one....but i'd go to see Chiba in action too.

[Nishi]

Pay attention to everything that is said, train hard to show you listened, and if you get a chance to ji-geiko, attack!!! Give it all you've got, throw yourself into with as much spirit as you can muster up.

There is a Chiba sensei 8thdan in aikikai hombu dojo (tokyo), an aikido instructor of mine years ago used to train with him, im not sure if its the same "Chiba"....i'd love to know if it is, i didnt know he trained kendo, again the Sensei during aikido dosnt boast of his kendo....lol!!

[Danny Boy]

Pay attention to everything that is said, train hard to show you listened, and if you get a chance to ji-geiko, attack!!! Give it all you've got, throw yourself into with as much spirit as you can muster up.

There is a Chiba sensei 8thdan in aikikai hombu dojo (tokyo), an aikido instructor of mine years ago used to train with him, im not sure if its the same "Chiba"....i'd love to know if it is, i didnt know he trained kendo, again the Sensei during aikido dosnt boast of his kendo....lol!!


Aye Nishi, that is the "Chiba-sensei". Heard some interesting stories about him from G. Kincaid.

As to the topic,

Aye, as long as you show some spine and dont wimp out, you should be ok. Oh and do what Nishi says, very good advice.

Dan Winiarczyk

[Nishi]

Wow, it is the same "Chiba"? The story is he is an Aikido demon, my sensei used to tell me horror stories about his training...i wouldnt worry to much at the lower levels of kendo, at the worst you'll be exhausted, but your gonna have to show some sand, he dosnt tolerate lack of effort, and as for you higher grades...anything could happen, my sensei has lumps on the back of his head, crunching sounds when he rotates his wrist, and a broken bone(now healed) in his right forearm, which he was to continue iaido through.

Still, if you get a chance to ji-gieko, honestly try and punish him!!!
Good luck chaps :D

[Charlie]

Yes, I've been in this situation. I've been to seminars with Nishiyama sensei of the Tokyo police, with Eiga sensei, the world champion, and others - not to mention Detroit's very own Tagawa-sensei. Almost always all of these teachers have put everybody at ease with an encouraging smile. I think if they sense you are a hard guy they will give you the beating you deserve, :glasses: but tailor their instruction to each person. Really, just be relaxed and give 'em your best.

[mingshi]

Be honest.
He knows more than you can possibly imagine.
;)

[Stan]

I have a question...

Has anyone ever trained with say... Chiba sensei? If you have, how did you handle your nervousness and what did you learn.

The reason I ask is because i have the fortunate opportunity to take a seminar with Chiba Sensei and I am REALLY nervous. I could use all the advice I can get.. Thanks!


Kendo Chick,

Actually I have had the pleasure of playing kendo with Chiba Sensei (Tokyo Police). He is the head of the Tokyo Police Dojo and has won the All Japan Championships several times (a while ago though). He is a very nice person so do not be nervous. Be prepared to face an extremely good kamae. (I know some people reading this will say duh! he is a Hanshi Hachi Dan)...The point is that it was almost bewildering, you will see what I mean. His expertise is with Jodan Kamae so maybe if you are lucky he will pound on you from Jodan Kamae too. And if you can, I would suggest going to the party afterwards because the fun only started with the kendo :cool2:

Stan

[mingshi]

WAIT...!!
Aikikai Aikido 8Dan is Chiba Kazuo Sensei.
Kendo 8Dan from Tokyo is Chiba Hitoshi Sensei.

[KhawMengLee]

I have a question...

Has anyone ever trained with say... Chiba sensei? If you have, how did you handle your nervousness and what did you learn.

The reason I ask is because i have the fortunate opportunity to take a seminar with Chiba Sensei and I am REALLY nervous. I could use all the advice I can get.. Thanks!


Do lots of kirikaeshi and you'll be too tired to be nervous and will do natural kendo.

[justforkendo]

Chiba sensei can be a real pussy cat, the big kind with claws like lighting. Dont be afraid of him he is a nice man, his kendo is astounding. Dont be nervous I can tell you now he no matter how hard you try, you will not be able to do what you want to do. (like a cat playing with a mouse) Talk to him about his new grandchild he is really proud. If you do get to drink with him keep feeding him whisky'n'water with ice. Just learn as much as you can and enjoy the experiance, and good luck.

[samurai999]

Here's my throw in post. All of the NCKF people have had Ota sensei come from Japan to lead the summer camp for the past 5 yrs or so. He was the head of the Tokyo Police Kendo-bu but has since retired (if I heard my sensei correctly). First thing we start out with is 1000 suburi on Friday in sets of 200. :D

We've had sensei come from all over like Kakehashi sensei and Sato sensei last year. There are a lot of Sato senseis out there but this was the one who got best 8 in the 39th Zen-Nippon taikai..

Don't know if it counts as training but good experiences nonetheless. Good stuff good stuff..

Tim

[moocow65]

i've always wanted to practice with chiba sensei. lucky guys. i have practiced with ishida toshiya, takahashi sensei (the japan team coach) and almost with eiga. i'll get another crack at him this february. but the most amazing sensei i've practiced with was toda sensei. my nito idol and two time all japan champ with jodan. he was totally cool with me doing nito against him. real kick back guy. just go all out on these guys and don't hold back. that's my advice.

[hamish]

He's definitely got awesome kendo, and he's one hard bastard, but he's still just a guy who puts his hakama on one leg at a time, so don't be too over-awed by him.

Watch him closely when you're in the line waiting, then just give him your best shot and ask as many questions as you can afterwards. If you're going down, you might as well go down fighting!

He swats the Iwasa's and Ando's of this world around before breakfast, so if you can have even some semblance of control over your kendo you're doing pretty well.

[John W]

I had the awesome opportunity to fight with Takahashi sensei (1994 World Kendo Individual Champion & 2000 WKC Japan Team Captain).

Well I think the fight lasted about 2 minutes. I tried my hardest but I just could not cut him. Yeah, he is on a totally different level. The only thing I truly remember about the fight was that...

1. He kicked my ass for a start!

2. Train hard and perhaps one day I might be 1/8 of how good that guy is!

Train hard and prosper! :happy: