Jodo in MN

[PatrickA]

I am not sure if this is the right place to put this, but does anyone know if anyone is teaching jodo in or near Minnesota?

Thank you.

[Kaoru]

I am not sure if this is the right place to put this, but does anyone know if anyone is teaching jodo in or near Minnesota?

Thank you.

Hi!

Welcome to the forums! :)

There was one person teaching jodo to one other in 2004 when there used to be a kendo dojo in St. Paul, MN, and they used to practice with us on one side of the room while we had kendo practice. If I can find out her name(I have forgotten it, since I am now with the kendo dojo in Minneapolis because the other dojo no longer exists, and haven't seen her since.) and if she's still in Minneapolis and teaches, I'll send you her name and number so you can see if she'll take you. She didn't have a dojo, but used our space. This person is very good, and for those of you wondering since I mentioned St. Paul, no, not a Chikara dojo member, thank goodness. She's the real deal. I don't honestly know of any other legitimate jodo teachers in the Twin Cities area or in the rest of Minnesota. I did go do a search, but nothing turned up.

So, I'll see what I can do. Sorry I don't know more. :) Where is your location, btw? You are in Minnesota right? Anyway, let me know where you are. There are 3 kendo dojos in Minnesota, and maybe you'd like to try that? One is in Minneapolis, one is in Northfield and the other is in Rochester. Also, the Northfield dojo also teaches kyudo and naginata. So, you do have some options. If you are interested, I can post those dojos for you. :)

Anyway, I'll see what I can find out about the person who does jodo and see if she is still around. If not, I'm afraid you will be out of luck, but I'll try. :)

Quick edit: I just saw you are in Mn. Can you tell me what city/town then please?

Kaoru

[PatrickA]

So, I'll see what I can do. Sorry I don't know more. :) Where is your location, btw? You are in Minnesota right? Anyway, let me know where you are. There are 3 kendo dojos in Minnesota, and maybe you'd like to try that? One is in Minneapolis, one is in Northfield and the other is in Rochester. Also, the Northfield dojo also teaches kyudo and naginata. So, you do have some options. If you are interested, I can post those dojos for you. :)


Hi there,

Yes, I am in Minnesota, Saint Paul to be precise. Because of a number of time issues, I'm not all that interested in kendo, but thank you for the offer. :) I know about all those dojos.

Thank you for your help,
Patrick

[Kaoru]

Hi there,

Yes, I am in Minnesota, Saint Paul to be precise. Because of a number of time issues, I'm not all that interested in kendo, but thank you for the offer. :) I know about all those dojos.

Thank you for your help,
Patrick

Ah, St. Paul. Ok. :) And, time issues? So, what does that mean, out of curiosity? Won't that affect you doing Jodo then too? Time is time, regardless of what you are learning, and you still go by the dojo's schedule. :) And, why wouldn't you be interested in kendo? It's really a lot of fun! Anyway, I'll still see about what I mentioned above.

Oh, and you're welcome. :)

Oh yeah... and I just now looked at your profile. You're a Toyama Ryu guy. No wonder. :) You prefer koryu! :)

Kaoru

[PatrickA]

Ah, St. Paul. Ok. :) And, time issues? So, what does that mean, out of curiosity? Won't that affect you doing Jodo then too? Time is time, regardless of what you are learning, and you still go by the dojo's schedule. :) And, why wouldn't you be interested in kendo? It's really a lot of fun! Anyway, I'll still see about what I mentioned above.

Oh, and you're welcome. :)

Oh yeah... and I just now looked at your profile. You're a Toyama Ryu guy. No wonder. :) You prefer koryu! :)

Kaoru

Actually, I have nothing against kendo. I just have obligations Wednesday nights and Saturdays, and I'm quite sure that my girlfriend would leave me if I tied up too many Friday nights. :) (That is the practice times of the Minnehaha kendo club...yes? I've been looking around at various JSAs, including kendo, for quite some time.) Once I get rid of one of my obligations, I'm planning to check out kendo.

Patrick

[Kaoru]

Actually, I have nothing against kendo. I just have obligations Wednesday nights and Saturdays, and I'm quite sure that my girlfriend would leave me if I tied up too many Friday nights. :) (That is the practice times of the Minnehaha kendo club...yes? I've been looking around at various JSAs, including kendo, for quite some time.) Once I get rid of one of my obligations, I'm planning to check out kendo.

Patrick

I see. :) Talk the girlfriend into trying kendo too! :D hahaha...

Well, beginners can't practice on Wed and Fri anyway. They are only allowed to come on Saturdays until they wear bogu. Then they have the option of coming on the other days too if they want. Practice on Sat. is from 3:30-5:30pm unless sensei is trying to kill us and goes longer, hehehe! He's done that! Doesn't happen all the time though. I myself can only manage to come once a month due to my location and driving issues. So, I just practice every day in between practices. But, a new beginner wouldn't be advised to come less than twice a month unless necessary, though it can be done with diligence and by paying attention to detail in and out of class, and keeping notes and then practicing at home in between lessons. We have to keep a kendo journal anyway, so you'd have notes at home to refer to. However, I would recommend going every Saturday since you live so close, you lucky thing! *jealous* And, I just feel that you would learn better by making it to practice each week if you can. And, once a week is just fine. :)

So, why don't you come next week-end to visit and watch a practice? Sensei may even let you practice with us. You'll need to give him a call before coming though to let him know you want to come. If all goes correctly, and my friend who drives me can take me for sure, I will be there next Saturday. That's what we have planned anyway. This Saturday, I don't know if there is practice, since there is a godo-keiko that week-end in Northfield, and unfortunately I can't attend it. Boooooo!!! :( :(

And, if you like it, then when you have an opening in your schedule for it, you could do kendo. :)

You said you are looking into various JSA. Please keep in mind that there are only two legitimate JSA koryu in the Twin Cities. Yours and the MSR dojo. That's the Mutokai Dojo. Stay away from the St. Paul Budokan. I'm dead serious about that, if you haven't already heard about them.

The only other JSA Koryu person I am aware of is in Winona, but I don't have enough info to tell you how qualified the guy is, yet. I only just learned about it a couple months ago. Anyway, I kinda make it my business to keep track of what's around the area... I've got a dojo list I keep. :)

That's the closest stuff to you. :)

Well, I hope to see you there, if you can come.

Well, hope this helps! :)

Kaoru

[PatrickA]

You said you are looking into various JSA. Please keep in mind that there are only two legitimate JSA koryu in the Twin Cities. Yours and the MSR dojo. That's the Mutokai Dojo. Stay away from the St. Paul Budokan. I'm dead serious about that, if you haven't already heard about them.

The only other JSA Koryu person I am aware of is in Winona, but I don't have enough info to tell you how qualified the guy is, yet. I only just learned about it a couple months ago. Anyway, I kinda make it my business to keep track of what's around the area... I've got a dojo list I keep. :)


Have been. And yes, I know about Mr. Kilgore. I also know about the Mutokai people, the other Toyama folks, and the other MSR group.

None of which are jodo of course. :)

Patrick

[Kaoru]

Have been. And yes, I know about Mr. Kilgore. I also know about the Mutokai people, the other Toyama folks, and the other MSR group.

None of which are jodo of course. :)

Patrick

So you've gotten a chance to visit our dojo already? Cool. Did you like what you saw? hehehe, I did mention the Toyama Ryu people when I said "yours." :) That's good you do know about the others. I thought you might, but since you said you were looking at other JSA, I thought maybe I'd better cover them anyway, just in case.

I'll let you know when I find out info on the jodo person, ok? :) I have to send out a couple e-mails first. Give me a couple days, ok?

Kaoru

[PatrickA]

So you've gotten a chance to visit our dojo already? Cool. Did you like what you saw? hehehe, I did mention the Toyama Ryu people when I said "yours." :) That's good you do know about the others. I thought you might, but since you said you were looking at other JSA, I thought maybe I'd better cover them anyway, just in case.

I'll let you know when I find out info on the jodo person, ok? :) I have to send out a couple e-mails first. Give me a couple days, ok?

Kaoru

Sorry, no. I meant "have been" as in "I found what I want to train in...and its good." I keep an eye on the JSA in Minnesota in the fleeting hope that more good schools show up. :) I have not visited your dojo and won't until there is time.

Yeah, you did mention us.

Thank you for your help.

Patrick

[Kaoru]

Sorry, no. I meant "have been" as in "I found what I want to train in...and its good."


Oh, I see! So what is it? Are you still interested in the Jodo if I can dig up what I want? I don't mind doing extra work to get it.

I keep an eye on the JSA in Minnesota in the fleeting hope that more good schools show up. :)hehehe, me too! Then, I could add it to my list if a new one showed up! :)

I have not visited your dojo and won't until there is time.Ahhhh, I see. :) Well, you're welcome to visit anytime. Just give him a call when you're ready. He's a really good teacher! :)


Yeah, you did mention us.

Thank you for your help.

PatrickYou're welcome! I was happy to help! :)

Kaoru

[Rennis]

Anyway, I'll see what I can find out about the person who does jodo and see if she is still around. If not, I'm afraid you will be out of luck, but I'll try. :)


Kaoru is talking about Kuriyama sensei, who is one of my juniors in jodo (I was the other guy she was practicing with in MN. Most people in the US who saw us assumed she was teaching me because she is Japanese, but actually I was significantly her senior at that time). Kuriyama sensei was only in the US for about a year on a university teaching exchange and also she wasn't a qualified teacher of jodo in the technical sense as she was only a nidan at the time. She did, however, have permission from her sensei in Japan to teach some introductory seitei jo stuff while she was over in MN which she did in Winona at the university. Regardless she returned to Japan a few years ago and is no longer in the area.

It is possible some of the Mutokukai people have picked up some jo in the last couple years, but I'm not sure. The closest legit jo I know of is across the just across the border in Canada or in Michigan, although it is very possible there is more.

BTW Kaoru:
Toyama ryu isn't koryu ;)

[Kaoru]

Kaoru is talking about Kuriyama sensei, who is one of my juniors in jodo (I was the other guy she was practicing with in MN. Most people in the US who saw us assumed she was teaching me because she is Japanese, but actually I was significantly her senior at that time). Kuriyama sensei was only in the US for about a year on a university teaching exchange and also she wasn't a qualified teacher of jodo in the technical sense as she was only a nidan at the time. She did, however, have permission from her sensei in Japan to teach some introductory seitei jo stuff while she was over in MN which she did in Winona at the university. Regardless she returned to Japan a few years ago and is no longer in the area.

It is possible some of the Mutokukai people have picked up some jo in the last couple years, but I'm not sure. The closest legit jo I know of is across the just across the border in Canada or in Michigan, although it is very possible there is more.

BTW Kaoru:
Toyama ryu isn't koryu ;)

Thank you very much Rennis-san.

And, yes, you're right. Toyama Ryu is a gendai art. I don't know what I was thinking! Thanks for the correction.

And, why did you not e-mail me back and let me know you received my message when I asked you for this information? I would have appreciated that, and that would have been polite. I will e-mail him this information since he has told me that he wouldn't likely be checking back here often.

Kaoru

[Rennis]

And, why did you not e-mail me back and let me know you received my message when I asked you for this information? I would have appreciated that, and that would have been polite.


Off topic since this has nothing to do with Jodo in MN but since you must know,

You said a person on the Kendo World forums asked about Jo in MN and since I am a member here it makes more sense for me to answer directly here, thus making the information you requested available to anyone else who may have similar questions as well. Since you spend a great deal of time here it should be readily apparent that I received your message and responded so there should be no need to send an additional message directly to you stating what is obvious.

Rennis Buchner

[PatrickA]

It is possible some of the Mutokukai people have picked up some jo in the last couple years, but I'm not sure. The closest legit jo I know of is across the just across the border in Canada or in Michigan, although it is very possible there is more.

BTW Kaoru:
Toyama ryu isn't koryu ;)

Thank you. I don't think they have, but I may ask them.

I appreciate your help.

Patrick

[Rennis]

Thank you. I don't think they have, but I may ask them.

I appreciate your help.

Patrick

When I last visited them in early 2004 they weren't doing any jo, but I know some of them were trying to get to Canada for some iai training and it's possible someone picked up something since then. Pure speculation though.

Best,
Rennis Buchner