Any other Brit Kendoka who started in Japan?

[senki-kendo-jos]

I lived in Japan for ten months and began training over there. I'd be really interested in chatting to other British kendoka who started in Japan. I find it really strange over here. It's just so different!! I train at Doshinkenyukai in halifax and i love it but it's so different to the high school dojo I was training in when I lived in Kitakyushu shi in Japan!!

[litige]

I lived in Japan for ten months and began training over there. I'd be really interested in chatting to other British kendoka who started in Japan. I find it really strange over here. It's just so different!! I train at Doshinkenyukai in halifax and i love it but it's so different to the high school dojo I was training in when I lived in Kitakyushu shi in Japan!!

There's a halifax in the UK?....

one of our province here ( Nova Scotia) have Halifax as the capital city name. There is also the town of sydney, and many other U.K. city name

[Musha]

There are 1000s of cites in America, Canada, New Zealand Australia and all other British colonies. I think there in a Halifax in Africa where people get killed every day and armed gangs roam the streets. I wonder if the British Halifax is the same.. :D.

[Kendoka]

There's a halifax in the UK?....

one of our province here ( Nova Scotia) have Halifax as the capital city name. There is also the town of sydney, and many other U.K. city name

"Nova Scotia" means "New Scotland"

R)

[senki-kendo-jos]

There are 1000s of cites in America, Canada, New Zealand Australia and all other British colonies. I think there in a Halifax in Africa where people get killed every day and armed gangs roam the streets. I wonder if the British Halifax is the same.. :D.
Pretty much, lol! Nah... decent place... lived here all me life and nothing's wrong with me (*shudders and twitches involuntarily)

[Musha]

Joshi..Pretty much, lol! Nah... decent place... lived here all me life and nothing's wrong with me (*shudders and twitches involuntarily)

Only joking lol. I got lost there coming back from Mark-Sensei's Dojyo near bolton that was fun :).
Seriously I know what you mean about the difference with Japanese Dojyo and English Dojyo. Well mine any way. I went to Japan for 3 weeks and got to practice a few times.
I liked how they warmed up and jogged around the Dojyo saying some thing like 'Ichi ni san shi SORE!, Ichi ni san shi SORE!'. It really got you going and ready for Jigeiko :D. At our dojyo people are also a little slow and disorganised hehe...

Hope I can go back to Japan there next year.

[emitbrownne]

At our dojyo people are also a little slow and disorganised hehe...
A dig at Sensei's organisational skills, and the Sempai's too eh?....:eek:
I hope you are not reffering to Bolton when you say this...
Otherwise we will have to practice our organising on you... :evil:

[emitbrownne]

I lived in Japan for ten months and began training over there. I'd be really interested in chatting to other British kendoka who started in Japan. I find it really strange over here. It's just so different!! I train at Doshinkenyukai in halifax and i love it but it's so different to the high school dojo I was training in when I lived in Kitakyushu shi in Japan!!
Hi.. I dont fit into you category for a "British kendoka who started in Japan".. but I've recently come back from Kyoto and noticed a few differences.

*disclaimer - these are my obervations and thoughts, and no way represent those thoughts or opinions of anyone who knows anything *

People in Japan take the activity one of two ways ... as a sport or as a serious martial art.
People in Britain generally see it as an obsessive sport (or even a hobby).. there are a few exceptions who think they are feudal samurai reborn in the north of England.:grin:

Because it is a practice rather than a social gathering in Japan people generally get to it straight away.. wheras in the clubs I train at the attitude is of a group of enthusiasts getting to gether, practising hard, but enjoying the relaxed social scene that goes with it.

---oops I'm supposed to be working.. I'll post some more of my wonderful opinions on Monday ... caio

Paulo

[D'Artagnan]

...nothing's wrong with me (*shudders and twitches involuntarily)

Liar!!!!

(just kidding hehehe)

Andy

[Musha]

Oh Andy have I seen you at Bolton? If that is you in that Photo :).

Emit. A dig at Sensei's organisational skills, and the Sempai's too eh?....
I hope you are not referring to Bolton when you say this...
Otherwise we will have to practice our organising on you...

Hm I don't know how I could have said that without being rude but I don't know if you could have seen the difference when you went to Japan?

Both mine and Mark Sensei's dojyo's are great! and I always look forwards to going. But with things like Kirikaseshi, at our Dojyo any way, some of the newer people seem to have a reluctance to join in and I usually have to shout to them to come do Kirikaeshi on me :D. Maybe they don't like me or some thing :silly:. But our Dojyo is small and there are so many people now! There usually ends up a mass of people chatting at the back waiting to join in :).

[senki-kendo-jos]

Liar!!!!

(just kidding hehehe)

Andy
I'm not a liar andy... almost kicked your ass anyways! HA!

Ok so maybe I am a little eccentric, but that's just two kick ass cultures fused into one in one hyperactive little kendoka... hee hee hee!

Anyways, may be popping over to preston at some point during summer, depending on work/parents/hangover etc so may see u there!

[senki-kendo-jos]

Training in Japan for me was like nothing many people in the uk have experienced seeing as it was in a high school dojo. My day was basically get up, go to school, have classes, clean school (in true japanese fashion) then 3 hours of kendo, go home, eat, bath, check email, collapse on bed to start it all over again.

By the way, I still have the Japanese high school girl's uniform...

[Musha]

The Dojyo I went to was a mix of mostly Shougaku-sei and Chugaku-sei children some koukou sei and High grade adult sensei. Funny to see about 10 sensei in front of you instead of about 4 lol.
Even the younger children were great at Kendo and one 14 year old boy said he have been doing it for 4 years.

I guess that's why the dojyo was so organised. Every one knew what they were doing :D. When we lined up and did 'tsuriage men' I couldn't even tell what the people were doing. I lifted my shinai swung down and the boy was already behind me after hitting and doing his zanshin. Ah.... I have a long way to go :(.

P.s What happened on Mark-Sensei's trip to Japan? I have never heard any one talk about it. Did some horrible accident happen that every one is sworn to secrecy about? Like in 'I know what you did last summer' hehehe :devious:.

[D'Artagnan]

[QUOTE=Musha]Oh Andy have I seen you at Bolton? If that is you in that Photo :).
QUOTE]


Yes Musha, that is me in the photo, however, i have never trained with Mark sensei at Bolton, not yet at least. Unfortunately we at Preston train at the same time as the Bolton Dojo. I have attended various BKA events/Taikai though, so you may have seen me there.

As for Laura, then it would be good if you could visit us at Preston, try and bring some more of DSKYK Halifax with you, over to the dark side, over to the Onii-Kai!!!!! ha ha ha

[senki-kendo-jos]

i'll try and come over to preston. i need to practice at more other dojos before i take my shodan. my kata are crap!

[Musha]

Maybe you have a twin :D...

I'll try and come to the Halifax Jou do practice event this month and check out the Halifax Dojyo. I used to do a type of Aikido Joudo a long time ago and have been trying to remember what I did. Any one else coming? :D

[D'Artagnan]

When is your test???

are you grading at stoke???

if so we have a couple of people at Preston who will be taking Shodan there.

[Akasha]

my kata are crap!
We don't really do that much Kata at our dojo (preston) at the moment, so may not be that helpful in those terms.

I'm D'Artagnan's girlfriend and train there also and would like to meet you!

[Akasha]

but it's so different to the high school dojo I was training in when I lived in Kitakyushu shi in Japan!!Oh I wish they had it here in the UK when I was at school, much better than rounders and netball.

I would have loved to have trained in Japan especially from a younger age. And would be interested to learn the differences.

[senki-kendo-jos]

Hey Akasha... wanna meet u too! Did your boyf tell u I almost kicked his butt... hee hee!

Training in a high school dojo was great but sooooo strict. My teacher was so hard on us. He was supposed to be coming over this summer but can't... noooo! I actually competed in the Gyokuryuki while I was out there (the high school team version of the all japans and where Sumi sensei is the head ref every year!) and I was lucky enough to win a match in the first round against a nidan (for which the papers and TV went nuts... no D'Artagnan you are NOT seeing the video!). While I was there I got told I was the first British woman to compete... at least I think I did... my Japanese wasn't too good at that point. Anyone want to contest this claim... cos if ya don't I may just get it embroidered on my hakama! HA!

Seriously, everyone made a huge fuss, but I don't see why... I mean ok so I did look a bit different and have less experience but we're all just there to do our best. My team wasn't really praised and we got knocked out second round so I don't think they should have made a fuss. I don't want to swing off that one achievement for the rest of my kendo career... which is why i'm going to enter the Lidstone and the Bowden and stuff and try and do well over here in Igirisu. Besides no one knows what the Gyokuryuki is over here unless they're japanese so not much use really!

And D'Artagnan, no i'm not grading at stoke. Should be grading at the one after the Lidstone... hopefully. Gary sensei says I should have no problems but i'm not too sure. I took my ikkyu in japan and was super nervous because I was the only one who wasn't a 13 year old junior high school boy! I was a tall, fair, female gaijin and stuck out a mile! Kicked butt with my kirikaeshi though! It didn't do any harm that this 8th dan who had taken a liking to me (and happened to be the youngest ever all japan champion when he was 21!) was on the panel. Sometimes I think I just passed because I was a gaijin... Sakai sensei, my teacher, says no, but I'm not sure...

[Seta]

senki-kendo-jos quote 'Sometimes I think I just passed because I was a gaijin..'

I'm sure they wouldn't let you pass just because of that. On the other hand you seem pretty sure.... I hope you do have time to come around to the preston dojo. It woud really be nice to meeet you .

[Akasha]

Well, impressive, well done!

Can I ask what took you to Japan (And I don't mean a plane). I think you are very lucky to have been able to experience a different culture especially at a school.

[D'Artagnan]

I hope you do have time to come around to the preston dojo. It woud really be nice to meeet you .


You train at Preston Seta????

forgive me being forward but who are you?? I can't figure it out from your posts...

[Akasha]

You train at Preston Seta????

forgive me being forward but who are you?? I can't figure it out from your posts...I must admit I was struggling with identification also - sorry Seta!

[senki-kendo-jos]

I went to Japan on a Scholarship... the Japanese govt paid for me to go and live with a Japanese family, study at a japanese high school etc for a year. It was a laugh and a half! Can't wait to get back!

and seta... i'm not certain but I overheard a couple of the panel joking about gaijin (obviously assumed I couldn't speak japanese, which I can, lol)

[mingshi]

I actually competed in the Gyokuryuki while I was out there (the high school team version of the all japans and where Sumi sensei is the head ref every year!) and I was lucky enough to win a match in the first round against a nidan ...While I was there I got told I was the first British woman to compete...

I don't want to swing off that one achievement for the rest of my kendo career... which is why i'm going to enter the Lidstone and the Bowden and stuff and try and do well over here in Igirisu.

Hey! --welcome to the British Squad!

[senki-kendo-jos]

Ha! U have to be joking! I'm only an ikkyu!

Gary O Donnell sensei at halifax told me I should go to one or two of the squad practices to get some more practice but I don't think i'm good enough yet. I would love to practice with the British squad though. It would be a really good chance to get to know people better cos i've only been training in the uk for about 3 months so i'm still being introduced around the dojos. Go down to Manchester and Ollerton quite a bit and as soon as I get off school and exams i'll try and get to Newcastle, Bolton and Preston. If you're going to the Bowden, i'll be the girl with very long dark blonde hair with the Doshinkenyukai lot! Do come and introduce yourselves won't u!!

[Musha]

Hi Josi, I don't think you have to be too worried about going to Squad practice meetings. I guess they would be happy to fill out the ranks with some extra Kendo-ka if some people can't make it and want to practice. I am sure you are capable :).

I would go my self but it is not to easy to go down south with no car and on the train :(.

P.s It says they are looking for female Kendo ka. I think they are looking for potential over skill and maybe you would even get asked to join :D.

[senki-kendo-jos]

Hmmm... I need to get a job where they're more likely to let me have time off! At the mo they just get on their high horse about anything and everything... like I got a BIG bruise after last shiai night and the sleeves of mt uniform showed it... so the boss went off on one at me! Just my luck!

I would LOVE to train with the squad. I definitely intend to at some point!

[Dr-Rogg]

woo, spooky...

started training at kitakyudai just before christmas :shocked: come back to sunny old england next month to apply for a new visa, and then jumping on the next plane back :) which high school did you go to?

don't suppose you bumped into any of my teachers? one would've been smoking like a fiend, the other would've been whapping people in the lower back during jigeiko for not moving fast enough

ikkyu a week tomorrow. wish me luck...

[D'Artagnan]

Where in the uk are you from??

[Dr-Rogg]

Oxford, but at uni in Cardiff.

[senki-kendo-jos]

COOL!! I went to Wakamatsu High School and I used to live in Takasu nishi. If I remember right the uni is in Orio... so basically I passed it on my way to school every day! What are your sensei's names? I probably did come across them, came across quite a few at various taikai. U might have come across my sensei, Sakai sensei (there are 2 high school ones in Kitakyushu, he's the taller and younger looking of the two)... if u do say konnichiwa to him for me... actually haven't emailed in a while so probably should!

How is Kitakyushu! Say hi to it for me!

[Dr-Rogg]

I think that's Kitakyushu Kokusai Daigaku; I'm at the Shiritsu Daigaku over in Kitagata (Kokura-minami-ku).

Senseis are Fukuhashi-shihan and Ogata-sensei - shihan actually refs at most shiais round here, so you probably have bumped into him :)

Big new department store opened opposite Kokura-eki a few months ago, can even find stuff to fit a 6'2" foreigner with 30cm feet. :shocked:

[senki-kendo-jos]

Now the shops around kokura -eki are great! I didn't have too much of a problem getting clothes cos i'm only 5ft5" with 24cm feet... in other words own far too many of the tartan miniskirts that the high school girls wear... and I wear them to the pub after kendo! The sempai of my dojo over here keeps saying it looks like i'm ready for a game of netball!
The names of your sensei's do ring a bell but can't picture. When do u come back 2 the uk?

By the way, I still have a thing about Kokura Minami high school... they thrashed our team... they need payback!

[Dr-Rogg]

Jailbait high-schoolers :lick:

On the lookout for some truly classic engrish (www.engrish.com) t-shirts - seen some ok ones in the shops, but looking for some exhibiting truly cringeworthy travesties of English misuse.

Then again, it's not like we don't do it to Japanese/Chinese at home :rolleyes:

Due back sometime next month, but then heading back as soon as I can get a new visa - maybe around a month, since I need to find a new apartment. Getting turfed out of the Koudan at Moritsune after a year, sniff... wouldn't mind visiting a dojo while I'm back actually, to see what it compares like to Japan if nothing else, but not lugging all my stuff back on the plane :old_man:

[senki-kendo-jos]

Cool! Well drop me an email when u get back! By the way bringing stuff back ain't that bad, u can carry bougu as hand luggage on the planes, they aren't too keen on u checking it cos it might break, same as carrying a violin with you. Shinai are more of a problem. From Kitakyushu to Haneda and from Narita to Heathrow wasn't a problem, but I caught a plane from Heathrow to Manchester and they were a little suspicious of why I was checking three bamboo swords, made me unpack them and everything!

And i'm not jailbait... i'm 18! Just dress like jailbait! Pigtails, the lot! Much more fun that way, lol! I have a couple of great tee shirts. My favourite one ain't exactly engrish... just says STRAWBERRY JAM on the front, which a lot of the guys over here kept making rather rude jokes about!

If u fancied coming 2 watch a dojo over here (or take part!!!) and can get 2 Leeds area then I practice at DOSHINKENYUKAI in halifax and could show u the ropes (and some very nice pubs, lol, spot the student!!!)