Answers needed. *moving to japan*/ choice of style

[ultimatix]

Hi

I am a young man, living in the northern part of Norway (yes, far far away).
I have been training Kyokushinkai Karate for some years now, but I feel that it is not enough, and I feel attracted to the art of the Japanese sword.
Here, where I live, there is only karate and taekwondo. So I have been thinking of relocating somewhere I can train kendo, iaido or preferably something similar to shinkendo or kenjutsu. I am more the type that likes kata and tameshigiri (cutting).

Simultaniously I have been thinking about moving to Japan, because I love the country (the history, the ethics, the climate). I suppose those to dreams should be compatible? So the plan, or rather "thesis", is that I will move to Japan and start training kendo, iaido or kenjutsu etc. I don't know for how long or anything like that.

I also read the threads about the international budo university, which I found very interesting (tough kendo is not my style of choice). I should also add that I do not speak japanese (but I plan on studying it by myself the coming year).

So over to the questions, thats why I'm here after all..


- What style fits me? (I like kata, cutting and a little competition) I don't mind it being challenging.

- Are there any similar offers to the International Budo University in Japan?

- What kind of jobs would I be able to get in Japan?

- What is a koryu? I've heard it being translated into something like "traditional school". How does these koryu work like?

- What is the most similar to Shinkendo in Japan? (www.shinkendo.com (http://www.shinkendo.com/))

- Should I go for the International Budo University? I know they also got an iaido club there.

I'm sorry that it become so many different questions at one time, and expect more of them :wink:
Thanks..

[Ninjujinkaku]

To Move to Japan you have to get a job there first otherwise you wont get a visa. Common jobs are teaching english, but since your from norway you will most likely not have any luck getting one because they prefer people from England and America for those jobs. I recommend moving to Amsterdam they have the same style of Karate you do taught by Jon Bluming http://www.realfighting.com/0102/jonblumi.htm .
They also have Iaido and other sword arts there, search the net for more info.
It will also be easier for you to get a job there and it is alot cheaper than Japan and you wont have to live in a tiny appartment. I plan on moving there because my cousin owns a fitness center there.

[nodachi]

If you can't get a job teaching English, which you can still try, why not, it might work, get some Japanese under your belt, be it from university classes or some language institute, study it real hard for a year or so with some intensive courses, and then enroll in some course of study in Japan. Then you might be able to get a student visa, unless I am horribly wrong in thinking this way, some one can correct me if I'm wrong.

If the working path doesn't work for getting a visa, find another path.

Also, if you live in a more suburban or rural area and live like the Japanese, eat Japanese food and not all sorts of foreign/imported foods, then living in Japan can actually be very inexpensive.

[xvikingx]

It will be hard getting a job with out a university/ college degree. However the Japanese don't really care if you are yank, pommy, kiwi, Aussie... Just as long as you foriegn and speak English then you "qualify". There are a lot of non-native speaking English teachers here.
May I suggest you strive for something better than being an English teaching dog. Life is not easy in Japan for non-Japanese, there are alot of hurdles. That isn't to say that living here sucks (otherwise I wouldn't be here). Try going to school here for a year or so and see how you like it.
Hey, if you come out to the Kobe/Osaka area teach me some Norwegian please!

[stuartwilson]

Ultimax, you make me feel lucky. (I get to live in a place that has good weather and sword arts.) I think you should study both kendo and iaijustsu. There are places outside of Japan where you can do this, but of course, none is as good. If you don't find a path to Japan right away, you can always begin your study somewhere else first. This may in fact be the best way to find your ultimate path. Good luck to you.

[Kaoru]

Hi Ultimax-san,

Norway has Kendo and Iaido. I did a ton of research for someone else in Norway already.

Let's see... Gotta find thread. Just a min... Ok. I'm back! Here's the stuff I copied from my other post...There are only two dojos in Norway that I found. One in Oslo and one in Bergen, that are legitimate dojos. Here is the information:

There is a Kendo dojo in Olso, Norway.

Here is the URL to the dojo:

http://www.oslokendo.com/

Here is the information if you can't get the site to work:
(Someone I had found this for a while ago, had a problem with the two Kendo club sites.)


Oslo Kendo Club Information:
-----------------------------

Styre:
Mikkel Wettre, Styreleder
Kyrre Pedersen, Nestleder
Petter Karlsen, Sekretær
Geir Arne Sandbakken, Kasserer
Lukas Johnson, Styremedlem
Andreas Hertzenberg, Styremedlem

Instruktører:
Kyrre Pedersen, +47 90 20 70 80
E-mail: kyrrepedersen@hotmail.com (kyrrepedersen@hotmail.com)

Mikkel Wettre, +47 90 18 14 48
Petter Karlsen, +47 92 84 72 37

Kursavgift: 1000,- kr 1/2 år+ 100,- kr pr. år til NKF. Vi låner ut rustninger det første året. Det koster fra kr. 2500,-og oppover for en komplett rustning. Dette kjøper medlemmene selv. Klubben selger sverd(shinai). Den koster kr. 250,-
Begynnertreninger:
Vi har nybegynnertreninger i begynnelsen av hvert semester:
Januar-februar og august-september.

Treningstider:
Onsdager kl. 1800-2100
Siste trening før sommerferien: 26/5-04
TA KONTAKT FOR MER INFO

Dojo adresse:
Grefsen vgs, Morells vei 2.
Ta T-bane, buss, trikk til Storo. Gå deretter i 4-5 min. i retning Grefsen.

Here are links to pics from the Oslo Kendo Club site: Hope this works:

http://www.oslokendo.com/db1/00027/...rrevsPetter.jpg (http://www.oslokendo.com/db1/00027/oslokendo.com/_uimages/KyrrevsPetter.jpg)

http://www.oslokendo.com/db1/00027/...ages/kendo2.jpg (http://www.oslokendo.com/db1/00027/oslokendo.com/_uimages/kendo2.jpg)

------------------------------------------------------------------

I have looked, but the only Iaido I found was in Bergen. Here is the Bergen kendo and Iaido Club:

http://www.kendo-bergen.com/


The Iaido they teach is Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido, which is a Koryu Iaido.

Below is information from the site if you can't get it to work:



Bergen Kendo/MJER Iaido Club contact information:
-------------------------------------------------

By the way, Roar Ulvestad is a very nice person, and can help you with any questions you have. I don't know who the other guys are.

Om Bergen Kendo
------------------

Bergen Kendoklubb er tilsluttet Norges idrettsforbund og Norges Kendoforbund som gjennom overnasjonale forbund har tilknytning til ZNKR, Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei, eller Hele Japans Kendo Sammenslutning. Dette forbundet er også de som organiserer de mest utbredte Iaido og Jodo retningene, Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei Iaido og Seitejodo. Klubbens instruktører reiser hvert år til store europeiske treningsleire der de beste fra den Japanske moder-organisasjonen instruerer, og vi inviterer også store navn fra andre land i Europa, forhåpentligvis en eller to ganger i året.

Bergen Kendo Klubb er glade for å kunne tilby tre helt spesielle kampkunster,som tross sine innbyrdes forskjeller er et spennende tillegg til mye av den kampsport-treningen vi har i Norge fra før.


Kontaktpersoner
-----------------

Kendo
-------

Kåre Jon Lund
Tlf : 41 21 96 14
e-mail: nukimen2000@yahoo.no (nukimen2000@yahoo.no)

Iaido/Jodo
-----------

Roar Ulvestad
Tlf : 55 13 22 41
e-mail: roaru@hotmail.com (roaru@hotmail.com)


Webmaster
------------

Magnus Stern
Tlf : 928 31 231
e-mail: magnus@x79.org (magnus@x79.org)

Treningsted
Rudolf Steinerskolen
Rieber-Mohns v 15
5231 Paradis

Here is information on their Iaido. They study MSR or Muso Shinden Ryu, and that has Tameshigiri(Test cutting). From what I could tell, it says that beginners study the Seitei gata Iaido first, before learning MSR Iaido. MSR is Koryu Iaido.

Here:

----------------------------------------
Beskrivelse

Moderne japansk sverdkunst med røtter i samuraienes historie. Iaido er ferdighetstrening med det japanske langsverd (Katana). Treningen består av grunnleggende huggtrening (Suburi), og fastlagte mønster (Kata).

Bergen Kendoklubb trener Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei Seiteigata, vanligvis forkortet til ZNKR-Iai. Dette er et sett på tolv kata tatt fra ulike gamle sverdskoler (Ryu-ha). ZNKR-Iai er den mest utbredte Iaido-retningen, og blir brukt i konkurranser og graderinger i federasjoner som er tilknyttet verdens største sverdkunst-organisasjon, Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei (ZNKR -- Den nasjonale Kendo-føderasjonen i Japan).

I tillegg trener vi en eldre Iaido-stilart (Koryu) kalt Muso Shinden Ryu. MSR har over 40 solo-kata, og en rekke kata for to personer. Det er vanlig at man behersker ZNKR-Iai på et visst nivå før man eventuelt begynner å trene Koryu.

-----------------------

They also teach Jodo there, if you are interested in that. Well, I looked all over their site for practice times, but none are listed. You'll have to either call or e-mail somebody to find out, I guess.

Anyway, I hope this helps! Good luck in whatever you decide. :)

Oh: Wait to buy weapons of any sort. Your sensei will tell you what to buy. Some are really particular, and it's a waste of money to go buy something and find out they don't want you to have it. You'll start with bokuto anyway. Just wait. They can be particular about that, too. Kendo, if you do that, just wait, because the size shinai you use matters as well.
Oh yeah... be sure to call before you show up to ask if you can visit. They will require you to watch a practice first. That's standard.

Well, I hope this helps! :)

Kaoru

[Kaoru]

Oh Yes...

Don't expect to get to use a real sword for about 5 years if you do Iaido(Or Kenjutsu in another country. There is no Kenjutsu that is legit in Norway.). You'll begin with a bokuto(wooden sword) and then, when your sensei will say you are ready, use an Iaito(blunt-edged sword)for a very long time. Iaido/Kenjutsu is NOT easy. You don't compete really, in a Koryu like Iaido. I mean, it isn't like Kendo in terms of that. Chidokan-san, Mahan-san help!! Please explain somebody in Koryu what I mean please. You won't do kata competition for several years, if at all. It isn't flashy, either like those silly Karate sword tossing stuff that is not JSA. I don't know that Kenjustu does any taikai.(Competing) Competing in Koryu is not of importance like it is in an unarmed art like karate. I mean, some do it, but it isn't the main focus.

Oh... You likely won't do tameshigiri for a long time.

Just realise that studying Koryu(Old Japanese sword arts) is a serious business. And, it is very hard work.

And, from what I understand, the Int. Nat. Budo Univ. is for people already doing those arts and are serious.

Kendo is a wonderful art too. It is very hard work, and takes the same dedication as a Koryu art does. No cutting in Kendo though. But, unlike the Koryu, you can get to spar one day if you stick with it and work hard.

If you are willing to have the patience and work hard, you will enjoy these arts. :)

Oh... For more information on what Koryu(classical Japanese swordarts) is, please go here:

http://www.koryu.com (http://www.koryu.com/)

Again, I hope this helps! :)

Kaoru

[ultimatix]

Wow, thanks alot for all the usefull information!! :D I was only hoping for one reply perhaps two! This is great!
However, I should have written that I was thinking of moving to Japan before I even considered kendo/iaido training. So if I am moving to Japan it's not only because of the sword training. It's because I want to live there (atleast for some time).
I would also like to know a little more from you who actually lives/has lived in Japan as foreigners.
kaoru, thank you for taking your time to write all that for me. Though it makes me a bit guilty to say that I do not feel any attraction to Bergen nor Oslo.. (I would rather stay where I'm living today).
xvikingx, are you living in Japan? where are you actually from? Your profile says that you are from the US. But your name is Leiv Harstad? That sounds to me like a norwegian/scandinavian name? What is it like, living in Japan? Do you feel like a gajin? (I've picked up a few words :p) Are you training Kendo? Is the level higher in Japan (as I could imagine it would be)?
Also, I have been thinking of studying in Japan. But how do I "convert" my "high-school"(it's not what it is called here) points/grades into the japanese system? Would I have to take some tests to fit in?

Thanks again!

[Kaoru]

Hi!

You're very welcome! Well, really, you ought to go ask this question on e-budo.com in the Sword Arts forum there. That is where most of the Koryu sword guys who live in Japan are. You will get more replies for the traditional sword arts from those guys, and here, you will get lots of Kendo information.

That is a good place to ask, because there, others have asked this same type of question. If you plan on a H.S. student exchange program,(You are in H.S. right?) in the High Schools there, you'll most likely end up doing Kendo anyhow, as it is part of the PE requirement. So, just go to e-budo.com, register, and when you post, you must give your full real name in your post. It is a rule there. Be sure to say exactly what you want. They will be willing to explain to you what it takes to go there and qualify to go there.

E-budo.com here:

http://www.e-budo.com/vbulletin/index.php

After you register, scroll down until you see the Sword Arts forum.

I hope that helps!

Kaoru

[xvikingx]

xvikingx, are you living in Japan? where are you actually from? Your profile says that you are from the US. But your name is Leiv Harstad? That sounds to me like a norwegian/scandinavian name? What is it like, living in Japan? Do you feel like a gajin?....

Try searching for a foriegn exchange program. I know there are serveral schools that offer programs for foriegners who want to learn Japanese language and culture. Although I can't remember the names :ermm: Sorry.
Me? I am American but I currently live in Japan. My Grandparents were from Norway, however they died when I was very young.
Yes I feel like a "gaijin" because I am one, always will be, and I am not allowed to forget that for one second. Besides that living in Japan is quite nice. Just like any place in this world, Japan has it's up and downs.

[psywarblade]

I wanna go :(

I get to continue Iaido ....
I get to continue Kendo ....
Heck I even could find Judo ...

Nice weather ...
Nice cars ...
Nice Ladies ...


oh yea when we moving ?