Detroit taikai

[eric]

Congratulations to all those who attended the test and competition. This was another great event with a bunch of people from all over the U.S. and Canada in attendance. Congratulations to everyone on the J.C.C.C. teams for their resounding victories and congratulations to all those that passed. I hope everyone had a great time and we will see you at the next event. Cheers!

[Charlie]

Eric passed his yondan, by the way.

And I hope he doesn't kill me but here is a pic of us and some of our team mates from the event. I'm the cat in the sweatshirt stuffing his face. Eric's the guy next to me trying to pretend he can't smell the hard-boiled eggs I'd been stuffing into my face.

http://tinypic.com/1sk5cy

[joekc6nlx]

Congratulations to Eric on passing his promotion.

BTW, if you look at the picture, and check out about 6 or 7 rows up and over Charlie's right shoulder, you'll see a young man in a light colored shirt with a tie. He is our newest member of our dojo and his name is Eric, also.

[Charlie]

LOL! I thought you were gonna say... "There's me, three rows up!" Close enough, anyway, hahahaha.

[nalogg]

Congrats all!

but don't forget Etobicoke
Shigemitsu Kamata won 1st place in the 4th dan category, i hear.

[joekc6nlx]

Congrats all!

but don't forget Etobicoke
Shigemitsu Kamata won 1st place in the 4th dan category, i hear.
You know, I saw you guys there, but for the life of me, I couldn't read your nafuda/zekken. In fact, one of our other guys asked me what it was, and I couldn't tell him.

Nalogg, do you know if Kamata-san competed in Court A against Tokune-sensei from Miami Valley? Tokune-sensei got 3rd place in the yondan & up category. Congratulations to Kamata-san for his victory!

[Iviro]

ye! go Canada

[Charlie]

The Canadians always have a strong showing in Detroit!

[nalogg]

The Canadians always have a strong showing in Detroit!
A lot of canadians I know love detroit.
it's my second favourite US city next to chicago.


You know, I saw you guys there, but for the life of me, I couldn't read your nafuda/zekken. In fact, one of our other guys asked me what it was, and I couldn't tell him.

Nalogg, do you know if Kamata-san competed in Court A against Tokune-sensei from Miami Valley? Tokune-sensei got 3rd place in the yondan & up category. Congratulations to Kamata-san for his victory!
I wasn't there, i just heard it through the grapevine.
Ask "Koma" he went. He might know the details.

Our zekken is the one with gold and red embroidery, it's got the maple leaf with a crescent-circle around it and it says "Etobicoke Olympium" at the top.. the names are hard to read because the lettering is a bit small. I guess it is a bit tough to read. Thanks for reminding me, i have to order my zekken.

[KOMA]

You know, I saw you guys there, but for the life of me, I couldn't read your nafuda/zekken. In fact, one of our other guys asked me what it was, and I couldn't tell him.

Nalogg, do you know if Kamata-san competed in Court A against Tokune-sensei from Miami Valley? Tokune-sensei got 3rd place in the yondan & up category. Congratulations to Kamata-san for his victory!
That could have been my nafuda/zekken or the fact I did not have one, I used tape. So that is why you had a hard time reading it.

[joekc6nlx]

That could have been my nafuda/zekken or the fact I did not have one, I used tape. So that is why you had a hard time reading it.
Well, each time I saw it, I was either in a hurry to get over to my court, or you guys were in a hurry to get to your court.

Our match was against J.C.C.C. for third place in the team competitions. We got beat 5-0, but it was a great learning experience. Maybe in Chicago we'll get to meet up with you guys again.

I'll be at the Cleveland competition, hopefully, I'll do better than I did in Detroit, which was my first competition.

[KOMA]

Well, each time I saw it, I was either in a hurry to get over to my court, or you guys were in a hurry to get to your court.

Our match was against J.C.C.C. for third place in the team competitions. We got beat 5-0, but it was a great learning experience. Maybe in Chicago we'll get to meet up with you guys again.

I'll be at the Cleveland competition, hopefully, I'll do better than I did in Detroit, which was my first competition.Not sure but I think we had a match with your team, you beat us 3 to 2? I could be wrong!

[Charlie]

Robin Tanaka-sensei was the head shinpan at the court I was working. He gave me a lot of advice and direction on shinpan'ing, which I thanked him for. Hell of a nice guy!

I believe our B team lost to Etobicoke's A-team. I was ringside when Etobicoke lost to MSU. Great match! IIRC, Etobicoke put the least-experienced player in the fifth spot, so when he had to go up against MSU's top guy, he did his best but to no avail.

Michiganders and Canadians are pretty much cousins. At least I hope you guys feel that way!

[Neil Gendzwill]

Michiganders and Canadians are pretty much cousins. At least I hope you guys feel that way!
Closer than you think. My dad's from Iron River.

[KOMA]

I believe our B team lost to Etobicoke's A-team. I was ringside when Etobicoke lost to MSU. Great match! IIRC, Etobicoke put the least-experienced player in the fifth spot, so when he had to go up against MSU's top guy, he did his best but to no avail.

I just wished he sent an e-mail telling me about that men he was going to do on me.
Does any one have any Photos from the team match with Etobicoke, I could not take any due to the fact that I was fighting.

[Charlie]

Gendzwil's more Michigander than I am in a lot of ways. And the way Detroiters flock to Windsor you'd think we had dual citizenship.

Koma, was that you in the fifth spot at Etobicoke? Is your first name Paul? I was the dude at ringside knowing you were going up against Barany, who in his native Hungary is, I believe, a national champ, and I started chanting, "Paul! Paul! Paul!" Good spirit, man. We've all been in the spot where we've been outgunned. Once I remember a player from Chicago Kendo Dojo taking my kote in a team match, it was like a scene from an anime: I stood there, eyes bugging and going "waaaahhhhh!" while black motion lines zipped past me and the dude took my kote in still motion, POW.

[nalogg]

Robin Tanaka-sensei was the head shinpan at the court I was working. He gave me a lot of advice and direction on shinpan'ing, which I thanked him for. Hell of a nice guy!
robin sensei is awesome.
he's always coming up with creative new ways to practice, and he's good with the kiddies.

[nalogg]

Koma, was that you in the fifth spot at Etobicoke?
I think it was. he was telling me that he had to go up against someone a lot higher than him. in the team match.

That was his first tournament so kudos for participating! it's more than i did :)

[joekc6nlx]

In my last match against J.C.C.C., I was fudoshin, and I was told to watch J.C.C.C.'s fudoshin, Lee-san. He was extremely quick, and me, being a novice, that really set my tone for the match. Not really, as I decided that whatever I did, I was going to try as hard as I could.

I still got beat by a much better opponent, but I didn't feel bad as I tried my best.

[KOMA]

Gendzwil's more Michigander than I am in a lot of ways. And the way Detroiters flock to Windsor you'd think we had dual citizenship.

Koma, was that you in the fifth spot at Etobicoke? Is your first name Paul? I was the dude at ringside knowing you were going up against Barany, who in his native Hungary is, I believe, a national champ, and I started chanting, "Paul! Paul! Paul!" Good spirit, man. We've all been in the spot where we've been outgunned. Once I remember a player from Chicago Kendo Dojo taking my kote in a team match, it was like a scene from an anime: I stood there, eyes bugging and going "waaaahhhhh!" while black motion lines zipped past me and the dude took my kote in still motion, POW.I was in the fifth spot

[Charlie]

Ganbare, Paul! That's giving it the ol' college try. Let's see, flipping open the program I see that Barany-sensei is fifth dan. No worries, mate.

Hey, you guys that were there, how was your drive home? Now that you know who I am, say hi, dangit. I won't be in Cleveland but some of our guys and gals will. Cleveland is always a good tournament, also, and a good party, too!

[KOMA]

Ganbare, Paul! That's giving it the ol' college try. Let's see, flipping open the program I see that Barany-sensei is fifth dan. No worries, mate.

Hey, you guys that were there, how was your drive home? Now that you know who I am, say hi, dangit. I won't be in Cleveland but some of our guys and gals will. Cleveland is always a good tournament, also, and a good party, too!The drive home was long, had to stop for 20 to 40 min. due to a truck that jack-knife. Think I got home at 3 or 4 am

[Iviro]

Cleveland hosts a great tournament... however the last time they had time for a banquet afterwards was in 2002 I think... must be due to the tournament ending later than expected

[joekc6nlx]

Ganbare, Paul! That's giving it the ol' college try. Let's see, flipping open the program I see that Barany-sensei is fifth dan. No worries, mate.

Hey, you guys that were there, how was your drive home? Now that you know who I am, say hi, dangit. I won't be in Cleveland but some of our guys and gals will. Cleveland is always a good tournament, also, and a good party, too!
Hi, Dangit!

We left about 4:30, snowing like crazy. I no sooner had the windshield cleared and it was caked on again. It took us quite a while to get out of Detroit, but finally pulled into my driveway around 9:00, and the guy I rode with still had another 100 miles to go.

[KOMA]

Ganbare, Paul! That's giving it the ol' college try. Let's see, flipping open the program I see that Barany-sensei is fifth dan. No worries, mate.
Thanks, when my match was over I had no clue what went on. I had no clue who he was ( Tibor Barany) Just in kendo for a year and started in Bogu in Oct. I took the lost as if I did something wrong. From this forum I found out that he is the team captain for the Hungarian national team.
I did the best as any 3rd Kyu would have done and feel honour in fighting him.

[Charlie]

That's the correct attitude, Koma. Never feel as if you "did something wrong" but rather what you can do better. You can eat yourself up picking apart your performance against even someone equal to you. The fact is there are a million reasons why you do or don't win a match, sometimes it just isn't your day (it wasn't mine; I lost in individuals and won a team match, although my team wasn't able to win). In the case of you and Barany, yeah, different levels of skill. In the case of you against anyone, could be the same thing, might be that they just had it together at that time and you didn't for whatever reasons. Just get back to practice and keep going!

[dcarney]

My sister came with me to Detroit and took this picture:

http://www.physics.uc.edu/~carneyd/random/group.jpg

Can you spot yourself?

[nalogg]

My sister came with me to Detroit and took this picture:

http://www.physics.uc.edu/~carneyd/random/group.jpg

Can you spot yourself?
that's cool!
it's like a little army

[Charlie]

Great pic!

Carney, is this your back?

http://tinypic.com/1to94l

[joekc6nlx]

Gee Dan,

I looked all through that pic, can't find you. I know I'm not there, because Chris and I got there after they had started the opening ceremonies. I see Ellie at the back of the Wisconsin team.

I was looking for Mika, since she's the only one in our dojo who wears white, but I don't see her, either.

Still, it's a great shot, I'm sure that the people in Detroit will want to use that for their programs.

[KOMA]

I see my self in the pic. from the left side of the pic you see someone putting on a men, move to the right behind the shinpan that's me

[joekc6nlx]

Gee Dan,

I looked all through that pic, can't find you. I know I'm not there, because Chris and I got there after they had started the opening ceremonies. I see Ellie at the back of the Wisconsin team.

I was looking for Mika, since she's the only one in our dojo who wears white, but I don't see her, either.

Still, it's a great shot, I'm sure that the people in Detroit will want to use that for their programs.
Dan, I'm sorry, I meant the one your sister took.

Koma, in the other picture, are you the one with the beard talking to someone wearing a dark wristband on their right hand?

[KOMA]

Dan, I'm sorry, I meant the one your sister took.

Koma, in the other picture, are you the one with the beard talking to someone wearing a dark wristband on their right hand?
I'm taking a photo not talking but yes that's me

[KOMA]

Dan, I'm sorry, I meant the one your sister took.

Koma, in the other picture, are you the one with the beard talking to someone wearing a dark wristband on their right hand?
I'm bad, I was the one with the wristband

[dcarney]

Charley, nope, that's not me.. pretty sure I didn't fight anyone from Wisconsin wearing white. I'm about 6'4" so you might have noticed that, if anything...

[coldwater19]

Great pic!

Carney, is this your back?

http://tinypic.com/1to94l
ummmmmm, who did take that picture? 'cause that's my front...

[Charlie]

Hiya, Coldwater. That pic was taken by one of our club mates, Jason. I'm the short-haired, devastatingly handsome shinpan in the lower left hand corner. Great pic, eh? I don't have any more like that but I remember you and Carney being on that court. Are you a woman with a long blonde braid?

[coldwater19]

Hiya, Coldwater. That pic was taken by one of our club mates, Jason. I'm the short-haired, devastatingly handsome shinpan in the lower left hand corner. Great pic, eh? I don't have any more like that but I remember you and Carney being on that court. Are you a woman with a long blonde braid?thank you for the picture! i was just a little surprised at finding a picture of myself on a public forum all of a sudden.

the woman with the long blonde braid is another team member. if you look at the group picture with all the dojos in line a few posts up, she's in the second row from the bottom, last in line. i'm the girl with short black hair in all white second from the front there.

[kendokamax]

you guys have good eyes...

[joekc6nlx]

Are you a woman with a long blonde braid?
That would be Ellie Younger, who used to be at our dojo, Miami Valley in Dayton. She's a doctoral student at U. of Wisconsin. Every so often, she comes back for keiko with us, just so we can once again enjoy a tai-atari.

It was great to see her there, and also that she passed shodan!

[Charlie]

You can never tell who's who in kendo pics, can you? You look, can't read the nafuda, and are reduced to, "Whose feet are those? Does that look like Joe's feet? Whose tenegui is that?"

[Prymephyre]

Hey, Detroit Tournament was awesome.
Yay go Etobicoke!
It was crazy when Shigemitsu Kamata won 5 continuous matches and won 1st place in the 4rth dan or higher category.

[joekc6nlx]

Hey, Detroit Tournament was awesome.
Yay go Etobicoke!
It was crazy when Shigemitsu Kamata won 5 continuous matches and won 1st place in the 4rth dan or higher category.
He must have been on "B" court, because over on "A" court, Toshio Tokune-sensei from Miami Valley KC had to fight 4 consecutive matches, none of which were settled in regulation time.

[nalogg]

Hey, Detroit Tournament was awesome.
Yay go Etobicoke!
It was crazy when Shigemitsu Kamata won 5 continuous matches and won 1st place in the 4rth dan or higher category.
aw yeah, that whole kamata family has kendo genes or something.
they rule.

[Prymephyre]

Haha yea, I bet Shigemitsu's daughter is gonna start kendo and be really good.

[nalogg]

Haha yea, I bet Shigemitsu's daughter is gonna start kendo and be really good.
I didn't know he had a daughter!
i see lots of kids dojo-side but i never know who they belong to.
Come to think of it I know very little about any of my sensei.
I wish our club went out for "beer keiko" after practice or something.... then again maybe they do, and I wasn't invited. :D

[joekc6nlx]

I wish our club went out for "beer keiko" after practice or something.... then again maybe they do, and I wasn't invited. :D
hmmm.... after keiko, all of the members except the senseis sit in a circle and share information about upcoming events, etc. We extend an invitation to all to join us at our "beer keiko" across the street from the dojo.

Perhaps your senseis are trying to tell you something? Perhaps you could put a "tracer" on one of their cars and follow them to see if they do go to a "beer keiko", then invite yourself in.

I don't know why they wouldn't invite you to a "beer keiko". We bring in people who are definitely not allowed to drink alcohol, and make sure they get served with the appropriate soft drink.

Nalogg, I'll invite you to one of ours, but not this Saturday, we'll be at promotion exams in Kentucky. Maybe the week after......long drive for a brew, though.

[joekc6nlx]

You can never tell who's who in kendo pics, can you? You look, can't read the nafuda, and are reduced to, "Whose feet are those? Does that look like Joe's feet? Whose tenegui is that?"
Couldn't be my feet in that picture, they're too clean!

[nalogg]

Nalogg, I'll invite you to one of ours, but not this Saturday, we'll be at promotion exams in Kentucky. Maybe the week after......long drive for a brew, though.
Haha, thanks.
Maybe i'll wait til i'm in the neighbourhood though.