Training In a Japanese Traditonal Dojo

[Musashi898]

Hey

At the moment i am saving up to go to Japan to train there and hopefully learn more about Japanese History 749 A.D. (Beginning of the Samurai) as i want to lecture about it at a University later on and hopefully run my own dojo but it seems you need a letter of commendation to get in the Dojo, In Iaido today our Sensei explained that he knew a Canadian Woman who just got her Dan she travelled to Japan to teach with one of the Top Japanese Swordsman, he asked for her letter of commendation but when she replied no he denied her access to his dojo, is this the same for all Dojos, also an example of this would be if you have seen Deadly Arts: Aikido, sort of the like the same thing.

[Kaoru]

Hey

At the moment i am saving up to go to Japan to train there and hopefully learn more about Japanese History 749 A.D. (Beginning of the Samurai) as i want to lecture about it at a University later on and hopefully run my own dojo but it seems you need a letter of commendation to get in the Dojo, In Iaido today our Sensei explained that he knew a Canadian Woman who just got her Dan she travelled to Japan to teach with one of the Top Japanese Swordsman, he asked for her letter of commendation but when she replied no he denied her access to his dojo, is this the same for all Dojos, also an example of this would be if you have seen Deadly Arts: Aikido, sort of the like the same thing.

Hi!

Welcome!

Yes, in many cases, for the Koryu arts like Iaido, you need a letter of recommendation if you are going to visit a dojo. Also, she couldn't teach at her level that I am aware of. Maybe your sensei got that bit wrong. If she actually expected to teach at 1st dan, that could be why she got the boot too. You never know.

Well, for opening your own Iaido dojo good luck. You have to earn a license to do that without the supervision of a higher rank as far as I understand it. That will take you like, 20 years of HARD work at least. You won't be able to charge money for it other than to have help paying the rent for the dojo, either.

For Kendo, that is also another 20 years hard work, and you must make it to Yondan(4th dan) to be allowed to really run a dojo on your own without a higher rank supervising the dojo.

It's not like candy where you get rank right away. You need to stick with Kendo and see if you will still BE in Kendo once you get into bogu. Most drop out at that time.

You will never make money teaching those arts because they are NOT meant to be commercialised and abused that way.

Since you are just a beginner in both arts, I think you should just wait and see if you stick with any of the arts before deciding on anything. Be warned though, you can't just learn a little bit, quit and then start your own dojo. Not saying you'd do that, but there are those that have. That is wrong.

What dojos do you belong to in both Iaido and Kendo? There are a lot of GB kendoka and Iaidoka here. Some may be in your dojo even.

Kaoru

[KenShi_JoB]

May be you can get yondan in less than 10 year if you work hard and talented. and I feel that make a living out of teaching martial arts do not mean the same as "commercialised and abused"

[ISSAC RU]

Funny ...how people can have ideas like that without going to the real world first..

[hamish]

Aikido, deadly art??

[Musashi898]

Yeh on the Discovery Channel, this French woman, trained in many different martial arts and as her programme title she called it Deadly Arts: Aikido. On the programme she nearly did not get into the dojo and still i don't know how without a letter of commendation.


Thanks for the support of good luck i train in Wirral Martial Arts Academy in Iaido, taught by J. Cantos i think he is 6th Dan, and the Kendo is taught by a Sensei named something Ware (Last Name). I am definetly not looking to make money if i did set up a dojo, as yes i agree that is misuse of traditional martial arts, you need a lisence how do you get that?

Has anyone heard of Terry Ezra of the Komoykan Aikido Dojo (KAA)?

[chidokan]

Terry Ezra I met late last year although known of him for a while. Very good aikido. His student Nick Waites is learning iaido at my class. Also very nice aikido. They both visit the Honbu dojo on a regular basis. If you have the chance to learn there, take it, a good opportunity. hmmm... There are very few people I recommend, so just go anyway!
It does help if you know someone who has been to Japan. Clubs vary as they do here, some like to know you before they will teach, others are more friendly. It would be a bit silly to just turn up, dojo are not on every street corner and dont only have 8th dan in them. Several I visited were just as varied as I see here, in fact in one dojo in Tokyo I was senior grade after the sensei. They are as scattered about as here, so the introduction letter is more to do with getting you to a dojo in the first place!

[Musashi898]

Sensei Ezra, i went to a class of aikido taught by im he is incredibly strict but i suppose you need the discipline in this day and age

[chidokan]

take it you enjoyed the class then? :smiley:

[Musashi898]

Erm, sort of i liked the techniques and the teaching styles but i think he is over traditionalistic though

[chidokan]

he's quite modern when compared with some of the people I meet in Japan!

[Dave Fowler]

As for the letter of recommendation, I've also be able to practice in dojo's in Japan by having one of the current students asking if I could participate. They used to be students in our club here so....

[samurai]

Hey

At the moment i am saving up to go to Japan to train there and hopefully learn more about Japanese History 749 A.D. (Beginning of the Samurai) as i want to lecture about it at a University later on and hopefully run my own dojo but it seems you need a letter of commendation to get in the Dojo, In Iaido today our Sensei explained that he knew a Canadian Woman who just got her Dan she travelled to Japan to teach with one of the Top Japanese Swordsman, he asked for her letter of commendation but when she replied no he denied her access to his dojo, is this the same for all Dojos, also an example of this would be if you have seen Deadly Arts: Aikido, sort of the like the same thing.


In some cases, yes, it is needed but even if you don't need it it's a sign of respect to have one. Respect towards your Sensei by asking his permision to train in a different Dojo and towards your new master as well. It also shows that you respect the rules deeply and that you are worthy of trainig in his Dojo.

[Musashi898]

Sensei Ezra Modern!!!!!!!! lol hmmm maybe

[Kendoka]

Hey

At the moment i am saving up to go to Japan to train there and hopefully learn more about Japanese History 749 A.D. (Beginning of the Samurai) as i want to lecture about it at a University later on and hopefully run my own dojo but it seems you need a letter of commendation to get in the Dojo, In Iaido today our Sensei explained that he knew a Canadian Woman who just got her Dan she travelled to Japan to teach with one of the Top Japanese Swordsman, he asked for her letter of commendation but when she replied no he denied her access to his dojo, is this the same for all Dojos, also an example of this would be if you have seen Deadly Arts: Aikido, sort of the like the same thing.

Some sort of introduction to a Japanese dojo, where you are unknown is the best way to go. Polite too, remember, the Japanese are much more polite and formal than westerners.

You maybe able to arrange such a letter or introduction through your national association.

[chidokan]

aikido is modern, so he must be as well.... :smiley: He also does swordwork outside of the aiki style you normally see, so if you get a chance to do that with him take it....give him my regards as well, tell him he met me at Nicks dojo up in Darlington and he will know who it is.
If he finds you ok I can write a letter for you to visit some really high level teaching, although I prefer to meet people before recommending them. If you can get up here to a course Ezra sensei is teaching let me know and I'll pop over.

[Musashi898]

Yeh great thanks, i am thinking of starting aikido with him again this week, depends on how my money is going lol