New York

[sminki]

There seems to be an increasing number of kenshi from New York logging in. How many New Yorkers do we have here? I for one, am a New Yorker.

count is at - one

[Karaken]

Count me in - Two
Hey Sminki, do you mean NY or Tri-state area?

[Old Warrior]

Bergen County, New Jersey here.

[sminki]

I guess tri-state area. You know, close enough to visit each others' dojo and do a bit of musha-sugyo kinda thing. For example, I sometimes visit Seong sensei's dojang

[burger boy]

tri-state?...I'm in.

Edison, New Jersey.

burger boy

[nodachi]

I used to live in CT for 16 years... does that count? Might float back there one day... we'll see where the wind takes me...

[Kenshi]

I lived in Hoboken and practised at ken-zen for a couple of years..... [back to the UK Nov '99]

[Old Warrior]

sminki

Seong, as in Jin Kyu, in Closter, NJ. I'm there 3 nights a week. I catch the 6:30 class.

[sminki]

I can't make time to go out to Jersey on weekdays, but I occasionally visit with master Seong on Saturdays. Maybe we'll get to meet each other one of these days.

[Old Warrior]

I stopped in this past Sat. just to see what was doing. I avoid Sat.'s because the dojang is small and there must have been 15 students training (virtually all children). There were 2 people in blue uniforms (therefore they were probably shodan or above) but the floor was too crowded for my taste. I enjoy my 6:30PM classes (with feisty teenagers), but training with little kids turns me off. Aside from the fact that I already raised 3, they are much to short and I worry about accidentally injuring them with my clumsiness.

[sminki]

yeah. i've come by during regular practice hours on saturdays too and have seen how crowded it gets. master seong usually tells me to come after 1 on saturdays so that we can practice after the floor clears out a bit (provided that i give him advance notice).

[sminki]

warrior,

did you come to new york city kendo club w/ master seong last saturday?

[Old Warrior]

No, but I know he was out, because he left a guy named Nam, in charge. At present my Kumdo is best left hidden in Closter; although it is rapidly improving. 15 years of epee fencing helps understand the nature of sword combat, but the footwork is presently escaping m and the hogoo feels cumbersome. Now, if my left knee will only improve, maybe the Kumdo footwork will get better. If you do show up, I stand out. First, there are only 2 caucasians in my class. Second, I'm the only student with white hair. Third, they couldn't translate "Stern" into chinese characters. Aside from the above I blend in just fine.

[Karaken]

Warrior and Sminki, my Kyudokan Dojo ( NJ one ) is one exit down from Closter ( it's in Crestkill ) - Sunday 10-12.. I often go there if Saturday one at Scarsdale isn't satisfactory..

Center-Men-Center

[misterkurukuru]

anyone practice with REO Takahashi?????
He has one of the best and fastest kotes in the USA!!!!
if you practice in New York you should look him up!
I think he is the best guy from the east coast!

[sminki]

Karaken - Thanks. Hopefully we'll get to visit sometime.

Reo Takahashi trains at Ken Zen and is very good.

[Kendoka]

I have a good friend that trains at Ken-Zen in NY and I have a NY Yankees hat and training jacketo.

[Karaken]

Reo's good - even though he did not advance far during (2) tournaments I was there ( Kataoka sensei's ).. He's very popular among girls though.. they were all screaming for him.. I think he's yondan form ken-zen.

Center-please-men

[bronxjragon]

LoL, Takahashi lives near my school. My sensei knows him; he's supposedly a musician right now.

[sminki]

Ken Kishino in New York is also amazing. He's a former Japanese highschool champion from Kanagawa. I heard that he's also friends with our good moderator Hamish from the International Budo Univ.

[Karaken]

Toshiki Kishi ( Young Godan ) from the same dojo is the fastest kendoka I've seen except he was powerless with Kataoka sensei.

Center..

[sminki]

ah... Kishi sensei...

His kendo was "strong, fast and beautiful" in Kataoka sensei's words. His kendo had a very imposing presence in the dojo and his style demanded a lot of respect.

Unfortunately, Kishi sensei passed away several months ago... We all miss him at NYC Kendo Club.

[Karaken]

Wow, didn't know.. At a such a young age.. What a tragedy..
He used to accompany Kataoka sensei to our dojo in NJ..
I was looking forward to another opportunity some day..

Life is such a fragile thing, like a falling flower petal..

May his soul rest in peace..

[nothing]

A bit late but I train at Scarsdale Kyudokan and live in Nyack NY...

[Simon R]

I train at Kataoka-sensei's NYC Kendo Club. However, since I attend a boarding school, I can currently only practice during vacations...I can't wait until I graduate.