Can someone in US kendo confirm this?

[KhawMengLee]

Just reading through E-budo and this little site was posted in their fake martial arts section...seems pretty funny but this guy caught my eye with his claim to being a 7dan in kendo...

http://www.bushido.org/~whfsc/grandmaster/Alexander.htm

Anyone confrim this?

[KhawMengLee]

Oh, the site is:

http://www.bushido.org/~WHFSC/

[Jerry Wellbrock]

I have personally met Mr. Alexander and visited his home and dojo in Tennessee. I found him to be genuinely sincere and curtious. I am not familiar with his background or who he has trained under throughtout his lifetime. I am not qualified to say anything other than I know of no traditional Japanese Martial Artist who refer to themselves as Master or Grandmaster of anything. I have often heard that Japanese Senseis are only refered to as Master after they have moved on to that Big Dojo in the Sky. Please take this as you see fit! By the way, exactly what is a Soke Councilship?

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by Jerry Wellbrock
By the way, exactly what is a Soke Councilship?
It's something awarded by one of these organisations who make money by selling fake titles. Do a search for it on e-budo if you're really curious. Membership in one of these things is a big red flag that you're dealing with a phoney.

[Jerry Wellbrock]

Neil, I appreciate your reply. I was trying to be polite in my post and not call a bullshitter a bullshitter. I have been around good traditional martial arts for over 30 years and I know a self appointed "master" when I see one. I usually try to be sincere and polite in my posts as not to offend or insult anyone. I do however always enjoy your posts and find them to be honest, sincere, and informative. Thanks for your imput.:old_man:

[Sanjuro]

This site is...interesting

I can't recall the exact name of the thread, but awhile ago someone posted pictures of "fake" kendo. As I went through their photo gallery, I caught a few that looked strangely familiar ^_^

wonder what that says for the credibility of this organization of well-respected "grandmasters"

not much, i suppose

[Chusan]

Don`t overestimate such funny sites. :D
It may happen, that you become added to their lists and/or members without having applied for it (I know it...)
It`s fun and everybody who takes these kind of organizations too serious, may have lost his sense of humour ;-)

[sminki]

hey the soke councilship honorary members include jackie chan, mark dacascos and don "the dragon" wilson. haha.

[KhawMengLee]

Mark Dacascos?Heh, I like his roles in the movies Crying Freeman and Brotherhood of the Wolf...

[Confound]

I'm more concerned about this statement:

"Additionally, Master Alexander represents the Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu Federation and the International Budokan Kendo Federation."

What is this mysterious 'International Budokan Kendo Federation", who exactly do they represent, and how are they 'represented' by such a person... Poor use of written English strikes again. The guy looks a little young to be a 9th dan in anything, but maybe he aged well (perhaps the secret to longevity is part of his ryu's training).

We need a parallel organization to set the record straight about these people. How many people are bamboozled by them every year? I wonder. . .

c

[Charlie]

His personal page, which mis-spells "kenjitsu" and has some very basic info on kendo:

http://yamazato-iskkf.com/index.htm

[Hai_hai]

Hmm, 7th dan kendo. Well, he can state whatever he wants to. The kendo community doesn't have to bother with him unless he opens up a for-profit kendo dojo touting himself as a 7th dan kendo player.

[Hai_hai]

Don't walk, run to your computer! Order this kendo video tape from http://yamazato-iskkf.com/index.htm.

Finally! An instructional video on the art of Kendo, Japanese swordsmanship. This exciting video fully explains the techniques of modern kendo. Kendo is both an art and an exciting sport. Kendo’s roots lie deep in the culture of Japan and the spirit of the samurai. This is Kendo Today features Sensei George Alexander. He is a world renowned martial arts teacher and author. He fully explains how to wear the dogu protective armor, the use of the shinai or bamboo sword and dojo etiquette. This video explains fighting postures, stances, footwork, basic strikes, warm up drills (kiri Kaeishi), prearranged sparring drills (Yakusoku Renshu), combination strikes (Nidan/Sandan Waza) and Sword Point Control. It also includes many "Never Before Seen On Video" advanced sparring (Keiko) techniques such as Shikake Waza (Attacking Techniques), Oji Waza (Receiving Techniques) and an explanation of Zen Concepts used in swordsmanship and much more! This is the video you’ve been waiting for on Kendo! 2 hours. "Sensei George Alexander has created a great video from which you can learn real kendo" says Gordon Warner author of the book This is Kendo.

[Charlie]

Gordon Warner said that?! Hang on...

[hyuna]

I found this old thread after finding the video is being sold as a DVD at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002I1HIE/qid=1120243820/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_ur_3/104-3571567-2882346?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

The thing I was curious about is that it is reviewed at Amazon by someone named "crabbi" in the UK? Is that the same crabbi as is on here?!

[Paikea]

I found this old thread after finding the video is being sold as a DVD at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002I1HIE/qid=1120243820/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_ur_3/104-3571567-2882346?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

The thing I was curious about is that it is reviewed at Amazon by someone named "crabbi" in the UK? Is that the same crabbi as is on here?!Oh, Crabbi - how could you?

[Kaoru]

I found this old thread after finding the video is being sold as a DVD at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002I1HIE/qid=1120243820/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_ur_3/104-3571567-2882346?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

The thing I was curious about is that it is reviewed at Amazon by someone named "crabbi" in the UK? Is that the same crabbi as is on here?!

It may be. (Poor Crabbi-san if it is!)

Because, Alexander seems to have made up that "Interrnational Butokan Kendo Federation" all by himself. Nobody gave him his Kendo rank as far as one can see, as he seems to be the head of that "Federation." And, funnily enough, that Federation has no page all of it's own. And, check out the poor Kendo photos on his site, and the wierd waza they do for grading, if you look on the page that says what they grade on. This was discussed once before, and I posted several links on this.

As for that DVD, he totally stole the title from the book "This is Kendo." I bet he was hoping to be tied in with that book.
The DVD is not the real deal, but the book is. Sheesh!

I just went to check and right now, his website seems to be down due to a server change(Think that's what it's called when you change where you have your website at.), or I'd link you guys to his site once again. It just said, "Coming Soon." Grrrr....

Kaoru

[ShinKenshi]

It pains me to see people doing this, cashing in and using marital arts for profit. *sigh* Some people just don't understand that what they're doing is stupid, dangerous, and outright disrepectful. Guess we can only hope people will see them for the frauds they are.