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April 2008.. I was nervous but committed to starting a new Scottish Dojo in Hamilton. I was convinced that there would be enough people in area who would start if they didn't have to drive into Glasgow to sustain a small club.

Unfortunately, a year and nine months later, the club remains resolutely small. Average turnout is about 5 plus me, which barely covers costs and makes sessions difficult to teach. Also, with so few, I think we lack the feeling you get by having lots of people ...

Good weekend at squad, though I was particularly rubbish.

New coach has some interesting things to say. Here's one of his points.

Internalisation

The thing about kendo is that it's a product Japanese culture.

The western style of teaching through telling the student what he needs to know is is a releative newcomer to Japan. As little as 100 years ago, even in academia, the style of teaching was to tell the student as little as possible ...

Is: Why seek an obscure sword form?

Why would someone seek out an obscure koryu to study, especially if it is far away, while a perfectly good "mainstream" koryu (or kendo) is available closer to home?

Kim

I hate Xmas... my dojo has to shut.... However on the bright side I now have some plans for various seminars.
First up is a trip up to 'sunny' scotland over Xmas holidays for a couple of days training, which is better than visiting in-laws any day of the week...
Next I have pinned down a date in March for my own dojo to run a days training session, which will give the senior instructors a chance to get together and organise the big seminar in September...Hopefully we will have ...

Is: Why would anyone read about the martial arts?

Surely it is enough to practice and to work on understanding what sensei is saying to you, so why would you sit in front of a computer and discuss questions that are best answered in the dojo with sweat and attention?

Feel free to discuss.