Today while attempting to get back into the swing of things in practice, I was struck simultaneously by both a shinai and an idea. Call signs. I mean, we already look like bloody pilots. Demented pilots, albeit, but pilots none the less. We strap cumbersome equipment on and carry our helmets by our sides as we saunter off to do battle. The fact that the battle doesn’t happen to be airborne is a peripheral detail. Imagine it though. Discreet, tastefully stitched into ...
Updated 18th January 2011 at 07:58 PM by tyler
Remember the massive earthquake that happened in Japan at 5:46am on January 17, 1995? I do. It happened one month before I moved from New Zealand to Kyoto (45-minutes train ride away from Kobe). It hit at the end of a public holiday, just when everybody was gearing up for another year at the office. The inner-city area of Kobe was the hardest hit. High-rise buildings and homes were left in complete ruins. Many lives were lost. The official death toll stands at 6,434 people. Minor ...
Yes folks, there’s more to Japan than just kendo. Japanese people love to go skiing. It’s not exactly a traditional activity, but I’d be willing to bet my furry slippers that more people in Japan ski than do kendo. Even Japanese who are not into sports all seem to have had some skiing experience. Come rain, hail and especially snow, skiing is the number-one winter leisure-time activity in Japan. They reckon that 80% or so of people between the ages of 18 and 35 have been skiing, and over half of ...
Alex continues his rant about no zanshin in judo.JPGThe question of etiquette or ‘rei’ is a crucial element in budo. Without it, budo is pure violence at worst, and just another competitive sport at best. A couple of weeks ago I was very fortunate to have been asked to participate on a ‘Budo Panel Discussion’ at the well-known National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya. Kendo buffs will have heard of this university as it boasts a large number of Japanese national collegiate titles. The theme of the symposium was ...
Pontus.jpgBruce Lee, Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mr. Miyagi. Well, we can leave Mr. Miyagi out, but on the whole, most people have preconceived ideas of budo being the domain of rough, tough, staunch, and cut individuals. The cool image of the athletic warrior serves as an incentive for many people to start the martial arts, but at the same time it prevents many others from taking that first step into the dōjō. Of those who have ...
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