May 2011
Hawaii Kendo Federation cancelled Kenkyu Kai program. There will be no Kenkyu Kai practices in the future.
We were fortunate to have Masaharu Kakehashi Sensei, Hanshi 8 dan, and Shozo Kato Sensei, Kyoshi 8 dan at Kaimuki on Sunday, April 17th and at Mililani on Monday, April 18th. It was awesome to see the practice of two senseis in Mililani with no muda uchi and each attempt with uchi kiri.
We changed starting time to 6:30PM for our branch dojo in Heeia State Park, Kaneohe.
Selection shiai for Team Hawaii for 15th World Kendo Championships will be held at Aiea Recreation Center Gym on Saturday, May 21st, from 8:30AM.
We will have the middle of year party on Wednesday, May 25th. We will start earlier at 6:30PM and end early to have this. Bring something small to share as a potluck. Invite your friends and family members.
Hawaii Kendo Federation 1 kyu and dan examination is on Sunday, June 5th. Check with your dojo instructors if you want to take the examination.
Leeward Oahu Tournament is on Sunday, Fathers' Day, June 19th. For those live outside of Hawaii and want to participate, contact Mr. Carl Nakamura for invitation so that you can combine your Hawaii vacation with the tournament.
Kazuyoshi Inoue Sensei, Kyoshi 7 dan from Fukuoka, will be in town from June 6th till 21st. Get teachings from him while he is here.
Our club is selling T-shirts for fund raise, $15 each for sizes, S, M, L and XL. Front has club logo and "Wahiawa Kendo Club" and back has "Kendo will make it better."
According to Wahiawa Hongwanji Mission schedule I received, this year bon dance practices do not fall on Wednesday nights in June. We may not have to cancel our practices in June this year.
On March 10th, Masuo Shinotsuka Sensei, Hanshi 8 dan, conducted a mock dan examination for us at Myohoji Kendo Club. I was shocked to hear that he commented on our performance, "Shosaji, Dame," fundamental things are no good. He did not detail but shosaji meant how to walk, bow, hold shinai, approach, draw shinai, sonkyo and stand to kamae. We have been practicing kendo long time but to Sensei's eyes we have not master the small fundamental things. We need to have our kendo reviewed by senseis every once in a while so that we can recognize things we can correct or improve.
Iwao Sato, Chief Instructor, Wahiawa Kendo Club