October 2008
Kenkyu kai practice is on Friday, October 3rd at JCCH from 7:30PM. Kata will be practiced for upcoming 1 kyu and dan examination. Kata should be practiced along with kendo practice not just at the time of examination. This is a good opportunity to practice kata.
Our club fund raise of Zippy’s Chili sale is on. I am behind this year because I had to go to Japan and stay there for two weeks in September. Please get tickets from me and sell them for our club. The adverse economy is not helping us either. We need your help.
Hawaii State Kendo Championship will be held on Saturday, November 8th in Hilo, Big Island. Inform your instructors if you are participating.
Dan and 1 kyu examination will be held twice in November this year. One is in Hilo on Sunday, November 9th. Another is in Oahu on Sunday, November 16th. If you fail on November 9th, you are not allowed to take one on November 16th. Good luck on those who are taking the examination.
Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation will sponsor its tournament on Saturday, November 15th in Kent, Washington. Those who want to participate, let me know soon.
The following sensei’s from Japan are expected or planning to visit Hawaii in conjunction with Hawaii State Championship in Hilo, Island of Hawaii. We are very fortunate to have them with us. Get good lessons from them.
Mr. Masashi Chiba, Hanshi 8 dan from Tokyo
Mr. Kichibei Tsuchida, Kyoshi 7 dan from Hiroshima
Mr. Kazuyoshi Inoue, Kyoshi 7 dan from Fukuoka
Mr. Hisao Imazu, Kyoshi 7 dan from Tokyo
After arriving in Fukushima on August 5th, my first day at Ryobukan dojo was on August 6th. Mr. Tohru Yamaki was 1st person there to clean the dojo. Mr. Yamaki and I did lots of men uchi. I was not counting. He told me that we did 50 men uchi each before going into jigeiko. That weekend he passed 7 dan in Oyama City in Tochigi Prefecture after concentrating men uchi everyday. Along with Mr. Yamaki, also passed through narrow 6.8 per cent passing rate was Mr. Kazuhiko Murakami who stayed in Hawaii during his job assignment. Amazing thing to me was that Mr. Yamaki continue to practice hard, same way right after accomplishing 7 dan. In Hawaii I see many kenshis take time off from kendo after passing dan examination. The day you accomplish something should be the 1st day of working for your next goal.
Iwao Sato, Chief Instructor, Wahiawa Kendo Club