Aberdeen Trip

Club members Lewis Watts, Nigel Whittaker and Michael Gratzke joined a
large group from Edinburgh Kendo Club for a trip to Aberdeen (joined for Friday evening practice by Malcolm Jarvies from his nearby “holiday” home). Aberdonian
Kazuo Yamazaki sensei had a broad programme lined up for us including two
long training sessions with Aberdeen Kendo Club, an exhibition of Japanese
Culture and a visit to Glover House* where we also had a very nice BBQ.

Those of us who had been to Aberdeen a year ago were again overwhelmed by
the club’s and especially sensei’s hospitality. We also felt that AKC club
members had taken very big steps forward in their kendo. At the end of the
kendo seminar young guns from Edinburgh and Edinburgh University (and
Graeme Birrell) faced our Aberdonian friends in a team competition in
which no prisoners were taken - in the nicest possible sense of the
expression.

From the perspective of StAKC it was good to see that you can run a
successful kendo club in a relatively remote town on the east coast of
Scotland. What our club members who started kendo about a year ago could
learn from Aberdonians is how to develop strong attacking spirit. There
was little doubt or hesitation about their actions. Concerning waza
(technique) the level was similar to ours.

Most memorable scenes included Dmitri S, Mao, Lewis et al jack-assing and
Steve Bishop shooting Michael’s ear with an Olympic-ten-metre air pistol.
In neither case lasting injuries were incurred.

*Glover House is located in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen City and was home to
the Glover family and in particular Thomas Blake Glover (1838 - 1911).
Glover is generally regarded as the man responsible for the creation of
the modern Japanese shipbuilding industry and of the industrialisation of
Japan. The house has been restored to its 19th century appearance with
many original details and features.

More information: http://www.rampantscotland.com/famous/blfamglover.htm