Second Annual St Andrews Kangeiko

(photos to follow)

On 2nd January 2006, thirteen kendoka from the Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews clubs and numerous spectators gathered on the East Sands beach in St Andrews for an outdoor session of kendo to welcome the New Year. The wind was not as strong as the year before and this time we escaped the rain but the sand and water felt just as cold and within minutes we all had clumsy lumps of ice attached to our calves – except for Gerry Kincaid sensei who had comfy surfing booties on.

Gillian Riddoch who has recently returned to training led the session and after some good warm-up, stretching and suburi we embarked on intense kirikaeshi. It is amazing how much you have to concentrate on the most familiar sequences once the environment changes to being unfamiliar and even hostile. In spite of chilling winds we managed to work up some sweat doing butsukari geiko. The main part of the event was of course to be jigeiko on the sand and in the surf. Some of us literally rushed into the water whereas others had to be pushed towards it. Whilst in the water with the waves tugging at your hakama and the ground sucking in your feet you feel very much alive and seem to forget about the cold until a bigger wave reaches your bum and you realise how mad you have been to venture out so far.

Luckily only two of us got a full soaking: Graham Birrell went in head first when Andy Crowe sidestepped an attempt by Graham at taiatari and Chris Burton went in arse first when Nat Edwards used his weight and height advantage against him.

We wrapped up the session with some spirited enjin geiko in which brave, shivering Chris scored a very nice kote against Gillian who was fighting from jodan. After hot drinks and showers we retired to The Whey Pat pub to enjoy the tingling sensation of thawing feet.

The true madness is that we will be back next year come rain or shine and you, dear reader, will be more than welcome to join us.

Michael Gratzke, Dojo leader StAKC