Glasgow trips Winter 2010

Members of our dojo went to Glasgow twice in late winter to practice kendo with a large group of kendoka from all over Scotland and the UK.

On 20^th March 2010, Mark, Andy and Michael attended the referee & shiai seminar held by John Howell sensei and on 6^th March 2010 Min-Ho, Vince, Patrick and Michael took part in the pre-grading seminar led by Mike Davies sensei.

Both events were very well attended and spirits were high. Howell sensei and Davies sensei are from different generations and their personalities complement each other very well. Where Howell sensei took the stress away from participants, Davies sensei increased the pressure. As both seminars had refereeing sessions, the general standard has been rising a little. More and more relatively junior kendoka from Scotland have good understanding of the basic principles, commands and etiquette of refereeing. This helps us all to raise our game as competition fighters.

The later event also had a substantial kata section, waza geiko and free sparring. Davies sensei is a very exacting teacher with very specific ideas how kendo can and should be made more efficient and through that more effective and more beautiful. His ‘teno uchi’ cut certainly is all of that. We all strived to adapt to sensei’s teaching and my impression was that the free sparring at the end of the day was of very high standard on all levels from mudan to sandan.

As no members of our dojo were registered to grade on the Sunday (and because of the fairly long drive from Fife to Glasgow) we did not go to see the grading but now we extend our heart-felt congratulations to those who passed.

Gambate.

Michael

Related link: referee requirements for gradings