Shindokan Dojo and Newport Aikido are once again proud to host a return visit by Long Sensei for a weekend of Iaijutsu and Kenjustu training, All are welcome! 

JKI Shidosha Koshukai

Jikishin-Kai International 2009 Instructor Koshukai

JKI Honbu will be hosting a special Instructor Only Training Seminar on Saturday/Sunday, November 21 & 22.

This special instructor seminar is to focus on JKI organizational changes along with adjunct training for instructors in Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu and Itto-ryu kenjutsu for the purposes of what and how to teach in accordance with Shimabukuro Hanshi’s plan for 2010.

The planned JKI organizational structure will now include different licenses to establish instructor credentials to better the JKI quality of instruction.  Attendees should be prepared to demonstrate Eishin-ryu waza as part of their evaluation..

This special seminar is for JKI shibu-cho and their assistant instructors, or any JKI member who is actively responsible for leading or instructing “Registered” JKI students.  This seminar is also open for general training to “CERTIFIED” JKI yudansha who do not have active instructing responsibilities.

All JKI shibu-cho and assistant staff/instructors are encouraged to attend this special seminar.   JKI Licenses will only be awarded by application to Shimabukuro Hanshi on an individual basis with set fees and with recommendation from Long Shihan.

The fee for this seminar will be $200 per person and will include instruction for both days, Saturday lunch and Saturday evening banquet, a special DVD will be prepared for this event. If you are an instructor and would like to attend, please send an email request to JKI Honbu at clong@jikishin-kai.com.

On Sunday, in addition to Iaijutsu, Testing will be conducted for JKI members Please bring your shinken and mats for cutting if you intend on testing. All test fees MUST be paid in advance of taking the test.

Dates:    Sat. – Sunday; Nov. 21, 22, 2009

*Testing will be available for current paid JKI  members. A recommendation from your sensei and payment of a test fee will be required prior to testing.

Please advise Long Shihan prior to November 20th if you plan to test.

Log on to the Sakura Budokan  website to preregister.

Click here for online registration and payment using PayPal

Click here  if you choose to pay Long Sensei in person.  Please fill out PDF form and submit with your payment.

Location:   

Sakura Budokan 
390 Tioga Ave. 
Kingston, Pa. 18704 

Contact:    Carl Long 
570-288-7865 
clong@jikishin-kai.com  

A Muso Jikiden Eshin Ryu Seminar With Carl Long Shihan, 6th Dan, Renshi

Carl Long Shihan is Eastern USA Hombu – Cho and Vice Chairman of Jikishinkai International. Long Shihan is responsible for the instruction and certification of Jikishinkai Instructors and Dojos in the Eastern Region of the U.S. and Canada as well as Central and South America. Long Shihan is the most senior student of Shimabukuro Masayuki, Hanshi, ranked 6th Dan Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu and holds the coveted title of Renshi. Long Shihan is also ranked 8th Dan Shorin Ryu Karate, 6th Dan Shito Ryu Karate, 5th Dan Okinawan Kubido and 4th Dan Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu.

Long Shihan will share the arts of Ona Ha Itto,Ryu, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ru Iaijutsu, Kenjutsu and Batto Ho. This is an open seminar; beginners to advanced students are all are welcome to attend. You may use a bokken if you do not have an Iaito.

On Sunday, in addition to Iaijutsu, Testing will be conducted for JKI members and there will be an orientation, demonstration and practice of Suemonogiri (Tamishigiri). Cutting mats will be provided.
Please bring your shinken if you have one.

Dates: Friday – Sunday; October 16, 17, 18, 2009

Schedule: Friday 6 pm to 9 pm Training

Saturday 9 am to 12 pm Training
1 pm to 5 pm Training
7 pm to 10 pm Dinner and discussion

Sunday 10 am to 12 pm Training
1 pm to 5 pm Suemogiri, Testing*

*Testing will be available for current paid JKI members. A recommendation from your sensei and payment of a test fee of $40 (7th to 4th kyu), $50 (3rd to 1st) will be required prior to testing. Please advise Dick McKeever prior to October 12th if you plan to test and the kyu level.

Location:
Aikido of Cincinnati Contact: Dick McKeever
Red Bank Rd. 513-984-0047
Cincinnati, OH 45227
d2quality@earthlink.net
513-561-7202
www.aikidocincy.com

Log on to the Aikido of Cincinnati website shown above for directions.

Cost: Payment may be made by credit card, check or cash on site.

$120 Weekend, lunches and dinner Extra Dinner $20.00
$ 25 Friday $ 50 Saturday $ 50 Sunday

Hope to see you in Cincinnati!

The Interrelationship of Aiki and Sword arts is well known throughout the martial arts world. This Seminar will focus on the interconnectedness of these arts and allow one to see and understand the principles and concepts that make these arts Japanese treasures.

Goldberg (Shingen) Sensei is the East Coast Representative of the North American Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu Kodo Kai.  Sensei is the highest ranking student of Hawayo Kiyama Shihan – The President and Chief Instructor of NADRAKK.  Goldberg’s Sensei’s goal is to pass down Daito Ryu (Japan’s National Treasure) to serious students, as presented to him by the Hombu Dojo and Kiyama Shihan.  Sensei believes that in the martial arts, one teaches only to continue his own unfinished study.

Carl Long, Renshi is responsible for the instruction and certification of Jikishin-Kai Instructors and Dojo throughout the United States of America and Canada as well as Central and South America and Europe. His interest in martial arts began early and he began his karate training in 1968. He has since achieved high recognition in Shorin Ryu Karate, Shito Ryu Karate, Okinawa Kobudo, Aikido, Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu and teaches the sword arts of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu and Onno Ha Itto Ryu Kenjutsu.  Long Shihan is the senior-most student of Shimabukuro Masayuki Hanshi and highest ranked member of the Jikishin Kai International under Shimabukuro Sensei in the world. He is also the International Coordinator for Iaido and Batto-do for the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai.

 Sat July 25 & Sun July 26, 2009

 Schedule time is 10AM to 4PM both days

Location: Sakura Budokan Dojo

A minimal fee of $75.00 for one day or $100.00 for the entire weekend.

Space is limited & Pre-Registration Is Required!

If you plan to attend, Please contact Long Sensei by phone (570-288-7865) or clong@sakurabudokan.com

Click Here! – For online registration using Paypal.

     Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu, as we all know, is classified as a system of iaijutsu. However, we must remember that iaijutsu, although indicative of the prevailing strategies behind the use ofthe sword, is a component of kenjutsu. In short, as a complete sword art, iaijutsu cannot exist in separation from kenjutsu.

    Many iaijutsu waza were codified to transmit strategies and methods of simultaneous defense and counters against surprise attacks, as opposed to techniques of combat that begin after swords have already been drawn. As I alluded to above, Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu contains extensive practice in both aspects of sword combat. That being said, it should stand to reason that the sword a practitioner chooses should be suitable for each aspect or “mode” of our art. It would be neither logical nor practicable to require one sword for situations requiring “iai techniques” and another for “kenjutsu techniques”.

    Considering the range of principles, techniques, and methods that we study, it is natural that a practitioner would have many questions about choosing the right sword for their practice. There are many important considerations to keep in mind when selecting a sword, including, but not limited to length, weight, curvature, and geometry. We typically offer general guidelines or suggestions with respect to considerations such as length. Additionally, some budo arts have specific requirements with respect to the dimensions of the training weapons that they use. 

    However, the approach to choosing the “proper” sword is really not quite so straightforward and is often ultimately based on personal preference. Added to this reality is that through diligent training, one’s skill grows and one’s waza changes. Often, a student finds that he or she needs a new sword, perhaps a longer sword, or a heavier sword, that reflects these changes. One has to keep in mind, however, that each sword, long or short, light or heavy, has advantages as well as disadvantages. For instance, a shorter sword may be easier and quicker to draw, but a longer sword may afford the practitioner greater reach. The samurai of feudal Japan faced the very same questions with respect to swords and the various iaijutsu and kenjutsu arts that they practiced. And given the significance of the sword to a samurai at that time in Japanese history, such concerns were of great importance.

    A samurai’s ability to serve, in fact his very life, depended on his ability to wield, as well as properly choose, his sword. However, despite the importance of these questions, it was rare that a samurai would receive direct verbal advice or guidance as to how he should select his most important weapon. Then, as now, students most often emulated their teacher with respect to the sword they selected. As an example, if the teacher taught using a heavy sword or bokken, expressing great power in his waza or kumitachi, than the students would be likely to select heavy swords as well. If the teacher used a lighter sword, and executed his techniques with great speed and dexterity, then it was highly likely that they would choose lighter swords as well. If the teacher used a longer sword, or a shorter sword, the students would follow suit.

    Knowing this, a good teacher often employed a strategy, usually unbeknownst to his students, to help them find the type of sword best suited to their body types, skill and individual attributes. If the teacher typically used a heavier sword, he might start teaching with a lighter sword. Seeing how fast and dexterous the teacher’s technique suddenly appeared, the students would often begin to use lighter swords as well. After teaching with this lighter sword for a period of time, the teacher would switch back to the heavier sword. Having grown accustomed to light and fast techniques, the students would be surprised by the power of the teacher’s technique, and in an attempt to “catch” this aspect of his technique, would switch back to heavier swords. Over time, the teacher would repeat this process, changing from lighter swords to heavier swords and back; from shorter swords to longer swords and back. With each change, the teacher quietly helps each individual student find the most proper sword. Additionally, through this process, the students would, as a result of direct experience, develop skill, polished technique and internalized strategy with a wide range of swords. In this way, they could also determine what type of sword was best suited for them. This is a very compassionate teaching method!

    My experiences studying under Miura Sensei were no different. Miura Sensei never told me directly what type of sword I should choose. In fact, Miura Sensei’s way of teaching any aspect of iaijutsu often was to demonstrate something once! It was my responsibility to absorb, understand and develop whatever it was that he had just shown me. His method of teaching me how to choose a sword was the same. Miura Sensei used the same sword, regardless of the training format, whether practicing iaijutsu and kenjutsu. Knowing that I had been wondering about how to choose a proper sword, he once gave me the opportunity to practice with his. Of course, at such an early stage, Miura Sensei’s sword seemed like it was perfect, that there could be no better sword than his. But was that really true for me? Was my impression based on my respect for my teacher? What I learned from his example was that to find the sword best suited for me, as well to fully develop my technique, I had to practice and gain experience with a wide range of swords.

    At this point, one may be wondering what type of sword is the best. A large part of the answer depends on one’s body type, skill and expression of strategy. However, considerations such as the length of a sword can be important. A longer sword may allow for greater reach with respect to targeting. Sasaki Kojiro was famous for a very long odachi that he used, and he was never defeated until his duel with Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi is said to have defeated Sasaki Kojiro by carving a bokuto that was slightly longer that Kojiro’s famous “Drying Pole”, eliminating his advantage of distance.

    It is important to keep in mind that a longer sword is not necessarily better or more advantageous than a shorter sword, especially if one’s technique is flawed. The concept of chotan ichi mi illustrates this effectively. If one has a three foot sword and advances one step, they have a reach of six feet. However, if one retreats three feet, their effective reach is zero! Therefore, a longer sword is no guarantee of victory. Additionally, as stated above, a shorter sword can be drawn more quickly. But once drawn, the swordsman has to have the skill to get inside of the enemy’s defenses. In this way, a swordsman with excellent technique can effectively defend himself using a wakizashi or kodachi against an enemy wielding a katana or even a yari or naginata! Although this approach to technique and strategy is very difficult, it is also very effective. Yamaoka Tesshu, the founder of Muto-ryu (and a master calligrapher) was renowned for his use of very short swords. The issues of advantage and disadvantage also apply to the weight of a sword. A heavier sword may seem to cut more effectively, but a lighter sword is easier to wield with great dexterity!

    Training methods may also dictate what type of sword or bokken that you choose! For example, the nature of Ono-ha Itto-ryu Kenjutsu practice demands a fairly heavy and strong bokken. Eventually, other factors such as age, health or perhaps declining strength will influence how one selects a sword. Whereas one may have favoured a heavy sword at one’s physical peak, the onset of age and frailty may demand that one use a lighter sword in later years. It should be clear now that one’s method of selecting the proper sword for his or her practice and skill level is not solely based on artificial constructs such as one’s height in relation to the length of a sword. Rather, your choices should be based on properly guided, direct experience. But the responsibility of making the correct choice lies with the student; the teacher only offers guidance.

    One final point that bears consideration when choosing a sword is the cost. This means that one shouldn’t base one’s choice on how inexpensive a sword may be. One should try to purchase the best sword that they are able, even if it means saving for it for a long time. Budo is about growth, self-improvement and polishing one’s character; the sword that one practices with is a “training tool” used to help one in this purpose. One should therefore save their money in order to obtain a sword that is worthy of their budo. Perhaps one has to eliminate spending in other areas in order to purchase such a sword. This in itself is another form of discipline which also serves to teach one an aspect of the value of their art. Additionally, although one may be prone to treat a valuable sword with greater respect than a less expensive sword, how one treats and cares for their sword should not be based on the price of the sword. Its value is far greater than its actual cost, because one’s sword is their training tool in budo, and budo is beyond price!

    Ultimately, one’s iaijutsu and kenjutsu skill should be such that one’s technique is not constrained by the type of sword that one chooses. One’s technique must be adaptable to a shorter sword or a longer sword, or a heavier sword or lighter sword. Whether one is practicing iaijutsu waza or kenjutsu kumitachi, he or she should be intuitively cognizant of the differences, and their strategy and technique should naturally reflect this. While the choice of sword may dictate elements such as strategy, ma-ai or targeting, one’s technique should not be adversely affected in any way. What is important is how one uses the sword that they have. One must swing a light sword like a heavy sword; a shorter sword or a longer sword must be wielded with the same skill; there is no difference! The intent is the same, no matter what! This is real budo!

This article is part of the new issue of the Kagami – Spring 2009 JKI Newsletter.

  Hello,

  Spring is here and the cherry blossom trees are blooming. The cherry blossom trees are one of the many unforgettable  sights at the Sakura Budokan Dojo, If you are close enough to come see them I would recommend it. The blossoms only last about 3 days so don’t hesitate. If you are one of our faithful members from far away, I have put together a small gallery of pictures on the main website. Click the link below to check them out! Please be patient while images load there are 48 pictures total. Please Enjoy!

Daito Ryu – a 1200 year old art, which originated from the Minamoto Clan, is the parent of many Japanese martial arts, as stated by Stanley Pranin – the Chief Editor of Aikido Journal, a high ranking aikidoka and author of several texts.  He states “that categorically the major influence on the development of Aikido is Daito Ryu and it is difficult to find a movement in Aikido that does not originate in Takeda’s jujutsu form”.  The greatest disseminator of Daito Ryu was Sokaku Takeda.  One of his most senior students was Horikawa Kodo.  His emphasis to him was the highest level and most difficult Aiki techniques, which concentrate on connection with subtle Kazushi (off balancing).

Goldberg (Shingen) Sensei is the East Coast Representative of the North American Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu Kodo Kai.  Sensei is the highest ranking student of Hawayo Kiyama Shihan – The President and Chief Instructor of NADRAKK.  Goldberg’s Sensei’s goal is to pass down Daito Ryu (Japan’s National Treasure) to serious students, as presented to him by the Hombu Dojo and Kiyama Shihan.  Sensei believes that in the martial arts, one teaches only to continue his own unfinished study.

Tuesday  Mar. 31st, 2009

Location: Sakura Budokan Dojo

Study Group Start Time: 6:30 pM 

Pre-Registration Is Required!

If you plan to attend study group, Please contact Long Sensei by phone(570-288-7865) or Email for rates! 

Do not miss this exceptional opportunity to train with one of the best Daito Ryu Instructors outside of Japan!

Daito Ryu – a 1200 year old art, which originated from the Minamoto Clan, is the parent of many Japanese martial arts, as stated by Stanley Pranin – the Chief Editor of Aikido Journal, a high ranking aikidoka and author of several texts.  He states “that categorically the major influence on the development of Aikido is Daito Ryu and it is difficult to find a movement in Aikido that does not originate in Takeda’s jujutsu form”.  The greatest disseminator of Daito Ryu was Sokaku Takeda.  One of his most senior students was Horikawa Kodo.  His emphasis to him was the highest level and most difficult Aiki techniques, which concentrate on connection with subtle Kazushi (off balancing).

Goldberg (Shingen) Sensei is the East Coast Representative of the North American Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu Kodo Kai.  Sensei is the highest ranking student of Hawayo Kiyama Shihan – The President and Chief Instructor of NADRAKK.  Goldberg’s Sensei’s goal is to pass down Daito Ryu (Japan’s National Treasure) to serious students, as presented to him by the Hombu Dojo and Kiyama Shihan.  Sensei believes that in the martial arts, one teaches only to continue his own unfinished study.

Sunday Feb. 15th, 2009

Location: Sakura Budokan Dojo

Seminar Time: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Seminar rates:

1 Session $40.00

Do not miss this exceptional opportunity to train with one of the best Daito Ryu Instructors outside of Japan!

Send an Email to Long Sensei ASAP to reserve your space!

clong@sakurabudokan.com

ALL SAKURA BUDOKAN STUDENTS are encouraged to attend…!!!

Online Registration and payment can be made here:

https://www.sakurabudokan.com/html/semreg2.php

SAMURAI SWORDSMANSHIP

by Masayuki Shimabukuro

Samurai Swordsmanship features Black Belt Hall of Fame member Masayuki Shimabukuro (Weapons Instructor of the Year, 2006) and his senior-most student, Carl E. Long, Demonstrating and explaining the history, construction, rituals and techniques associated with the samurai sword.

This three-volume DVD collection covers basic, intermediate and advanced concepts and features Interviews with both instructors! Topics include mat cutting, forms, uniform care, sword etiquette, cleaning your weapon, thrusts, drawing and sheathing the sword and much more.

Vol. 1 : Basic Sword Program                      DVD Code 9569 — Retail $29.95
Vol. 2 : Intermediate Sword Program          DVD Code 9579 — Retail $29.95
Vol. 3 : Advanced Sword Program               DVD Code 9589 — Retail $29.95

Buy all 3 DVDs for $69.95 — Code X163

Order Your Copy Today!

Call Black Belt Magazine – 1-800-581-5222

Or Visit Black Belt Magazine’s Website!