Matsumoto Toshio Sensei in action!

I was fortunate to find a Youtube clip of Matsumoto Toshio sensei, posted by the ZNKR from the 1986 Kyoto Taikai. At the time sensei was aged 78 and Hanshi 9-dan  his opponent was  Shigeoka Noboru sensei Hanshi 9-dan, aged 77. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X69zmZPyY-8&feature=player_embedded

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Tantan

Harking back to my Kyoto Taikai post, it is obvious to me that what sets great kendo apart from the norm is sharp footwork. Watching the younger hanshi, their arms and upper bodies are invariably relaxed, power comes from the hips and legs and ki-ken-tai-ichi is absolutely instantaneous. Theoretically we all know what to do. [...]

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Kyoto Taikai 2010

I am now back from Kyoto, and as expected, it was another great kendo experience. I chose to attend the 2nd day of the Hachidan shinsa, so missed seeing Ozawa-sensei and Kato-sensei pass on May 1. However, there were also some great performances on May 2. The Takai itself was excellent. The final day especially [...]

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Musha Shugyo

I am fortunate to be able to practice kendo regularly in the UK and to visit other European countries for kendo. However with the exception of the occasional practice with visiting sensei, I feel that my own kendo level is pretty much in maintenance mode. So, whenever I can, I try to visit Japan, to [...]

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Oji Waza

Watching yesterday’s waza geiko at Mumeishi dojo, I was fascinated to see people who can make strong shikake waza, have a relatively hard time applying the same basic techniques to oji timing. Rightly or wrongly, I believe that there are only four techniques in kendo – men, kote, dou and tsuki. There are of course [...]

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Kyoto Taikai

When I first came to live in Japan in the 70s, I was taken to see the Kyoto Taikai by the late Sugo Sensei of Chuo Daigaku. I was completely blown away by the experience. The opportunity to see so many great sensei demonstrate their very best kendo in the same place was hard to [...]

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