I am travelling on business in India and it has, unusually for me, been a week since my last practice and I have got another week to go. I understand that there is kendo in Delhi but that is a long way from Mumbai where I am currently based. Having spent most of the time sitting in air conditioned cars and offices it is difficult to keep kendo fit, so I have been looking at ways to practice on my own, without a shinai.
The answer is of course suburi in front of the mirror in my hotel room. It is not as strenuous but as the real thing but it gives me the chance to concentrate on important aspects like posture and footwork. The only downside is that without the disguise of keikogi and bogu, the mirror tells me that I have had too many beers and curries.
Nevertheless, I have tried to combine quality and quantity by working on a continuous series of 1200 suburi, starting from shomen and yoko men but then graduating through all the techniques I use. There is no reason why suburi has to be basic so I tried to simulate debana men and degote and then with dou did the same technique in both nuki and kaeshi form. I even attempted tsuki and finally tried kote nuki men.
It is certainly not the complete kendo exercise but it has made me look at my technique in detail and what’s more persuaded me that I now have room for another beer. With luck I will back for practice at Mumeishi next Sunday.
Me and my shadow!
August 9, 2009 by Geoff
Geoff,
You should have let me know you were on your way over. The guy who runs the dojo in Delhi is a good friend. If there was a chance to do at least a bit of kendo in Mumbai, i`m sure he could have hooked you up.
http://kenshi247.net/suite/keninkai/
I thought about it, but it is quite a distance from Delhi to Mumbai, a bit like me going to Southern Spain or you going to Taipei for a keiko. Maybe I can wangle a trip to Delhi in the future.
Can Kendo classes be taught at Bombay,India?I am from Bombay, and i wanna learn Kendo.
To the best of my knowledge there are no kendo classes in Mumbai. There is kendo in Delhi and I beleive that this year India are sending a team for the first time to the Asian Championship. It might be worth checking with the Japanese Consulate to see if there are any Japanese ex-pat kendo people who could start a class.
hello …
i would like to know how to get in touch with the person teaching kendo in delhi. I am very interested and would like to start leaning it.
Hello OJ
I have not had direct contact with the Delhi Kendo Club, but beleive that it is organised by one of the diplomats at the Japanese Embassy. You may be able to find out more by contacting the Embassy: Plot No.4&5,
50-G Shantipath, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi 110021
Tel:00-91-11-2687-6581/
4610-4610
Fax:00-91-11-2688-5587
Email:jpembjic@nd.mofa.go.jp
Or talk to one of the officers of FIK (International Kendo Federation) in Tokyo. Try Mr Kazunori Yazawa yazawa@kendo.or.jp
Good luck!
Geoff
I found this website by chance. Now I’m stationed in Mumbai and have been looking for dojo of kendo. But impossible at this moment….
I believe that the closest dojo is in Delhi which is much too far for an evening keiko. If you are an experienced kendoka maybe you should think about starting a dojo in Mumbai. The dojo in Delhi is run by a member of the Japanese Embassy staff, perhaps you could speak to their cultural section for some advice.
Hyderabad city now in Telangana state caters to the need of Kendo & Iaido since a long time.
Do we have any kendo (samurai)and straight sword fighting schools in new delhi?
I believe that the Japanese Embassy in Delhi is running a kendo club.