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Hello, this is Asuka.
Last Week was the last practice with Esteban. He left to Colombia.
Since it was the last practice with Esteban at BUTOKUDEN, I really wanted to beat him in Keiko, even though he is male and practices more than I do. I was sure we would have last Keiko with him. So I was thinking all day, how I could beat him.
I have practiced and worked with him for the past four months. Therefore, I kind of understand his good and bad points. During the mental training, prior to the match with him, I imagined twice what I would do with him. In the past, when he gets frustrated, it becomes easier to get point such as Debana Kote. So, I decided to block his first and second attacks to make him upset. Eventually, he would get furstrated, and that would be the perfect timing in order for me to get a Debana Kote, which is my favorite Waza.
This picture is before we fought.
During the last practice, I did exactly what I planned! And I got Debana-Kote from him!! I was excited until the following day.
It was the first time to realize Kendo is not only physical game but also mental game as Ariga Sensei or many other Senseis have told me.
Hello, this is Asuka.
In January, we had many new students who joined our BUTOKUDEN Dojo. Sometimes, I teach the beginners the basics. For an adult, it is very important that they enjoy Kendo. Even though they are just starting up, we have to give a variety of practice menu, in order to keep them interested and to make the practice more challenging.
Please take a moment to remember.
When you started Kendo, what was the most memorable moment? What was your motivation for Kendo. How about now, in the present?
When I started Kendo in high school, my motivation was always tournament. When I re-started Kendo two years ago, the motivation to keep practicing hard was to obtain the Third Dan. After moving to the USA, Kendo became a good opportunity to meet and talk with different people. For each person, their motivations is probably different. I feel that any type of motivation is OK as long as we keep practicing hard.
Yesterday, Ariga Sensei and I talked about recent Keiko in our Dojo. He is planning that adult beginners put Men earlier than usual. This is not the traditional way. When he was young, he practiced without Bogu for a year. However, buy putting the Bogu sooner, it will make the Kenshis more focused during practice. Once they learn how deep Kendo is, they would get more interested in Kendo.
Today, I will ask them when they want to put Bogu on. It would be their motivation.
Hello, this is Asuka.
It was a great opportunity for me to meet these highly skilled for female Senseis. What was common among them was that they were all very humble. Watanabe Sensei told us that the secret to improve Kendo skills is that we should listen to what our Senseis say and try the lessons as they teach us.
Also, their postures were very good too. They don’t have speed or power as the male Kenshis but they looks like a big mountain.
One Sensei in Simi Valley said we have three types of Seme; Kiai, Kensen, Posture. When I do Seme, it is easy for me to rely on Kiai or Kensen. But from next Keiko, I have to consider more posture.
We had a very busy weekend. Watanabe Sensei, who is a female 7 Dan Kenshi from Saitama prefecture, came to our Dojo on Saturday. She started Kendo when she was 38 years old and got 7 Dan. The next day, on Sunday, we had practice at Chuo Dojo II located in Simi Valley. I also met two high ranking female Kenshi at Chuo Dojo. So, totally I met three strong female Kenshis during this weekend.
This is the picture of Watanabe Sensei.
Hello, this is Asuka.
Happy New Year! In our Dojo, we already started our practice from January 5.
We were very busy at the end of 2009. We had the Christmas party, Toshikoshi Keiko and my Birthday Keiko. My birthday is December 26th.
As for the Birthday Keiko, I was happy that everyone remembered my Birthday and decided to get together to have a Birthday Keiko, even though I had to do Kakarigeiko. But the practice was more than that.
My boyfriend, who is Kendo 5 Dan and currently living in Japan, came to our Dojo with his friend, who is Kendo 4 Dan, to surprise me!!!
To tell you the truth, I started to fell that there was something when I sent him an email on December 25th, and he did not get an answer. Then I started to wander why it was only me that would have a Birthday Keiko and Ariga Sensei making sure that everyone should attend this event. From my experience, I noticed in the past that whenever we have some guest Kenshis coming to our Dojo, Ariga Sensei announces many times. So this time too, I knew by intuition that my boyfriend was coming.
They were hidden in their rental car while I was getting ready for practice. During the Kakari Keiko I saw them coming into the Dojo. I felt very happy.
After practice, I found out the many Kendo moms in our dojo had already known about the whole plan, and they helped with the party. They said, they were disappointed because I just kept practicing as nothing happened. They expected me to cry and hug each other during the Keiko.
Wait a second… How do I cry during Kakari Geiko…..
After practice, my boyfriend said that he felt that the kids in our Dojo seem to enjoy practicing Kendo more than their Dojo Kids. I totally agree with him. Our kids love Kendo.
His friend practiced with everyone in our Dojo. It was his first time to travel and practice Kendo abroad. He was so excited. They just stayed only for 3 nights. It is like Kouken Chiai, which means practicing Kendo makes good friendships, for them.
Anyway, I would like to thank everyone at Butokuden, Ariga Sensei and my special guest from Japan. It was a special Keiko for me.
Hello, this is Asuka.
Last week, we had Christmas party in our Dojo. In the afternoon, we had the Butokuden Dojo tournament and in the evening we had the party.
This tournament is very memorable for everyone. In the Kids division, the smallest one, who would never be happy unless he is the top, got the first place. In the Dan division, one teenager beat his rival whom he had never beaten in the tournament before. Also in the Masters Division (over 40), a women Kenshi got the first place.
 Right is 1st place in Master Division and left is 1st place in Dan Division. During the party, we prepare many events, such as wine tasting, talent show, and gift exchange. We even had the Santa Claus to join us since our Dojo kids practiced so hard during the year.
 Sant came to Butokuden!! The first place for the talent show was won by the Masters Group!! They danced with Hawaiian costume. I saw them practice for the Talent Show harder than Kids.
 These costume make them 1st Place. Our Kids can play Kendo during the year because their mothers helps so much, so we decided to give a special gift for the Kendo Moms. We gave them Kendo Mom T-shirts!! These shirts are so cute! Every mom put wore these T-shirts during the party. They looked very pretty.
 Kendo Mom Tshirts are lovely!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Hello. This is Asuka.
We now have one Kenshi from Columbia. He came to the USA in November, and he will be staying until February. He is crazy about Kendo. In Japanese we call these type of people “Kendo OTAKU” or “Kendo BAKA”.?Sometimes I carpool with him. Most of our conversation is about Marital Arts, Samurai and Kurosawa movies. Although I am Japanese, he knows Japan more than I do.
Last time he compared Kendo with Karate. Karate people tried to create new branches. On the other hand, Kendo people try to integrate their branches, and that is probably why we practice the same style of Kendo all over the world. In his opinion, it is our body and mental characteristic what makes different styles to fight.
Now he plays Kendo in our Dojo and learns not only technique but also the way of teaching Kendo. When he goes back to Columbia he will teach his students as he learned here. I am glad to say Kendo is a world-wide Martial Arts.
Hello. This is Asuka.
Yesterday, Seo Sensei (Executive Vice President of Korean Kumdo Federation for Social Members ) visited our Dojo. He is Hanshi 8 dan. Thanks to Kim sensei, we were able to arrange Seo Sensei’s visit to our Dojo, during his busy schedule here in the USA. He was also one of the referees who refereed Ariga Sensei’s match at the 11WKC in 2000 (Semi Finals, Taisho match Canada x Japan). After that WKC, Seo Sensei and Ariga Sensei had become good friends, although Seo Sensei is much older than Ariga Sensei.
Mmany students came to practice with Seo Sensei, and he gave us a short Kendo lecture. He taught us how to invite our opponents. First, we move 5 steps toward opponent from Issoku ittou no maai. When we can make opponent open, we hit Men. When we can’t, we still hit Kote using the opponent power. He taught us more advanced things also. When we show our Kote, the opponent might come for the Kote, and we do Kote Suriage Men. Any time, it is the most important that we should keep ‘good distance’ and keep our Kensaki in the center.
After the lecture, we had free practice (Jigeiko). All students had the opportunities to fight with him. HE IS VERY STRONG!! Most of students in our Dojo could not touch him. His Ashisabaki was very good. It is easy for him to avoid our attack, by just using his feet. We had very good practice with him.
After practice, we went out to eat and talked many things about Kendo. It was a very big party. We all liked his personality. He is a very calm and kind Sensei.
On Sunday, we had the promotion exam for KYU to 4 Dan. There were around 60 people testing at the examination.
I got 3 Dan a year ago, therefore I did not have the qualification to take test this time. I went to the examination as a helper. I helped as a timer, so I was sitting behind the five Senseis who were judging the contestant’s performance. Being a timer is a very easy task, so was able to not only check the contestant’s performance, but also how each Senseiwas reacting to their performance. When I was an contestant, I was very curious how the decisions were made.
They had a list of the contestant’s information with their numbers. The list did not have their names or Dojo names. If the contestant had enough skills for that Kyu or Dan, Senseis would check “PASS”, as they would approve that contestant. However, if his/her skills were near the borderline, they would check another space to discuss about this person after. After all contestants have performed, the judges would go to a closed room to discuss.
One common thing I noticed about the applicant who passed 4 Dan, it was that they had good Seme and tried to invite the opponent to hit. There are many 3 Dans and many different styles of Kendo.
Finally, Congratulations to every body who passed!! From now, you will start to practice for next Dan! I am sorry for the applicants who did not pass. I hope next time you will!!
 Kendo Kata 10 honme
Hello, this is Asuka.
In our Butokuden Dojo, we practice Jodo before our Kendo practices, for about 30 minutes.
Jodo is often called ‘The way of the stick.’ This martial art uses a short wooden staff, called a ‘Jo’ or ‘Tsue’, to defend oneself against an attacker using a Japanese sword.
 First Tsukidue Practice We started Jodo a few months ago, and now we are practicing some Katas, such as Tsukizue and Suigetsu. It is very interesting for us Kenshis because we can learn a different type of Seme from Jodo. When we do Hikiotoshi-Uchi, we strike the Jo. You would be surprise the power of impact when our Sensei hits the Hikiotoshi-Uchi! You would feel that your sword was blown away by the Jo even though he didn’t hit strongly. Our Sensei said, that you should strike from Kensaki to your leg.
We can use this technique in Kendo, when we do Seme and make opponent lose his balance. It is the first time for me to use this technique when I practice Kote-Men.
Now we can not take Jodo promotion exam here in the USA. I hope will be able to test in the USA soon.
Hello. This is Asuka.
We had last Keiko with Someya Sensei on October 20. He went back to Brazil on October 21.
This day was only Jigeiko. Of course, I went practice with Someya Sensei. I got very good advices. He told me that I should initiate the attacks using the legs, and not arms. Also, he mentioned that that I should not show my foot in order to have a good Seme.
Actually, I did not notice that my feet were showing when I hit, until my friend took this photo. This is very ashamed picture….
 My leg... When Someya Sensei told me this, I came up this photo on my mind. It is easy to image my Men. I concentrated on what he told me. After practice, one of my fellow Kenshi , who is 2 Dan and older than me, mentioned the following: “You hit the Men better while you practiced with Someya Sensei than before. However, you are back to your normal Men when you were practicing with other people after Someya Sensei.”
MMM
It takes a long time to hit good Men…
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