by Robert Wolfe
Iaido Mini-seminar
Sword students take note: Because of the number of Saturday morning practices that have been preempted by seminars of one kind or another, there will be a special, iaido mini-seminar on Saturday, June 20, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Part of the morning will be structured, with group instruction, but most of the time will be devoted to individualized instruction and free practice. The objective will be to refine the kata you know, and to add more kata to your repertoire. Because this is an in-house event, it’s covered by regular dues, and no additional fee is required.
No Aikido Practice on June 20th
Due to the mini-seminar described above, there will be no aikido practice on Saturday, June 20.
Hakuho-ryu Seminar August 29th and 30th
Rod Uhler graduated from Mechanicsburg High School and, after serving as an Army Ranger, moved to Japan in 1994 to study traditional martial arts. With incredible good fortune, he became a student of Okabayashi Shogen, training in Daito-ryu Hakuho-kai aikijujutsu and Ono-ha Itto-ryu kenjutsu. Okabayashi Sensei reconstituted the Hakuho-kai as the Hakuho-ryu, encompassing both arts, and Rod is now one of the most highly ranked members of that organization. As you may be aware, Itten Dojo has enjoyed a long friendship with the Hakuho-ryu, hosting Okabayashi Sensei and Rod (along with his wife, Mitsuko) on a number of occasions for some of the most memorable seminars we’ve experienced.
This summer, Rod and family will be moving to Michigan, and on the way they’ll be stopping to visit family in Mechanicsburg. Luckily for us, this provides the perfect opportunity for another seminar.
Training on Saturday, August 29th will focus on aikijujutsu, and all members of our aikidokai should make every effort to attend. Prior to meeting Mike Sigman, much of the authentic “internal” training we’d seen was under the tutelage of Hakuho-ryu instructors, and I can guarantee that whatever Rod decides to convey during the first day of the seminar will be directly applicable to our current training paradigm. One of the hallmarks of the Hakuho-ryu organization is that instructors actually instruct and explain, rather than simply demonstrate, so you will emerge from the day with tangible understandings and skills.
On Sunday the 30th, kenjutsu will be the topic. Specifically, we’ll receive an intense introduction to the Go Gyo no Kata of Ono-ha Itto-ryu, five kumitachi that inspired the later Kendo Kata. The Go Gyo no Kata teach harmonious, graceful and elegant movement, and were intended to provide early 20th century kendo practitioners an appreciation of classical swordsmanship. We’ll be incorporating these kata to our syllabus, so all members of the toho-iaidokai should plan to attend.
A registration flier will be available on this web site by the end of June. Anticipated fees will be $125 for both days of training, or $75 for one day. Participation will be open to the public, and the number of participants will be limited for optimal training, so members of the dojo will want to submit their registrations early.
Recent Promotions
Congratulations to Blandine Mitaut and Jennifer Ziegler on passing the gokyu examination (after considerable prodding) and to Mick Sternick for accomplishing an excellent ikkyu test. Good job, all!