Komei-Juku.com.au: February 2013

Thursday, 21 February 2013

Report from Robert Sedunary A.K.A. Kensei Sekiguchi for the 36th Nippon budokan 11-02-2013

Komei Juku Iaijutsu.Katsuura shugyou training

36th Nippon budokan Kobudokyokai Embu Taikai.Himeji 11.2.2013

2013 has got off to a good start for Komei Juku Iaijutsu. Firstly with our regular shugyou keiko at the Nippon budokans Kenshu centre at Katsuura this February and then following up with The Nippon budokan’s Kobudokyokai Embu at Himeji. Nothing good has ever come from a lack of effort and it’s fair to say we worked hard toward a good demonstration to which I feel we really did do something good. Dai Sempai Noguchi Sensei was ever vigilant over the performance and the training that led up to it, keeping us all aware of the high standard we must display if we were to succeed. A good mix of nationalities at Katsuura provided an excellent chance to expand ourselves each day. Japanese, Spanish, English, French, Austrian, Korean etc.. To the uninitiated, communication would seem hopeless with such a group, however to the credit of our interpreters and our own will to understand, we did very well this year. “Isshin” is what it is, and this is a large part of Sekiguchi sensei’s teachings when we look at the moral ethos associated with budo. It’s a wonderful thing to see at work especially across a mixed group of nationalities and languages. Training was as ever very difficult, starting each day at 5.00am and not finishing until 10.00pm each evening. Just enough time for a quick shower and then off to bed for a very short sleep, waking to a cold morning each day to do it again. The staff at the Kenshu centre are as always key to a good seminar like ours and once again they excelled in there tasks each day. The members of the Kenshu centre were always friendly and caring, punctual and supportive. Kookiesan and his staff in the kitchen are to receive special mention for once again providing us with wonderful meals morning, noon and night. A big thanks to you Cookiesan and staff. Shimizu Sensei although not training with us this year did make an appearance, much to our surprise, to award some members of the group with a new art name. The intention, to encourage those members to pass forward all that she has imparted to them over the years, and to take forward her beautiful naginata movements into

the future. A great honour and a great responsibility comes with such a name, so good luck to those members, and well done. Each day we worked with both sword and naginata to expand our knowledge of both weapons. Sekiguchi sensei is very quick to point out to us that good Iai and in fact good budo comes from a good sense of awareness. Weapons vary in many ways so we must remain aware if we are to develop our skills with these weapons, in defence as well as in kata or kumitachi. As always Embu is a very serious matter when it comes time to do it, especially at the Nippon budokan in Japan. Jukuchou has in the past likened it, as an analogy to doing battle. Obviously it is not real battle, but you get the idea. So you’ve got to step up. It’s a true test of the nerves and ones endurance, starting with days of endless rehearsal all leading up to the moment when you first draw your sword. I’m sure everyone feels the same at that one special moment. Its said one can train and hone ones skills in the dojo for 20yrs or more to then simply have it all fall apart the day you need it most. In my opinion, only Embu of this kind can fully provide one with this strengthening of character and will that one needs to survive in this tough world of ours..Embu is far more than just a performance.

From a back room at the Budokan we watched the other groups perform there routines as the time led up to our six minutes. A very good standard I thought from all the groups I was lucky enough to see. This year I thought there was a good feeling of professionalism among our group and without so much as a fuss we walked on the stage and gave what I thought was one of the day’s best performances. In all fairness I didn’t see all the other groups, but we were good. I think this years “most improved” award goes to Sonoko Sensei from Portland America. Sonoko sensei’s naginata was definitely a level up on what I saw last time we trained together and her understanding of Iaijutsu as a whole was clearly up on last year. Sonoko Sensei was better focused with sharper kata and greater stamina and confidence, impressively managing the chudan hayanuki in just a few days to perform it at Embu. Very well done. Offcourse all the members of the international group deserve praise for there efforts that made the whole experience a pleasant and rewarding one. However, none other than Grandmaster Sekiguchi Sensei himself deserves praise more. What more can I say…A great teacher, and a great man.. He is, great.

Sekiguchi Kensei.

Komei Juku Iaijutsu

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Townsville Seminar Komei Juku 2013

Dates for 2013 seminar in Townsville as follows:

Sensei leave Tokyo        16th June 2013

Arrives Townsville         17th June 12n

Training                         18th 9am - 5pm
Training                         19th 9am - 5pm
Training                         20th 2pm -8pm
Training                         21th 9am - 5pm
Training                         22th 9am - 5pm
Training                         23th 9am - 5pm

Depart Townsville         24th June 7am

Costs are: $350 or $100 per day for students travelling to Townsville

Local Student: $450 or $120 per day

contact: info@komei-juku.com.au or your local instructor for more details!