Kenkonkai

Family, Thanks for coming out and supporting Drawdy sensei and the Kenkonkai, it was an inspirational day to say the least!

Kenkonkai dojo 20th Anniversary! Tomorrow starting at 9am!

6 days....
KENKONKAI 20TH ANNIVERSARY!

Greetings from the Kenkonkai dojo. I want to distribute information to everyone who is attending the upcoming event.

Date: Saturday September 17th 2022

Start Time: 9:00 am-5:00pm

Location: The Chantilly Fieldhouse
14810 Murdock St, Chantilly, VA 20151

Event schedule:

Group photo

Bow in

Shiho Barai

Demonstration of Nakamura Ryu by Kenkonkai Dojo and affiliates

Demonstrations/ Embu by Visiting Sensei/ Various Arts
(To all Sensei of arts other than Nakamura Ryu please let me know if you would like to demo/embu so I can work out a schedule. It would be appreciated. Contact me directly at [email protected] )

Shizan (All, if you would like to participate in Shizan please email me directly at:

[email protected]

As tetami are in short supply and we have many individuals participating we will only be offering 1 mat per kenshi. sorry for the confusion.
(We want to be sure to have plenty of tetami available) Cost of tetami will be $15 each payable at :

[email protected] on paypal

Bow out

Lunch ( We will be serving BBQ from Mission Bbq with a vegetarian option of Chili, sides and dessert) We are humbly asking for a $15.45 donation per head for food payable to:

[email protected] through paypal

Following lunch the floor will be turned over to any arts wishing to hold seminars.

We have the facility until 5:00pm

Finally we are offering a commemorative tee shirt for sale which encompasses All of Drawdy Sensei's affiliate dojos (take a look at the attachment) These are available in sizes ranging from medium to 3XL. Cost is $20.60 each please remit your payment and requested shirt size to:

[email protected] on paypal

In closing we would just like to thank all of you for your support of the Kenkonkai and Japanese Martial Arts in general. It is a great honor to be associated with you and our appreciation is vast! We look forward to spending a day of Budo and fellowship with you!

Respectfully yours,

Matthew Garten
Kenkonkai administration

P.S Matt Odell, Vi, John Mutschink, Michael Shane if you would be so kind as to share this email with your people who are coming to the event it would be a big help!

P.P.S while we prefer payment via paypal we will also be accepting cash payments for food, tetami and tee shirts the day of the event but I would ask that you still contact me with your intentions.

We are turning 20!

This year marks 20 years since Dave Drawdy Sensei began teaching Nakamura Ryu/Toyama Ryu and we are going to have a anniversary party to celebrate!

The date is set for September 17, 2022 in Chantilly Virginia.

Everyone is welcome to come join us for this event. If you would like to come and participate please contact Matthew Garten at

[email protected]

Please indicate how many people you intend to bring!

See you then!

Kenkonkai updated their address.

Kenkonkai updated their address.

Kenkonkai updated their business hours.

Kenkonkai updated their business hours.

A little taste of looking down the street at the Nations Capital. Our view from the demonstration stage at this years Sakura Matsuri.

So you want to see some tetami being cut in person? Come watch the Kenkonkai at the 60th anniversary Sakura Matsuri!

Kenkonkai updated their business hours.

Kenkonkai updated their business hours.

Kenkonkai updated their website address.

Kenkonkai updated their website address.

Posted to our email group:

Greetings, everyone,

Reluctantly, we are going to suspend battodo practice at our dojo in Alexandria, VA for the next two weeks, at least (we will reevaluate at that time). We are doing this because, as you've probably seen elsewhere social distancing is the best way to "flatten the curve" and help support our community during this time. This is a time for us to practice Katsujinken in our daily lives, putting others above ourselves.

Some of us have been following the reports out of Italy, here in the US, and the rest of the world, and Italy is probably 2 weeks ahead of the US. What we are seeing there is an inability of the medical system to meet the surge in need for intensive treatment. And that isn't just for COVID-19, but it will affect anything that people need intensive care for--from flu to other serious conditions.

This virus is spreading exponentially--according to the Washington Post we are seeing a doubling of cases every 2~3 days. The good news is, that means we can still do something, today. With exponential growth every link we break in the chain has a potential to slowdown the spread of the disease and give hospitals and medical professionals time to get behind this thing.

Don't take this the wrong way. We don't want people to panic. This is not about being afraid of getting the disease or giving in to an irrational fear that you will die if you get it. This is not something done in fear, but done out of concern for others.

So don't panic. Take reasonable precautions. If you can, practice social distancing and help slow the progress. Where you can't, do what you need to do.

During this break, don't let your practice lapse! Continue to work on kata, kihon. At home, in your backyard. If you need something from the dojo, let us know--we have enough people with keys who can help you get your weapons, etc. Work on kihon, grip--those fundamentals that we are always harping on.

This is a good time to read through Nakamura sensei's book, and maybe do some other reading on Japanese swords and swordsmanship in general. Share what you are working on with the group, keep the community together, even if we aren't together, physically.

We are probably a little bit further behind the surges happening on the West coast and elsewhere, but people are taking action, now, and that should have a positive effect. Let's do the smart thing, for the benefit of our entire community.

Ready to start at the Tri-State Tai Kai.

Did you miss our embu at the Tidal Basin? Come out and see us Saturday, 13 April, at the 2019 Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival in downtown DC.

The Ken Kon Kai was down at the Tidal Basin in DC providing a demo of Nakamura Ryu Battodo. The trees were in peak bloom, and it was a beautiful setting. We were pleased to be able to provide traditional Japanese swordsmanship in honor of the gift of these beautiful trees, a symbol of friendship between Japan and the US.

It was great to get back out to the Tidal Basin for another demo. This time the cherries were in full bloom, and there was a great crowd. This Saturday we will be on again--this time at the Sakura Matsuri Street Festival.

Save the date: The IBF Taikai 2016 will be held at Tsurumi Sports Center, Yokohama, Japan on Sunday 30th October 2016. Look for full details later this summer!

Japanese Sword: Tamahagane Smelting with Bladesmiths Walter Sorrells and Jesus Hernandez

Smithing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDbg1aikq1I&feature=youtu.be

Japanese Sword: Tamahagane Smelting with Bladesmiths Walter Sorrells and Jesus Hernandez American swordmakers Walter Sorrells and Jesus Hernandez demonstrate how they smelt tamahagane -- a rough form of steel which is used in the making of tradit...

NAKAMURA RYU HAPPO GIRI (part I)

Fudokan Battodo, the UK Nakamura Ryu Battodo group led by John Evans sensei, has a new blog page up, and the first page is about happo-giri, Nakamura sensei's fundamental concept at the heart of his battodo.

NAKAMURA RYU HAPPO GIRI (part I)   Nakamura Ryu Battodo was founded in 1952 by Taisaburo Nakamura, a master instructor of the military swordsmanship of the Toyama Academy, and evolved from his experiences as a combat instructor, his study of koryu and kendo and his research into tameshigiri – test cutting. The most original feature...

Had a great turnout at the Sakura Matsuri this weekend - here's a sample. Good job all!

Via: https://onedrive.live.com/?authkey=!ANuGgNrgDMNsjkc&id=9548F6892A039586!73719&cid=9548F6892A039586

Photos from the California Tai Kai this year. I've tried to note the sources of each photo; where a link is provided, go check it out to view more photos!

Congratulations to all who participated in the taikai yesterday!

Special congrats to our own members who placed -

Tom Wadlow : first in shizan (3-4 dan) and kumitachi (with Derek Morris ), second in dantaisen (team cutting)

Carl Jenkins: second in dantaisen (team cutting) with Tom and Matt Rous, and second in kumitachi

Dave took second in kumitachi [with Carl]

Josh Badgley took second in shizan (5 dan + )

Good job all!

The last day of training and testing before the taikai out in California. This has been a tremendous experience, and everyone is looking forward to the competition!

Hijinks are afoot at the tai kai! Watch this space for more serious pictures in the next few days! (Via: Sang Woo Kim's wall)

Derek Morris on Instagram: “More training! #swordtaikai”

Train hard! Video from this week's :

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDEb7bGHH24/

Derek Morris on Instagram: “More training! #swordtaikai” “More training! ”

Word of the day: *Tachikaze*. It literally means "sword-wind," and refers to the sound that a sword makes when cutting through the air.

Generally, you only hear tachikaze if your blade has the correct cutting angle (hasuji). It can be difficult to hear in a large class, so listen out for it when you are practicing on your own!

Joshua Badgley was up in Anchorage and visited our fellow kenshi up there, studying with Del Labrador sensei. Everyone trained hard and it was a great seminar.

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Love this gif of some of our Australian friends practicing kumitachi!

http://giphy.com/gifs/3o6gaXqM0Xf1zOpIaI

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Super Fast Katana

A great video of Nakamura Taisaburo, our founder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23_Ry8-uoiQ

Super Fast Katana amazing -Creator of the Nakamura-ryu Happogiri Battodo style, the great Nakamura Taizaburo Sensei demonstrating tameshigiri

Classes are canceled for this weekend due to the snowstorm. Stay safe, everyone!

Some info on places to stay, etc. for the California tai kai!

https://www.facebook.com/events/974429029245263/permalink/1036582146363284/

Capital Area Budokai

Capital Area Budokai Welcome to the Capital Area Budokai in the metropolitan area of Washington, DC! The Budokai is dedicated to the proliferation of Japanese Budo - Martial Ways - and available for demonstrations at Japanese cultural events. We are students of Kendo, Atarashii Naginata, Kyudo, Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo, Nak…

The Budokai will be ringing in the New Year at our Koto Hajime event on Saturday, the 2nd of January at 10:00 in our Alexandria dojo space (25 South Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA). Potluck lunch to follow. Batto and Mugai will be doing embu (demonstration) and First Cuts. Members (and prospective members!), friends, and family, please join us!

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A helpful gif for tying your hakama into a bow!

Different arts tie theirs differently, and I'll have to double-check to see how batto-do and mugai-ryu do it, but this is still a handy reference to have. :-)

https://media.giphy.com/media/3oEduKhx2UlTGm5AC4/giphy.gif

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"The Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel" reveals true extent of kendo's influence on Star Wars movies

It's not the same as batto or mugai, but kendo shares a lot with our arts in terms of history and theory. Check out this article about the influence of kendo (and Japanese sword in general) on the Star Wars movies!

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/12/25/the-evolution-of-the-lightsaber-duel-reveals-true-extent-of-kendos-influence-on-star-wars-movies/

"The Evolution of the Lightsaber Duel" reveals true extent of kendo's influence on Star Wars movies From the action scenes to the dialogue and spirit of the characters, this new short documentary hosted by Mark Hamill confirms the heavy influence of kendo on the entire Star Wars franchise.

https://www.facebook.com/121782691233975/photos/a.776498692429035.1073741827.121782691233975/923007814444788/?type=3&theater

After you see the movie, why not try the real thing?

The Capital Area Budokai has a full slate of classes scheduled for the New Year. Come out and give it a try.

http://capitalareabudokai.org

Drawdy-sensei went to Byakkokan Dojo this week to give a seminar!

A quote from The Two Towers

This quote, by J.R.R. Tolkien, seems like a good representation of Katsujinken, the Life-Giving Sword:

“War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.”

(Faramir, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/14627-war-must-be-while-we-defend-our-lives-against-a )

A quote from The Two Towers War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for ...

Kabutowari - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Today's "Neato Other Weapon" : the Kabutowari! Literally "helmet-breaker," this weapon could be used in place of a jutte as a moderately-less-lethal-than-a-sword option. (Wikipedia implies that actual helmet-breaking was unlikely, though.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabutowari

Kabutowari - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Kabutowari (Japanese: 兜割?, lit. "helmet breaker" or "skull breaker"[1]), also known as hachiwari, was a type of knife-shaped weapon, resembling a jitte in many respects. This weapon was carried as a side-arm by the samurai class of feudal Japan.