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Pictured: Darian Van Gläske, Trevor McLaughlin, and Mike Chinadi   What a great evening, my friend Trevor McLaughlin ( Godan) came and received from the students of Seito Bugei Juku a Solid Bar Kongoken for his Dojo. He has supported the SBJ students by giving workshops and sitting on Grading Panels of the Students of … Continue reading Dojo Warming Gift!! Tuesday 29 May 2018

Ever wonder why (and this would be aimed at those of you who have been in a growing organization, who have gone up the ranks first) the requirements get more strict as the years go on? After all, what got you passed isn't what gets passed these days. I remember thinking exactly that several years … Continue reading Not enough chairs on the third floor – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

And one step back. After being pleased yesterday that my shoulder wasn't hurting, I managed to strain it again on the very first movement of my sword last evening. Now I can't read the newspaper so I may as well type. We worked on Koryu iai last evening, tachi uchi no kurai and Kurai Tori. … Continue reading Two steps forward – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

I was watching a series of interviews with Alex Bennett on the Seido equipment youtube channel yesterday. In Episode 7 (Series 1) he mentions that Japan generally has trouble with doing something in a new way. "Who will take responsibility if it doesn't work?", while he, being from New Zealand, has no trouble with trying … Continue reading Trouble makers and rule breakers – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

Yesterday it was the Pamurai, the new guy and me in class. We went through Seitei Iai just because it's mindless, it requires no thought from the Pamurai to do the kata, she's been practicing them for 12 years so we can work on the high level stuff rather than "this foot there". So what … Continue reading The High Level Stuff – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

Just finished the spring Peterborough seminar. Thanks for the invite Mike Chinadi, it's always a pleasure to practice with the "Terrors on the Trent". The Warriors of the Waters? We began with some Seitei Jodo in the morning, worked on the first few kihon, talking about the mechanics of things. We went on to look … Continue reading Peterborough Seminar Report – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

If it's not one thing it's another. The cottage battery problem seems to have come down to snow on the panels. The batteries seem to have been recharged and are now reinstalled. It's Ishtar's day so let's turn on the water... aaaand a Pex to copper joint has popped, causing a two hour attempt to … Continue reading Juuuust keep moving – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

Or Daimyos Rule? They did, they ruled the samurai. You don't wannabe a samurai, you wannabe a Daimyo. Right? Maybe. I was reading some daimyo rules this morning looking for inspiration and enlightenment. One of them was all about not letting men visit the wife if the husband was out of town. The Chosokabe of … Continue reading Daimyo Rules – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

Last evening I was told that we were doing kihon. Eventually I translated that as "no more reviewing kata, let's work on the good stuff". In Jodo the code word is kihon. So we went through the first three kata in Seitei Gata for the two hour class. Well, maybe we quit a half hour … Continue reading Choice Points – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo

Years ago I would get requests for private lessons. I always said "no, come on out to class" (they never did), we never have more than 5 or 6 people at any one time, and often it ends up with me and one other. Last night it was me and the Pamurai. On the theory … Continue reading Seitei Iai Private Lesson – Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan Iaido and Roukudan Jodo