Sensei’s Blog

Something my son said the other day triggered a quick calculation in my head. I figure I might have another 15 good years to do what I want to do with my life. After that I'm likely going to be doing a lot of sitting around or mouldering. So when the "powers that be" start … Continue reading Fifteen Good Years – Nov 14, 2014, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.ca/2011/07/glimpse-at-bubushi-escape-techniques.html

The Kendo Federation and other such multi-art organizations with standardized curricula can create some confusion in students about who is in charge, who's their teacher and who you learn from. At a koryu seminar recently I found myself going into a bit of a rant about it all. I was standing in front of a … Continue reading Sensei, teachers and guys you learn from – Nov 11, 2014, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

In most budo clubs I know sensei says, at some point or other, "even if I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to you". It's always a good idea to listen to sensei correct someone else because in all liklihood you are making the same mistake. This is especially true if you're at around the … Continue reading It’s not always you – November 12, 2014, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

My sensei said that some advice from Japanese Admiral Yamamoto on training went: Show them, explain it to them, make them sweat and then praise them. My sensei said that he uses: Show them, explain it to them, make them sweat, then criticize them, tell them what's wrong. If you praise students they think they … Continue reading Stuff my Sensei Said 1 – Nov 3, 2014, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

I received a question about Niten Ichiryu recently which touched on kata and theory and real-life fighting (as any discussion of Musashi almost inevitably does. The question: Can we find the principles and techniques Musashi talks about in the Go Rin no Sho in the modern kata of HNIR? Musashi describes a wild, realistic fight … Continue reading Kata and Theory in Niten Ichiryu – Nov 3, 2014, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

A bit more on the idea that budo is training for war. Mostly I'm talking about the koryu and yes I know folks argue over budo vs koryu, I had the same argument with my brother when I was a kid. I had a little metal wheelbarrow and he said it was steel. We had … Continue reading Budo as the Art of War II – Oct 26, 2014, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

Late 1500s Japan: Trench warfare. Volley firing in 3 ranks of 1000 guns each rank . A battlefield with more guns on it than existed in all of Europe at the time... Whatever would make anyone think that the koryu were to train people for war? You don't need, nor have you ever needed the … Continue reading Budo As The Art of War – Oct 21, 2014, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

Lots of schools and kata or stick to one school and drill down deep? I listed all of the kata we do in our dojo and came up with 240 or so in six or seven different schools. How useful is that? What about sticking to 12 kata and doing them really well, is that … Continue reading Surface Area or Depth? – Oct 24, 2014, Kim Taylor, Renshi, CI Sei Do Kai Guelph ON, Nanadan

Great Day today! Busy!! This Morning went to 2014 Kenshokan Koryu Seminar - Peterborough, hosted by Jim-Wilson Kenshokan! Ohmi Sensei led the morning with a critical and detail breakdown of Omori Ryu of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. It was amazing, Sensei related historical details with his own historical experience to explain Omori Ryu's 10 Kata. … Continue reading Day one of the Weekend of 01 – 02 Nov 2014 – Koryu Seminar