Gloves during training

If you're afraid of losing your grip from the sweaty tsuka it's acceptable to use customized gloves during summer practice. Just cut open the finger parts and palms of some old cotton gloves or such.

There is also an esthetic reason for wearing gloves (no, the gloves don't look nice). It's considered well not definitely as a bad manner but not very acceptable either to constantly wipe your hands on your practice wear.

If you're not into wearing gloves during practice just bring your towel with you; although it is also kind of mendokusai to stop training every 10 minutes just to wipe the sweat.

So what to do?
Shut up and practice o(^-^)o
Like Takada Sensei always says no matter the circumstances let's practice like there's no tomorrow!

Don't forget juntô!

Only 6 more practices before the big day. We have iaidô grading on August 23. Actually it's more of a dan grading than average grading; also many first timers are trying to get shodan.

There is a big difference between kyû and dan grading. In Japan kyû students don't have a written exam, they only perform their 5 favorite katas and hope for the best; but when it comes to dan grading the students have a written exam too. Takada Sensei gives the exam questions and deadline about two months before the grading so that you'll have a month before returning your report. If you miss the deadline, try again next year no excuses accepted. It's hard to imagine how anyone could miss the deadline. This year's questions for shodan, nidan and sandan were:

1) Tell about the founder of iaidô
2) Write the names of the techniques you have practiced
3) Name the parts of a sword
4) What is mekuteki (目的) of iaidô?
5) The Rules of Nippon Iaidô Kyôkai

The actual grading part is also different. You can't choose your favorite katas and hope for the best; on the contrary Takada Sensei reveals the katas you have to do 10 minutes before the grading. 10 minutes to practice and memorize and after that there's also the waiting part to sit in seiza and wait for your turn. I can already feel the pressure and anxiety.

Until now one Shodan kata called juntô has been on a black list. I still remember how my first Sensei emphasized never ever to do juntô in a demonstration, grading or anywhere else for that matter, except during practice. For those who are not familiar with juntô its purpose is to assist a person who is committing seppuku. Well last Sunday something strange happened. Takada Sensei informed that juntô is not anymore off the limits when it comes to grading! Yes, that's right. Everyone was astounded! Obviously no one had practiced juntô as much as the other katas because we all thought that it will be automatically excluded from the grading.

I have a feeling that juntô is going to be one of the requested katas. Let's see how it turns out. Until then practice, practice!

Training schedule for August 2009

Kanazawa Chiku Center, Kanazawahakkei, Yokohama

August 20 - Thursday
19:00~21:00

Oppama Junior High School, Oppama, Yokosuka

on Saturdays
August 1, 8, 15
19:00~21:00
15 min walk from Oppama station, Keikyu line


Nakada Junior High School, Totsuka, Yokohama

usually on Sundays
August 2, 9, 16, 30
13:00~15:00
5 min walk from Tateba station, Yokohama Subway

These training times are available for all grades.

If you would like to join, visit our training or you have any questions please contact Takada　Rumi　by phone TEL & FAX 045-783-2298 (in Japanese).

If you prefer email mail to takada_dojo(at)hotmail.com (in English/Japanese) or leave a comment here, thank you for your cooperation.

Training schedule for July 2009

Kanazawa Chiku Center, Kanazawahakkei, Yokohama

July 23 - Thursday

19:00~21:00

Oppama Junior High School, Oppama, Yokosuka

on Saturdays
July 4, 11, 18, 25
19:00~21:00
15 min walk from Oppama station, Keikyu line


Nakada Junior High School, Totsuka, Yokohama

usually on Sundays
July 5, 12, 20 (Mon), 26
13:00~15:00
5 min walk from Tateba station, Yokohama Subway

These training times are available for all grades.

If you would like to join, visit our training or you have any questions please contact Takada　Rumi　by phone TEL & FAX 045-783-2298 (in Japanese).

If you prefer email mail to takada_dojo(at)hotmail.com (in English/Japanese) or leave a comment here, thank you for your cooperation.

Akihiro - the youngest student in Takada Dôjô

1) What is your name?
-"Akihiro."

2) How old are you?
-"11 years old."

3) What is your nationality?
-"Japanese."

4) When did you start iaidô?
-"In 2005."

5) What made you start?
-"My grandfather suggested it to me."

6) Have you participated in iai demonstration? What was it like?
-"Yes, I have. I've been happy with my performances, because even if I felt nervous I could do the things I'd been practicing."

7) What do you think about Takada Gakudô Sensei's style related to iaidô and training?
-"It's great! Besides kata I can also learn about manners, traditions and so on from Takada Gakudô Sensei."

8) What kind of a teacher is Takada Gakudô Sensei?
-"He is very interesting because he doesn't teach just iaidô, but also many other things, like for example about life and finding the right spirit. He always emphasizes the importance of combining budô and education/studying (lifelong learning)."

9) What would you like to say to someone who is thinking about starting iaidô?
-"You should really try it! Iaidô helps you to improve your inner strength, concentration, shisei and composure. I recommend iaidô to other elementary school students too."

Yokohama, Japan 2009/7/5

Marcus from Uppsala, Sweden

1) What is your name?
-"Marcus."

2) How old are you?
-"23 years old."

3) What is your nationality?
-"Swedish."

4) How many times have you been to Japan?
-"This is my second time. My first trip was in 2006."

5) Why did you come to Japan?
-"The main reason was obviously to practice iaidô at Takada Gakudô Sensei's dôjô, but I came here also to do some sightseeing and meet friends. But if I hadn't begun practicing iaidô I don't think I would have been so interested in coming here."

6) When did you start iaidô?
-"In February 2005."

7) What made you start?
-"Actually I thought I would begin practicing kendo. I went to an open house event held in a martial arts practice center (in Uppsala, Sweden) where many different martial art clubs demonstrated their techniques and shared information. That was the first time I saw or heard about iaidô; so instead of kendô I decided to try it and thought it was great therefore I stayed."

8) Have you participated in iai demonstration? What was it like?
"In 2006 I attended the 5th anniversary celebration of Nippon Iaidô Kyôkai which was held here in Japan. It was of course very interesting to see Takada Gakudô Sensei but also because of the other members of different dôjôs and iai schools besides our Musô Shinden Ryû. We don't have the chance to see those in Sweden."

9) Is there a difference between training in Japan and in Sweden?
- "Yes, but mostly the differences are quite small, actually, as well as some of the "manner" aspects are done differently. For example, in the beginning of each iaidô practice we do battô-kiritsuki and then shoden just like here, but after that those who haven't yet practiced tôhô have free training while others do tôhô, it is the same with chuden and okuden. Also we don't do jôdô after iaidô practice; we have a separate training time for it, although sometimes we do kumigata at the end of iaidô practice. But other than that it is mostly the same."

10) What do you think about Takada Gakudô Sensei's style related to iaidô and training?
-"I think Takada Gakudô Sensei's teaching style is great, even for us who hardly know any Japanese he manages to get the message thru. I can't say much about the mini "lectures" during practice since my Japanese is far too bad to understand more than the most basic things, but during the actual practice I think he's teaching style is very pedagogic."

11) What kind of a teacher is Takada Gakudô Sensei?
-"I would quite simply say a good one. Especially his ability to teach at so many different levels so that, for example, after a iaidô seminar, both beginners and advanced students feel that they have been taught something."

12) What would you like to say to someone who is thinking about starting iaidô?
-"Try it! And also, try to keep with it at least through the beginner's term so that you have a little bit more perspective whether to continue or not. I think it is true for most budô (at least for the ones I have tried) that it might take a while before the "real" learning can begin."

Yokohama, Japan 2009/7/4

Looking for meaning?

i
"Determination to adjust into different situations, body positions or life experiences. Unity of mind and body flowing from one situation to another with confidence and understanding undistracted by thoughts of failure or victory."
ai
"Quick and efficient adaptation to all life circumstances."
dô
"Way or path to achieve spiritual development and self-realaziation through practice."

Iaidô is a Japanese martial art based on the battôjutsu established in the 16th century by a samurai called Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu.

Since his time the everyday life of a samurai has transformed into the art of drawing the sword known as iaidô. Nakayama Hakudô (1873–1958) is credited with first use of this term.

Iaidô is not about practicing for the purpose of practice itself or remembering the form or getting higher grades or possessing a sword - although in the beginning of one's iai path it might feel kind of great - and knowing how to use it.

Iaidô is about finding the way to develop oneself spiritually and mentally - why not physically as well - for the sake of perfection of character by committing to martial practice. Like someone wise said iaidô is "fitting into all life's situations". Discipline, commitment, practice, finding one's place, seeking harmony, living in peace and respecting life is essential concepts in iaidô.

So how does it work? How can we achieve all that? How do we become better human beings?

Without commitment, discipline and practice one will get nowhere. Each iaidôka should decide one's priorities. How much time one is willing to use on iaidô. Learning iaidô will take a lifetime, who can make that kind of a commitment? Can I? One should also keep in mind that no matter how busy life seems to be or how nice it would be to skip training just this once, that even a few minutes of practice is better than no practice at all. Thinking about training and actually training are completely different things.

The actual practice of iaidô is all about the form - repeating endlessly the forms called kata. Each kata consists the same four parts: nukitsuke_first cut when drawing the sword, kirioroshi/kiritsuke_cutting through the enemy from the front, chiburi_shaking the blood off the sword and nôtô_returning the sword into its sheath.

That is the physical side, half of the truth. Just as important is the spirit and mind of a iaidôka. Kata without mind and spirit is empty, it is meaningless practice. One should always think the meaning of each kata, each practice.

There is truly something mystical about iaidô at least for me. How can this repetition of kata give me such serenity? Why these strict rules of tradition make me feel free? I just have to step inside the dôjô and my mind becomes clear; I am able to let go of my worries or whatever has been on my mind before training. There is just this moment of practice and I.

As a iaidôka I am still too new (and will be for many years) to talk about becoming a better person, cutting my enemy or living in harmony with the universe, but this is where I am now. To me it is a good and meaningful beginning on my way to becoming a better me through iaidô. The hardest lesson to learn is to cut the enemy within myself - I am my own worst enemy.

"The writer has been hooked on iaidô since 2006.
The writer practices Musô Shinden Ryû in Takada Gakudô Sensei's Dôjô, in Yokohama, Japan."