Remember Yoneda-san? Even if you didn't know his name, you may remember the exciting real-time bokken sparring that Shihan did when he visited Ishikawa-sensei's dojo in Kyoto last year. The blog post chronicling the trip to Sensei Terakawa's dojo is here if you want to refresh your memory. The video on that post doesn't have the footage with Yoneda-san, but it's available on the full reference DVD from Kyoto (a copy is in the dojo if you want to see it). Here's a still shot and a clip featuring portions of Yoneda-san and Shihan's sparring match back then:
Yoneda-san and his dojo, led by Terakawa-sensei (one of Ishikawa-sensei's top students), were extremely gracious hosts during Shihan's visit to Japan, and we were eager to repay their hospitality when Yoneda-san and his wife Kazami decided to make a trip to Arizona. After spending a week in Sedona, they headed south to Phoenix for a few days of training with us at the Arizona Budokan.
Lining up for sword training with Yoneda-san
Practicing Toyama-ryu exercises with bokken
After an excellent training session on Monday that included both a karate application and sword class, some of the students went out for dinner with the Yonedas at a local restaurant. As usual, the martial arts conversation didn't stop once we were off the mat, and there were plenty of things to learn and discuss over good food and drinks, lively conversation, and plenty of laughs.
We were lucky enough to have a second training session on Wednesday, where Yoneda-san took the lead in a special two-hour sword class covering details and application of the Toyama-ryu kata. We learned about fighting in small quarters, preempting an attack, how the body actually responds to a sword cut or thrust, and tons of other practical details (some of them rather gory--I won't lie). You really haven't seen a practically focused sword style until you've met Toyama-ryu Iaido the way Yoneda-san and his instructors practice it. Now I know why we have to add a little twist after a sword thrust, why hardcore swordsmen practice with heavy logs instead of bokken, and why you shouldn't extend that poke fully forward...
Yoneda-san explaining how to perform an effective kamae in close quarters and keep the length of your sword hidden from an attacker.
Focusing on important details of form in Toyama-ryu kata
We were so excited to see so many of the AZB students come out to support Yoneda-san, and incredibly grateful to receive the extensive and detailed sword knowledge he shared with us directly from our sister school in Kyoto.
Yoneda-san closed his visit with the exciting announcement that the Arizona Budokan is soon to become the official US branch of the All-Japan Toyama-ryu Iaido Federation, headed by Sensei Ishikawa in Kyoto. He stressed that this link would give us direct access to the best teachings that Ishikawa-sensei and his top students have to offer--including an easy avenue for our students to visit Japan and train at our sister dojo in one of the country's most beautiful cities firsthand.
Sensei Ishikawa, head of the All-Japan Toyama-ryu Iaido Federation
and teacher of Yoneda-san's primary instructor, Sensei Terakawa
Sensei Ishikawa, Sensei Terakawa, Shihan, Yoneda-san, and the students of our Kyoto sister dojo
Combined with our strong ties to Hayashi-line Shito-ryu karate and Okinawan kobudo in nearby Osaka, this relationship now makes it easier than ever for us to facilitate study trips where our students can take advantage of some of the best martial arts instruction in Japan today, complete with translation services and world-famous Japanese hospitality. We're lucky to be associated with such an amazing group and are looking forward to our relationships and skills developing in the future. Thank you so much, Yoneda-san!! We can't wait to see you in Japan or stateside again soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment