Volume 26, number 3/4
March/April 2012
PNKF DATEBOOK
- Apr 14, Cherry Blossom Demo, Sat, 1:30-2pm, Seattle Center.
- Apr 28, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- May 12, PNKF Iaido Shinpan Seminar, Sat, 9am-12noon; PNBA Iaido Taikai,
1-3:30pm. Spartan Recreation Center, 202 N.E. 185th Street, Shoreline.
- May 19, Bellevue Junior Taikai, Sat, 9:30am-3pm.
- Jun 2, Rose City Taikai, Sat, 10am, doors open 9am, PCC Cascade Gym, 600
North Killingsworth Street, Portland.
- Jul 14, PNKF Junior Seminar (tentative).
- Jul 14, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Aug 11, PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Aug 18 or 25, Spokane Seminar and Taikai (tentative).
- Sep 7/9, Annual Idaho Kendo Seminar and Umemura Cup, Fri,Sat,Sun, Boise.
- Sep 15, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Oct 6, PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Oct 20, Tacoma Taikai, Sat, 10am-4pm, Washington High School, 12420 Ainsworth Avenue
South, Tacoma, WA (tentative).
- Nov 3, PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, Kent.
- Nov 10, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Nov 18, Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kent.
OTHER DATES
- Apr 14, AUSKF Board meeting.
- Apr 14, AUSKF open practice, Sat, 5:30-6:30pm, Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac,
located right off I-5 at S. 188th Street.
- Apr 15, AUSKF Kodansha Shinsa, Sun, 12:30-4pm, Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac,
located right off I-5 at S. 188th Street.
- Apr 21, 47th Annual Vancouver Kendo Tournament, Sat, 10am-4pm, gym open 9am, Byrne Creek
Secondary School, 7777-18th Street Burnaby, BC V3N 5E5
- May 5, Ito Cup, Denver.
- May 6, SWIKF Shinsa, Denver.
- May 25-27, 2012, 15WKC, Novara, Italy.
http://www.15wkc-italy.org/.
- Jun 20-24, 2012 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp, Wed-Sun. Lodging available in campus dorms. June 20: Welcome
Party. June 21-22: Iaido Seminar, June 23am: Taikai; June 23pm: Sayonara Party. June 24am: Iaido Shinsa.
June 24pm: Jodo Workshop (Tentative). Contact iaido@tacomakendo.com
http://www.tacomakendo.com. Pacific Lutheran University, 12180 Park Avenue S., Tacoma, WA 98447 (253) 531-6900.
- Jun 29-Jul 1, 5th Annual US Nito Kendo Seminar, Fri/Sun, with Kendo 7th Dan, vice-chair/
chief instructor of Musashi Kai, co-author of “Musashi no Ken” book, contributing author
AJKF “Nito Guidebook” Sasaki Hirotsugu; Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan Fuji Ryoichi, and Kendo 6th Dan
Ishimura Ako. Open to kenshi of all levels, Ittoh and Nito practitioners alike. Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon. Registration packet here:
http://www.idaho-kendo.com/nito
35th ANNIVERSARY HIGHLINE MUDANSHA CHALLENGE CUP – March 3, 2012, White Center
Individuals
1st place - Shawn Stern, UW 2nd place - Tero Patana, Sno-King
3rd place - Harley Christianson, UW 3rd place - Terry McManus, Kent
4th place - Zachary Neale, UW 4th place - Hank Kim, UW
4th place - Jeremiah Sargent, Federal Way 4th place - Howard Hwa, Bellevue
Teams
1st place - UW, 43 points 2nd place - Sno-King, 17 points
3rd place - Kent, 9 points 4th place - Bellevue, 8 points
16th HARVARD/RADCLIFFE SHORYUHAI KENDO TOURNAMENT – March 24/25, 2012, Cambridge
Teams
1st place - UW (Y.Shim, H.Christianson, F.Wessbecher, N.Grimes, S.Stern)
2nd place - UCSD A (C.Ono, G.Okamura, S.Takahashi, Y.HaChouf, M.Ha)
3rd place - NYU A (Turner, Fallon, Yang, Svrcek, Ryu)
3rd place - Soka U (Okuda, Matsukura, Ryu, Nakagome, Kamimoto)
Individuals
1st place - Yannis Hachouf, UCSD
2nd place - Melvana Gemici, Cornell U
3rd place - Matthew Yang, Rutgers U
3rd place - Tomoyuki Fujiyama, Columbia U
24th CLEVELAND KENDO TOURNAMENT – March 31, 2012
Junior A Junior B
1st place - Reika Tsuchiya, Battle Creek 1st place - Izzak Niksan, JCCC
2nd place - Kei Suyama, JCCC 2nd place - Alistair Faghani, ShidoDC
3rd place - Saaya Morton, Cleveland 3rd place - Mei Niwa, Detroit
3rd place - Allen Barnhart, S. Ohio 3rd place - Thomas Koizumi, Miami Valley
Junior C Mudansha
1st place - Ryoko, Kambe, Keio 1st place - Reika Tsuchiya, Battle Creek
2nd place - Dunkin Adams, ShidoCT 2nd place - Daniel Kim, Virginia Tech
3rd place - Fumitaka Nakayama, Keio 3rd place - Andrew Yoo, Purdue
3rd place - Yunosuke Nonaka, GKA 3rd place - Galen Yasumura, Case Western Reserve
1-2 Dan Women
1st place - Funitaka Nakayama, Keio 1st place - Ryoko Kambe, Keio
2nd place - Ryoko Kambe, Keio 2nd place - Ayaka Sugiyama, Etobicoke
3rd place - Takashi Ohashi, Cornell 3rd place - Bree Yang, Jungko
3rd place - Adam Waterreus, N. Virginia 3rd place - Arisa Nakamori, ShidoDC
3 Dan Up Junior Team Team
1st place - Kenichi Hatakeyama, Choyokan 1st place - Keio B 1st place - Canada A
2nd place - Ryo Tamaru, JCCC 2nd place - ShidoDC 2nd place - GKA
3rd place - Shigemitsu Kamata, Etobicoke 3rd place - Keio C 3rd place - U. Cincinnati
3rd plcae - Yutaro Matsuura, Battle Creek 3rd place - JCCC 3rd place - Cornell
36th ANNUAL UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON INVITATIONAL KENDO TOURNAMENT – April 7, 2011
4 Dan and Above Women's Open
1st place - M. Zo, Cascade 1st place - W. Robillard, Steveston
2nd place - B. Imanishi, Cascade 2nd place - A. Fukushima, Vancouver
3rd place - N. Fukushima, Vancouver 3rd place - E. Marsten, Highline
3rd place - W. Robillard, Steveston 3rd place - A. Sugiyama, Etobicoke
0-4 Kyu 1-3 Kyu
1st place - J. Yamauchi, Cascade 1st place - T. Patana, Sno-King
2nd place - R. Oda, Tozenji 2nd place - L. Wang, SFU
3rd place - Z. Neale, UW 3rd place - B. Hsu, SFU
3rd place - S. Asano, Tozenji 3rd place - D. Lin, Steveston
1-2 Dan 3 Dan
1st place - R. Murao, Steveston 1st place - A. Fukushima, Vancouver
2nd place - F. Wessbecher, UW 2nd place - H. Yamada, Vancouver
3rd place - D. Sinclair, Spokane 3rd place - S. Jung, Vancouver
3rd place - J. Duplain, Spokane 3rd place - M. Hamanaka, UBC
Teams
1st place - Team Canada (M.Hamanaka, M.Ma, H.Yamada, A.Fukushima, M.Taguchi)
2nd place - Steveston A (D.Yao, Ryan Murao, P.Nishikihama, S.O'Sullivan, Ray Murao)
Taikai Chair - Ted Tagami
Sportsmanship Pledge - Noelle Grimes
Kazuo and Tomo Shoji Inspirational Award - Frank Wessbecher
UCLA YUHIHAI INTERCOLLEGIATE KENDO TOURNAMENT – April 8, 2012
Kyu Individuals Dan Individuals
1st place - S. Ujiie, East LA CC 1st place - I. Lorimer, UC Riverside
2nd place - J. Chan, UCLA 2nd place - S. Amano, UC Irvine
3rd place - A. Kim, UCLA 3rd place - S. Takahashi, UCSD
3rd place - A. Pham, UC Davis 3rd place - T. Suzuki, UCLA
Teams
1st place - UCSD A
2nd place - Touwan A
3rd place - UCLA A
3rd place - UC Riverside A
THE LAST WORD
This incredibly grueling training regime forced the student to come face-to-face with his
absolute physical and mental limits, and then breaking through his perceived boundaries with with an
‘indomitable heart’. The point was not how many matches the student was able to win. Instead it was a
means for self-cultivation in which the student developed his mental strength and virtuous traits…
–Sakai Toshinobu, A Bilingual Guide to the History of Kendo, Alexander Bennett,
trans., Kendo Nippon Books, Heisei 22 [2010], p. 207.
- Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation
- Kenyu Online – http://pnkf.org/
- Tom Bolling,
Editor – 7318 23rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA 98115
Volume 26, number 1/2
January/February 2012
PNKF DATEBOOK
- Mar 3, Highline Taikai, Sat, 10am, White Center Community Center.
- Mar 15/20, two Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan Hiroshima Sensei visit Obukan, featuring Tsuchida
Kichibee and Sasaki Sadao Sensei, Thu/Tue. See
http://www.obukan.com/events/sasaki.php
- Mar 17, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Mar 22-25, All Japan Kendo Dojo Junior High champion team, individual boy, individual girl, and Kendo essay contest winner, with Kendo Hanshi 8th Dan Ota Tadanori and Toyomura Sensei. Trainings at Spokane Kendo Club: Thurs 6:00pm, Fri 9am and 6pm, Sat 9am and 3pm. Farewell BBQ Sat. 7:00pm.
- Mar 31, PNKF Shinpan Seminar, Sat, 9am-1pm, open keiko 1-1:45pm. Seminar 9am for
those judging; 10am start for those participating in matches. South Park Community
Center, 8319 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108. The South Park 14th Avenue S. Bridge is now
closed. You cannot come from the North through South Park to get to the Center. You must
use the 1st Avenue South Bridge. There is limited parking in the lot. Lots of
on-street parking.
- Apr 7, UW Taikai, Sat, 10am, IMA.
- Apr 14/15, Cherry Blossom Festival, PNKF demo, Seattle Center.
- May 5, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- May 12, PNKF Iaido Shinpan Seminar and Taikai, Sat, 9am-3pm, Spartan Recreation Center,
202 N.E. 185th Street, Shoreline (tentative).
- May 19, Bellevue Junior Taikai, Sat, 9:30am-3pm.
- Jun 2, Rose City Taikai, Sat, 10am (tentative).
- Jul 14, PNKF Junior Seminar (tentative).
- Jul 14, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Aug 11, PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Aug 18 or 25, Spokane Seminar and Taikai (tentative).
- Sep 7/9, Annual Idaho Kendo Seminar and Umemura Cup, Fri,Sat,Sun, Boise.
- Sep 15, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Oct 6, PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Oct 20, Tacoma Taikai, Sat, 10am-4pm, Washington High School, 12420 Ainsworth Avenue
South, Tacoma, WA (tentative).
- Nov 3, PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, Kent.
- Nov 10, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Nov 17, Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kent.
OTHER DATES
- Mar 24/25, 16th Annual Harvard/Radcliffe Shoryuhai Kendo Tournament, Malkin
Athletic Center, Cambridge.
- Mar 30/Apr 1, 24th Annual Cleveland Kendo Tournament/GNEUSKF Championships,
Fri/Sun, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.
- Apr 14, AUSKF Board meeting.
- Apr 14, AUSKF open practice, Sat, 5:30-6:30pm, Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac,
located right off I-5 at S. 188th Street.
- Apr 15, AUSKF Kodansha Shinsa, Sun, 12:30-4pm, Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac,
located right off I-5 at S. 188th Street.
- May 25-27, 2012, 15WKC, Novara, Italy.
http://www.15wkc-italy.org/.
- Jun 20-24, 2012 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp, Wed-Sun. Lodging available in campus dorms. June 20: Welcome
Party. June 21-22: Iaido Seminar, June 23am: Taikai; June 23pm: Sayonara Party. June 24am: Iaido Shinsa.
June 24pm: Jodo Workshop (Tentative). Contact iaido@tacomakendo.com
http://www.tacomakendo.com. Pacific Lutheran University, 12180 Park Avenue S., Tacoma, WA 98447 (253)
531-6900.
- Jun 29-Jul 1, 5th Annual US Nito Kendo Seminar, Fri/Sun, with Kendo 7th Dan Fujii Ryoichi,
and Kendo 6th Dan Ishimura Ako, Niten Ichi Ryu Musashi Kai from Japan. Open to kenshi of all levels, Ittoh
and Nito practitioners alike. Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon (tentative).
PASSAGE
Unexpectedly and without warning we were stunned and devastated by the sudden loss at age 52 of a great
and beautiful kenshi. Sachiko Yamauchi Prough, Naginata Kyoshi and Iaido 4th Dan, President of the
United States Naginata Federation and founder of the Nichibukan Naginata School in New York and New Jersey,
was born March 4, 1959 in Matsuyama Ehime Shikoku Japan. She started her Naginata training at the Naginata
Club of Matsuyama Shinonome Junior High School. At 16 she had reached 1st Dan, and in 1996 she was the
youngest ever to be promoted to Naginata Kyoshi (equivalent to Kendo 7th Dan). Winner of national
tournaments in high school, college, and after, she worked tirelessly supporting the Matsuyama City Sports
Association, Ehime Naginata Federation, Ehime Prefecture Sports Association, and the All Japan College
Naginata Federation. In 1999 Yamauchi Sensei moved permanently to New Jersey. November 30, 2000 she married
our friend the Japanese Swordsmanship Society’s founder John Prough. She had already established herself as
a major leader in U.S. and Canadian Naginata. Meantime, she rapidly advanced in the study of Muso Shinden
Ryu and ZenKen Iai. She encouraged students to work hard both inside and outside the Dojo, saying
“Everything is part of training, from breathing to walking.” Her own breathing was famously powerfully
smooth and controlled. Her sudden death was caused by an aneurysm which struck her on New Year’s Day and
rapidly destroyed the brain. Many tests over the next few days continued to confirm the worst, but even
after she was finally taken off life support on January 5 her awesome physical strength allowed her heart
and lungs to continue running on their own for another forty minutes. Her father was the late Moriaki
Yamauchi. Our sincere condolences to her mother Chieko Yamauchi, sister Miwa Shigematsu, and her beloved
Prough Sensei.
TONBO IAIDO DOJO, BREMERTON
At their January 28, 2012 meeting, the PNKF Board was pleased to welcome Tonbo Iaido Dojo as a
PNKF Dojo with probationary status. Head instructor AUSKF Iaido 4th Dan Ed Olson is an exponent of ZenKen
Iai, and his Koryu is Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. He has studied at Zen Ken Institute in New York City, and his
teacher Pam Parker Sensei has granted him permission to teach. Classes meet at the Silverdale YMCA, 1404
Marguerite Avenue, Bremerton, Tuesday and Thursday, officially from 7-8pm. Usually, there is an additional
hour to 90 minutes of study available for interested students.
COPA JAPON 2012 KENDO TAIKAI – January 29, 2012, Santiago, Chile
1st Place, Miguel Ulivarri, AMK Metropolitan Kendo Association, Santiago, Chile
2nd Place, Patricio Patino, NKC Nihon Kendo Chile, Santiago, Chile
3rd Place, Javier Barrientos, KAIKEN Club de Kendo Vi?a, Vi?a del Mar, Chile
3rd Place, Alejandro Madriaza, NKC Nihon Kendo Chile, Santiago, Chile
Attendees included people from Argentina, Peru, and from across Chile.
50th ANNUAL STEVESTON KENDO TOURNAMENT – February 11, 2012, McMath High School
10 Years and Under 11 to 13 Years 14 to 15 Years
1st place - R. Kim, Renbu 1st place - T. Hori, SCKF 1st place - K. Fujimoto, NCKF
2nd place - M. Fukuoka, Tozenji 2nd place - C. Yoon, SCKF 2nd place - A. Lee, Vancouver
3rd place - I. Kim, Renbu 3rd place - G. Sugino, NCKF 3rd place - C. Lam, Steveston
3rd place - S. Park, NCKF 3rd place - T. Katayama, NCKF 3rd place - T. Okitsu, Tozenji
Non-Degree 0-4 Kyu Non-Degree 1-3 Kyu Ladies 1 Dan and Under
1st place - F. Hong, Youshinkan 1st place - H. Christianson, UW 1st place - B. Hsu, SFU
2nd place - T. Sugawara, Cascade 2nd place - D. Minaki, NCKF 2nd place - B. Lin, Bellevue
3rd place - K. D'Souza, Steveston 3rd place - G. McIvor, Kelowna 3rd place - J. Lee, Renbu
3rd place - B. Murphy, Steveston 3rd place - J. Olieira, SFU 3rd place - K. Leung, UBC
Ladies 2 Dan and Above 1-2 Dan 3 Dan
1st place - M. Taguchi, Renfrew 1st place - A. Teranuma, Hawaii 1st place - B. Fukutomi, Hawaii
2nd place - M. Cabral, NCKF 2nd place - A. Eitoku, NCKF 2nd place - Y. Kariya, SCKF
3rd place - A. Takado, Obukan 3rd place - I. Miki, Steveston 3rd place - T. Kikuchi, Steveston
3rd place - W. Robillard, Steveston 3rd place - K. Knecht, Steveston 3rd place - T. Hamanaka, UBC
4 Dan and Above
1st place - S. Kamata, Etobicoke
2nd place - S. Asaoka, Youshinkan
3rd place - T. Yamada, Vancouver
3rd place - R. Tamaru, JCCC
Junior Team Senior Team
1st place - Kent (Y.Sandberg,K.McManus,T.Marsten, 1st place - Team Canada Men (E.Altilia,R.Tamaru,
A.Sinclair,J.Mills) T.Yamada,E.Yamashita,S.Asaoka)
2nd place - SCKF (D.Hahn,C.Yoon,C.Tesar,T.Horii, 2nd place - NCKF (J.Kim,S.Lee,K.Park,
A.Lee) H.Ichimura,J.Eitoku)
3rd place - Steveston (K.Muramatsu,J.Chao,C.Lam, 3rd place - Hawaii (B.Fukutomi,G.Matsumoto,
B.Kato,J.Tubajon) G.Matsubayashi,S.Harris,A.Fujimoto)
3rd place - Renbu (E.Lee,A.Lin,H.Shim,A.Tseng, 3rd place - Vancouver (S.Ueno,S.Jung,J.Schmidt,
K.Fujita) D.Banbury,R.Kato)
TEAM CANADA 2012 FOR 15WKC
Congratulations to all the members selected. Men: Suguru Asaoka (captain), Shigemitsu Kamata, Eddie
Yamashita, Ryo Tamaru, Takashi Yamada, Tuan Anh Hoang, Elliott Altilia, Tsuyoshi Hamanaka (development
prospect). Women: Maya Taguchi (captain), Akiko Fukushima, Tania Delage, Bree Yang, Man-San Ma, Hanaca
Yamada, Misato Hamanaka, Ayaka Sugiyama (development prospect).
SHINKYU SHINSA
PNKF IAIDO SHINSA, February 25, 2012, Tyee Educational Complex
5TH KYU: Anthony Hill (Tonbo). 4TH KYU: Isaac Meyer (UW). 3RD KYU: Masami Hill (Tonbo), John Salazar (Tonbo), Kathleen Shipley (Tonbo), Lynda Shipley (Tonbo), Gina Taylor (Tonbo). 2ND KYU: Truman Lee (UW), Bertram Tsutakawa (Highline), Aaron Yen (Seattle). 1ST DAN: Lynn Miyauchi (Musokai).
PNKF KENDO SHINSA, February 25, 2012, Tyee Educational Complex
7TH KYU: Hitoshi Kuida (Seattle). 6TH KYU: Haven Allen (Bellevue). 5TH KYU: Alexandra Frederick (Northwest), Tatsuya Gould (Federal Way), Sean Kelly (Federal Way), Hannah Kim (Bellevue), Phillip Saltzman (Bellevue). 4TH KYU: Maya Blechschmidt (Bellevue), Yamauchi Colter (Cascade), Tobi Du (Bellevue), Alexander Fukusawa (Tacoma), Drake Imanishi (Seattle), Phillip Kinsley (Cascade), Allison Kojima (Bellevue), Tatsuki Kuida (Seattle), Dennis Lee (Federal Way), Brian Liao (Bellevue), Mina Liao (Bellevue), David Lin (Bellevue), Kenji Lin (Seatle), Colin Marshall (UW), Anna Neshyba (Tacoma), Tenma Rollins (Federal Way), Jeremiah Sargent (Federal Way), Leo Shibata (Bellevue), Fiona Yang (Bellevue), Joe Yang (Bellevue), Andy Yuen (Seattle). 3RD KYU: Michael Alfonso (Obukan), Eric Chesley (Seattle), Amy Drackert (Bellevue), Jessa Gray (Spokane), Kiana Niki Johnson-Kugimiya (Northwest), Alex Kanemasu (Kent), Andrea Kayser (Pocatello), Nichelle Kim (Northwest), Ryan Kim (Cascade) Takako Kuida (Seattle), Kenny Lee (Cascade), Keeley McManus (Kent), Nathan McRae (Spokane), Alina Saltzman (Bellevue), Yarrow Sandberg (Spokane), Kenny Sato (Spokane), Ricky Sato (Spokane), Riley Tetzloff (Kent), Kaoru Toyokawa (Tacoma), Morgan Ward (Idaho), Wynn Wee (Bellevue). 2ND KYU: Dana Chinn (Bellevue), James Crabbe (Tacoma), Jaered Croes (Portland), Jennifer DeJong (Highline), Eric Dominey (UW), Sean Gillespie (Seattle), Billy Joe Griffin (Spokane), Joshua Hill (Tacoma), Tiarnan Marsten (Kent), Terry McManus (Kent), Changmin Park (Obukan), Dan Park (Bellevue), Nick Petersen (Ren Ma), Michael Song (Cascade), Shawn Stern (UW), Rio Takayanagi (Obukan). 1ST KYU: Patrick Dunlap (Everett), Erica Kim (Northwest), Truman Lee (UW), Jorren Mills (Kent), Emily Morgan (Cascade), Hogyun Park (OSU), Tero Patana (SnoKing), Yumiko Shinoda (Bellevue). 1ST DAN: Timothy Bishop (Cascade), Harley Christianson (UW), Melanie DeJong (Highline), Wes Horn (Idaho), Bernice Lin (Bellevue), Chris Ruiz (Spokane), Andrew Sinclair (Spokane), Ted Tagami (UW), Sam Wilkins (Everett), Matthew Wolf (Spokane), Trent Yamada (Bellevue). 2ND DAN: Yury Bogucharov (Bellevue), Seth DeNardi (Spokane), Jeff Lamb (Spokane), Aaron Melton (Spokane), Marek Nelson (Spokane), Finn Pond (Spokane). 3RD DAN: Stephen Burgess (Bellevue), Nathan Holtorf (Obukan), Donglok Kim (Bellevue), William Kuster (Spokane), Ian Morgan (Kent), Brad Nelson (Bellevue), Gregory Phancenek (Seattle), Haruka Takano (Seattle). 4TH DAN: Sean Blechschmidt (Bellevue), George Nakayama (Obukan), Andy Tsang (Cascade), Leonid Tsybert (Bellevue), Stephen Uchida (Ren Ma).
- Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation
- Kenyu Online – http://pnkf.org/
- Tom Bolling,
Editor – 7318 23rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA 98115
January 14, 2012, Saturday, 12 noon-5pm
Rain City Fencing Center
1776 136th Place NE
Bellevue, WA 98005
Location about 1/2 mile west of the Bellevue Dojo between NE 20th Street and Bel-Red Road on 136th Place NE. 136th does not go all the way through to Bel-Red, so the easiest access is turning South onto 136th Place NE from NE 20th Street, which would make the Fencing Center on your left.
The Kata portion of the seminar will be from Noon to about 4pm, with Keiko from 4 to 5 pm.
All dojos need to have each individual fill out and sign the form / waiver of liability (it is a two page form), and return the appropriate fees for all members along with completed forms to Brian Blomquist by February 24th 2012. Membership fees must be received by this deadline in order to participate in the February 25th PNKF Shinsa.
Dues are $70 for anyone who was 18 or older before 1/1/2012 and $40 for anyone who was 17 or under on that date.
Need the form? Click here.
Volume 25, number 12
December 2011
PNKF DATEBOOK
- Jan 14, PNKF Kata Seminar, Sat, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Rain City Fencing, 1776
136th Place NE, Bellevue, WA 98005.
- Jan 28, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Feb 25, PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Tyee
Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac, located right off I-5 at S. 188th Street.
- Mar 3, Highline Taikai, Sat, 10am, White Center Community Center.
- Mar 17, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Mar 31, PNKF Shinpan Seminar, Sat, 9am-1pm, open keiko 1-1:45pm. Seminar 9am for
those judging; 10am start for those participating in matches. South Park Community
Center, 8319 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108. The South Park 14th Avenue S. Bridge is now
closed. You cannot come from the North through South Park to get to the Center. You must
use the 1st Avenue South Bridge. There is limited parking in the lot. Lots of
on-street parking.
- Apr 7, UW Taikai, Sat, 10am, IMA (tentative).
- Apr 14/15, Cherry Blossom Festival, PNKF demo, Seattle Center.
- May 5, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- May 12, PNKF Iaido Shinpan Seminar and Taikai, Sat, 9am-3pm, Spartan Recreation Center,
202 N.E. 185th Street, Shoreline.
- May 19, Bellevue Junior Taikai, Sat, 9:30am-3pm.
- Jun 2, Rose City Taikai, Sat, 10am (tentative).
- Jul 14, PNKF Junior Seminar (tentative).
- Jul 14, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Aug 11, PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Aug 18 or 25, Spokane Seminar and Taikai (tentative).
- Sep 15, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Oct 6, PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Oct 20, Tacoma Taikai, Sat, 10am-4pm, Washington High School, 12420 Ainsworth Avenue
South, Tacoma, WA (tentative).
- Nov 3, PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, Kent.
- Nov 10, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Renton.
- Nov 17, Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kent.
OTHER DATES
- Jan 22, Mori Hai Memorial Tournament, Sun, 8am-5pm, Wilson Park Gym, Torrance,
California.
- Jan 28/29, FIK Referee Seminar for the American Zone, Sat/Sun, McGill
University Athletic Center, Montreal, Canada.
- Feb 11, Steveston Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, McMath High School, 4251 Garry Street,
Richmond BC.
- Feb 18/19, 14th Annual Detroit Open Kendo Tournament, Sat/Sun; Seminar and Godo
Keiko Saturday 6pm with Kendo Hanshi 8th Dan Futagoishi Takashi; Tournament Sunday 8am,
Novi, Michigan.
- Mar 24/25, 16th Annual Harvard/Radcliffe Shoryuhai Kendo Tournament, Malkin
Athletic Center, Cambridge.
- Mar 30/Apr 1, 24th Annual Cleveland Kendo Tournament/GNEUSKF Championships,
Fri/Sun, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.
- Apr 14, AUSKF Board meeting.
- May 25-27, 2012, 15WKC, Novara, Italy.
http://www.15wkc-italy.org/.
- Jun 20-23, AUSKF Iaido Seminar (tentative).
2nd LATIN AMERICAN KENDO CHAMPIONSHIP – November 10-12, 2011, Mexico City
125 competitors, from 16 countries within the Latin American region, participated.
Brazil lead in total medal count with 12 medals in all, 5 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze,
out of the 21 awarded to the competitors in the 7 divisions. Participating Countries 1.
Argentina 2. Peru 3. Guatemala 4. El Salvador 5. Aruba 6. Republica Dominicana 7.
Uruguay 8. Colombia 9. Honduras 10. Costa Rica 11. Venezuela 12. Panama 13. Brasil
14.Chile 15. Ecuador 16. Hosted by Mexico. The host country Mexico had the second most
visits to the winners' podium, with 5 medals in all, 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze. They
were followed by the Chilean team with a 1st Place in the Women's Team, and a 2nd in the
Men's Team divisions. Ecuador obtained a 2nd Place, and the head of the Aruba delegation
placed 3rd, in the Masters division.
Men's Team Women's Team
1st place - Brasil 1st place - Chile
2nd place - Chile 2nd place - Mexico
3rd place - Mexico 3rd place - Brasil
Men's Individuals Women's Individuals
1st place - Julio Kenji Toida, Brasil 1st place - Lilian Natsumi Miyazawa, Brasil
2nd place - Paulo de Tarso Leite, Brasil 2nd place - Tabita Saez Tayakama, Brasil
3rd place - Carlos Flores, Mexico 3rd place - Mariana Hernandez, Mexico
Junior Boys Division Junior Girls Division
1st place - Hector Toshio Ueda, Brasil 1st place - Karen Mejumi Anraku, Brasil
2nd place - Victor Kenzo Fujikura, Brasil 2nd place - Amanda Miyuki Nakao, Brasil
3rd place - Rodrigo Ryuiti Hayashi, Brasil 3rd place - Caroline Naomi Ueda, Brasil
Masters Division
1st place - Vidal Briones, Mexico
2nd place - Fernando Benavides, Ecuador
3rd place - Sergio Velazquez, Aruba
ANNUAL JCCC KENDO TOURNAMENT – November 26, 2001, Toronto
Women Mudansha and Shodan
1st place - Hanaka Yamada, Vancouver 1st place - Justin Lee, U Waterloo
2nd place - Tania Delage, McGill U 2nd place - Ryan Lee, Etobicoke
3rd place - Ayaka Sugiyama, Etobicoke 3rd place - Steven Park, Etobicoke
3rd place - Man Sa Ma, U Guelph 3rd place - Vincent Lai, Etobicoke
Nidan and Sandan Yondan and Up
1st place - Kunhee Kim, McGill U 1st place - Eddie Yamashita, Etobicoke
2nd place - Kevin Lee, York U 2nd place - Elliot Altilia, JCCC
3rd place - Simon Choe, York U 3rd place - Shigematsu Kamata, Etobicoke
3rd place - Tim Samios, Mississauga 3rd place - Hyun Jun Choi, Jungko
Teams Best Match
1st place - Men's Team Canada Bree Yang, Jungko vs. Yoshimi Matsuzaki, Etobicoke
2nd place - Jungko
3rd place - Toronto "A" Fighting Spirit
3rd place - U Toronto "A" Bora Choi, Jungko
PASSAGE
Dick Okaji
The Hawaii Kendo Federation lost an immensely kind and friendly senior sensei on
May 31, 2011 with the passing of Kendo 5th Dan Dick Okaji following a long and painful
illness. Born February 13, 1922 in Hakalau, Island of Hawaii, Okaji Sensei practiced
Kendo as a young child and continued on in high school, achieving 2nd Dan before moving
to Honolulu to attend the University of Hawaii. He then went on to the University of
Missouri where in 1957 he wrote a master’s thesis, “The Legislature of the Territory of
Hawaii: Its Organization, Structure, Procedure, Powers and Functions.” Returning to
Oahu, he had a long, proud, and distinguished career as Administrator, Professional and
Vocational Licensing Division, State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer
Affairs. He loved this work and his interactions with many politicians.
He had put Kendo on hold when he went to college and while he worked. He returned
to Kendo at the age of 68. He was with the YBA Kendo Club. Some years back he told the
Kenyu Editor he was retiring from Kendo, but in fact he continued to be very active, and
in 1995 opened his own Dojo, the Ken Yu Kai. Okaji Sensei and the Editor were both
immensely relieved when the beautiful facilities at the new Japanese Cultural Center
were saved. On December 10, 2000, at Kaimuki Honbu, Okaji Sensei was among those honored
at a special Senior Sensei Taikai recognition day.
Okaji Sensei loved his lofty retreat with his wife Lenora high in the tradewinds up
on Round Top, where many birds, fish, and kitties found refuge with him. An accomplished
musician, his house was crowded with beautiful musical instruments. An avid
historian, he gathered many fascinating artifacts. In this retreat he trained himself
diligently in both Kendo and Iaido kihon. Okaji Sensei was an exceptionally generous
person who truly loved all of his students, frequently helping them purchase their bogu,
and endlessly encouraging them in their training. An exemplary kenshi has gone to his
reward.
Bob Takagaki
We were profoundly stunned and devastated to learn of the horrifying last illness
and death of our dear friend Kendo 5th Dan Bob Takagaki. Less than a year ago, he had
learned of the sudden onset of a terrifying disease, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). MDS
is a bone marrow disorder which results in abnormal blood cells, and the only cure is a
bone marrow transplant. A match with a donor was actually found, however in April the
MDS progressed to an aggressive form of leukemia, and although he underwent a few of
rounds of chemotherapy, he was never in remission long enough to receive the bone marrow
transplant. He was given intense supportive care, but slowly declined as his immune
system was deeply compromised. He understood his fate with great clarity, and calmly
wrote a simple but extremely moving farewell message to be sent to friends upon his
death. On December 4, 2011 he passed away surrounded by his grieving family.
Takagaki Sensei was born in Kamloops in July 1951. He grew up in Toronto, moved to
Japan in the mid-70s, and returned to Vancouver after about five years, where he
started his own company shortly after. He studied at the University of British Columbia
where received his master’s degree in 1985 with his thesis on “The Acquisition of the
English System of Pronominalization by Adult Second Language Learners.”
Takagaki Sensei was a loyal member of the Steveston Kendo Club. He was also
instrumental in the establishment and ongoing support of the UBC Kendo Club. He was
well-known throughout the Canadian Kendo Federation, often traveling to help out
generously with Kendo training in the Canadian prairies many times, seldom missing
seminars held in Saskatoon, Winnipeg or Edmonton.
Takagaki Sensei had a very casual and unpretentious manner, never pushed himself
forward or imposed on anyone. He had a very observant but kindly sense of humor and
could always see the easy-going fun in everything. At the same time he had very high
ethical standards. His business, Van Rice Products Ltd., was committed to healthy,
wholesome, environmentally-friendly food, and he often shared the very delicious organic
rice cakes with friends.
There is no doubt that Kendo was his greatest extracurricular passion. He never
married but was very close to his brother Ken’s three sons and his sister Cathy’s two
daughters. He also has a younger brother, Cary. Takagaki Sensei’s life, and especially
the way he faced and bore his death, embodied the very noblest ideals of Kendo.
THE LAST WORD
Tesshu started his training in the way of the sword when he was nine years old. From
an early age he was known as ‘Boro-Tetsu’ (Tetsu the scrapper) and ‘Oni-Tetsu’ (Tetsu
the demon) for the crazed way in which he trained. On March 30, 1880, he was enlightened
to the notion ‘Because I exist, my enemy also exists. If there is no self, then there is
no enemy.’ His epiphany was reminiscent of the wise old cat’s wisdom in Issai Chozan’s
famous book on swordsmanship and the mind – Neko-no-Myojutsu (The Cat’s
Eerie Skill). This realization is abstract, and difficult to comprehend. Nevertheless,
it is by no means empty theory, and represents a profound awareness of the higher
secrets of swordsmanship, gleaned through relentless training and dedication.
Tesshu created the Muto-ryu – the school of the ‘sword of no sword’. This alludes
to the idea that there is no sword other than that of the heart (shingai-muto). He later
built a Dojo called the Shunpukan where he taught his disciples with almost unimaginable
harshness. One of his famous training methods was tachikiri-shiai, in which one person
fought challenger after challenger with no rest. This meant engaging in two-hundred
matches in a single day. As a part of his training syllabus, advanced disciples
participated in six-hundred matches over three days, or 1,400 in seven days. –Sakai
Toshinobu, A Bilingual Guide to the History of Kendo, Alexander Bennett,
trans., Kendo Nippon Books, Heisei 22 [2010], p. 205-207.
- Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation
- Kenyu Online – http://pnkf.org/
- Tom Bolling,
Editor – 7318 23rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA 98115
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