Volume 29, number 4/5
April/May 2015
PNKF DATEBOOK
- Jun 13, Rose City Taikai, Sat, doors open 9am, check-in closes 10am, opening ceremonies 10:15am, PCC Cascade Campus, 705 N.
Killingsworth, Portland. - Jun 26/27/28, 8th US Nito Kendo Seminar, Fri/Sat/Sun TVCC Ontario, Oregon.
- Jul 18, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- Aug 8, PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Sep 19, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- Sep 26/27, PNKF Iaido Seminar, Sat/Sun, Rain City Fencing, 1776 136th Place NE, Bellevue.
- Oct 3, PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Kent.
- Oct 17, Tacoma Taikai, Sat, 10am-4pm, TBA.
- Nov 7, PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am, Kent.
- Nov 21, PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, Kent.
- Dec 12, Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, Kent.
OTHER DATES
- May 27/28/29/30/Jun 1, 16WKC, Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan.
- Jun 18/19/20/21/22, AUSKF Iaido and Jodo Seminar, Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun, San Jose City College.
- Jun 28, Leeward Oahu Kendo Tournament, Sun, Mililani.
- Jul 11, Kendo Skill Seminar, NOTE: REGISTRATION CLOSED AS OF JULY 5 – NO FURTHER PARTICIPANTS ACCEPTED. Sat, 9am-3pm, open to 3-5 Dan participants, with focus on performing skills needed for higher Dan Kendo in preparation for testing, taught by Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan Robert Stroud, Tatsuhiko Konno, and Jeff Marsten.
- Aug 1/2, 5th AUSKF Junior Open National Championships and Youth Seminar, Sat/Sun, with surprise special
guest. Sat, Aug 1: Championships; Sun, Aug 2: Junior Kendo Camp; Huntington Beach, California. - Nov 14/15, AUSKF Board, Sat/Sun, TBD.
5th AUSKF JUNIOR OPEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND YOUTH SEMINAR – August 1 and 2, 2015, Huntington Beach, California
The PNKF will support any member kenshi age 18 and younger to attend this event, and will cover registration fees, lunches, plus $250.00
each toward travel and lodging. Dates: August 1st (tournament) and 2nd (seminar). Individual Divisions: 9 and younger, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15,
16-18, 13-under girls, 14-18 girls. Team Divisions, Two Teams per Federation per division: 5-person Boys Mixed-age Team, 3-person Girls Team,
3-person Youth Team.
39th ANNUAL UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON INVITATIONAL KENDO TOURNAMENT – April 11, 2015
Women's Open 3 Dan 1st place - W. Robillard, Steveston 1st place - R. Asato, Vancouver 2nd place - H. Yamada, Vancouver 2nd place - A. Lee, Vancouver 3rd place - E. Marsten, Highline 3rd place - S. Day, Kent 3rd place - M. Oya, Northwest 3rd place - E. DeJong, UW 0-4 Kyu 1-3 Kyu 1st place - B. Valdez-Cruz, Northwest 1st place - JW Chen, Bellevue 2nd place - G. Vielhaber, Portland 2nd place - J. Borchers, UW 3rd place - J. Kim, OSU 3rd place - J. Sipko, Bellevue 3rd place - E. Lee, Obukan 3rd place - H. Shim, Renbu 1-2 Dan 4 Dan 1st place - L. Oka, Tozenji 1st place - N. Nakano, Steveston 2nd place - S. O'Sullivan, Steveston 2nd place - G. Suzaka, Seattle 3rd place - M. Oya, Northwest 3rd place - J. Kurahashi, Renbu 3rd place - G. Mizutani, Renbu 3rd place - T. Yamada, Vancouver Teams 1st place - Vancouver (A.Lee, T.Yamada, R.Asato, H.Yamada, A.Fukushima) 2nd place - Portland (J.Croes, A.Miller, J.Lee, S.Choi, N.Cook) Taikai Chair - Erica DeJong Head Shinpan - Jeffrey Marsten Sportsmanship Pledge - Ted Tagami UW Most Improved - Ted Tagami Kazuo and Tomo Shoji Inspirational Award - Van Le and Ted Tagami
15th NABESHIMA CUP TAIKAI and 9th TEXAS OPEN TAIKAI – April 18, 2015, Episcopal School, Dallas
Youth Division (10-16) Mudansha Division (1 Kyu and below)
1st place - Aiden Norris, Omaha 1st place - Sangki Lee, DFWKIK
2nd place - Roman Spanke, Omaha 2nd place - Izogbu Wells, Houston Budokan
3rd place - Matthew Tesch, Bushinkan 3rd place - Toan Nguyen, HKK
3rd place - Sol Joanne Hong, DFWKIK 3rd place - Peter Shih, DFWKIK
Kantosho - Elaine Fu, Cougar Kantosho - David Choe, HKK
Margaruite Nixon, Cougar
Women's Division (3 Dan and below) Yudansha Division (3 Dan and below)
1st place - Noelle Grimes, Sno-King 1st place - Victor Koh, Atlanta
2nd place - Alexandra Darrah, HKK 2nd place - Takuro Yamaoka, Bushinkan
3rd place - Keeley McManus, Kent 3rd place - Masumi Koyama, Cougar
3rd place - Mi Ryang Moon, Omaha 3rd place - Thor Metzinger, Ito
Kantosho - Jennyrayne Colangan, DFWKIK Kantosho - David Yao, Steveston
Shamina Kerstein, Cougar Allan Azurin, Cougar
9th Texas Open (4 Dan and above)
1st place - Kenichi Hatakeyama, Baylor
2nd place - Michio Kajitani, Arkansas
3rd place - Makiko Adachi, HKK
3rd place - Hiro Kimura, HKK
Kantosho - Makiko Adachi, HKK
50th ANNUAL VANCOUVER KENDO TOURNAMENT – May 2, 2015, Byrne Creek Secondary School
9 Years and Under 10 to 12 Years 13 to 15 Years
1st place - H. Homma, Renbu 1st place - A. Shimizu, Tozenji 1st place - K. Muramatsu, Steveston
2nd place - Y. Lee, Renbu 2nd place - M. Fukuoka, Tozenji 2nd place - S. Ito, Steveston
3rd place - R. Nakano, Steveston 3rd place - H. Asaoka, Youshinkan 3rd place - K. Darbyshire, Vancouver
3rd place - K. Yoshimura, Renbu 3rd place - C. Robillard, Steveston 3rd place - I. Kim, Renbu
16 to 20 Years 21 to 30 Years 31 to 40 Years
1st place - T. Okitsu, Tozenji 1st place - SJ Lee, Central 1st place - T. Yamada, Vancouver
2nd place - R. Asato, Vancouver 2nd place - R. Kuki, UBC 2nd place - G. Suzaka, Seattle
3rd place - L. Oka, Tozenji 3rd place - G. Mizutani, Renbu 3rd place - T. Nakamura, Youshinkan
3rd place - H. Shim, Renbu 3rd place - E. Kita, Renbu 3rd place - J. Chien, Youshinkan
41 Years and Over Women
1st place - M. Hasegawa, Renfrew 1st place - A. Fukushima, Vancouver
2nd place - Y. Row, Steveston 2nd place - J. Kurahashi, Renbu
3rd place - J. Schmidt, Vancouver 3rd place - M. Kobayashi, U Vic
3rd place - Y. Komukai, Vancouver 3rd place - K. Leung, UBC
Junior Team
1st place - Tozenji (N.Kono, M.Fukuoka, A.Shimizu, K.Kono, S.Takahashi)
2nd place - Renbu A (R.Kim, H.Chun, E.Lee, E.Fujita, I.Kim)
Senior Team
1st place - Vancouver (R.Asato, T.Yamada, SHJung, A.Lee, A.Fukushima)
2nd place - Central (M.Park, YSChoi, SJLee, D.Hong, HKRyoo)
Sportsmanship Pledge - K. Darbyshire Spirit Awards - L. Takahae, Steveston
K. Kono, Tozenji
25th ANNUAL BELLEVUE JUNIOR TAIKAI – May 16, 2015, Bellevue
10 Years and Under 11 to 12 Years 13 to 14 Years 1st place - K. Campbell, Sno-King 1st place - D. Hyun, Bellevue 1st place - B. Park, Bellevue 2nd place - E. Sugimoto, Kent 2nd place - J. Kim, Federal Way 2nd place - H. Kim, Bellevue 3rd place - N. Quiraga, Bellevue 3rd place - J. Shim, Obukan 3rd place - D. Lin, Bellevue 3rd place - E. Kim, Seattle 3th place - K. Underhill, Northwest 3rd place - M. Ohata, Bellevue High School Girls High School Boys 1st place - M. DeJong, Highline 1st place - T. Marsten, Kent 2nd place - K. McManus, Kent 2nd place - A. Nagasawa, Bellevue 3rd place - J. DeJong, Highline 3rd place - A. Kanemasu, Kent 3rd place - J. Higa, Bellevue 3rd place - K. Toyokawa, Tacoma Junior Team 1st place - Bellevue Red (D.Hyun, B.Park, H.Kim, L.Shibata, D. Lin) 2nd place - Bellevue White (C.Park, A.Mooko, L.Ohata, F.Yang, M.Ohata) High School Team 1st place - Highline (J.DeJong, D.Imanishi, M.DeJong) 2nd place - Bellevue Red (JWChen, A.Hyun, B.Liao) Head Shinpan - David Yotsuuye; Taikai Chair - CJ Chaney; National Anthem - Joe Yang, trumpet; Competitors' Pledge - Andrew Nagasawa; Awesome Spirit Award - Josh Kim, Federal Way; Centurion Bellevue Highline Sno-King Youth Leadership Award - Jane Higa
SHINKYU SHINSA
ALL-JAPAN NAGINATA FEDERATION ANNUAL RENSHI AND KYOSHI SHINSA, May 10, 2015, Himeji, Japan
RENSHI: Kurt Schmucker (PNNF).
THE LAST WORD
The tea master approached another Samurai to help him in this predicament. The Samurai told him that he was not a sword fighter, but a
great master of the tea ceremony. “Therefore, you cannot challenge this Samurai with sword technique. Use what you know best to meet the
challenge. Draw you sword, face your opponent directly, slowly close your eyes, pull your sword high above your head with both hands, and act
as though your opponent is your guest of honor in your tea ceremony. Wait until you feel something cold come down on you. That’s when you
bring down your sword.” The tea master did exactly what he was told and waited for a long time, but nothing cold came down on him. Slowly, he
opened his eyes. To his surprise, he saw the challenging Samurai squatting down with his sword in front of him, bowing and apologizing for his
past rude behavior.
There was never a sense of lecture nor did I take notes. He was never critical, and I never felt embarrassed. “Concentration is
necessary,” he might comment, but would never mention that at the previous practice I had been distracted and had wavered as I cut, my shinai
twisting so that I missed my target by at least six inches. He would question me at times, especially when I felt discouraged. “What are you
doing Kendo for? The sport, or your father, or..?” But he never pressed for an answer. This was for me to contemplate.
–Rod Nobuto Omoto,
Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 13. Available as free download at lulu.com.
Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation Kenyu Online
Tom Bolling, Editor – 7318 23rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA 98115