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Today is
Please check back frequently, schedule may change
due to class conflicts and/or weather
Parker Sensei Iaido Seminar:
5/26/13
10:00am~1:00pm
Club
Information and News
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Princeton
Kendo & Iaido Club
Princeton University Kendo Club
830 State Rd.
(Rt. 206)
Princeton
,
New Jersey
Sundays:
Kendo: 10:00am ~ 11:30am
Iaido: 11:30am ~ 1:00pm |
Philadelphia
Kendo Club
UPENN Kendo Club
3500 Lancaster Ave
Philadelphia, PA
Community Education Center (2nd Floor)
Sundays:
1:30pm~3:00pm
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Cherry Hill Kendo & Iaido Club
Cherry Hill Korean Presbyterian Church
1920 Old Cuthbert Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ
Mondays: 5:30pm~7:30pm
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5/26/13
Iaido
Seminar with Pam Parker Sensei
10:00am
~ 1:00pm * $15 per Seminar
($50 if you are not members of
Cherry Hill Ken-Yu Kai)
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2013
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Cherry Hill Kenyu Kai Cherry Hill Ken-yu Kai
Cherry Hill Kenyu Kai Cherry Hill Ken-yu Kai
"Dojo for
the Serious
Student"
Kendo,
is
composed of two kanji: "ken", meaning sword, and "Do", meaning 'the
way/path of'. Together the term is literally the "way of the sword". It
is a martial arts tradition spawned by the traditional school of
swordsmanship (ryu) of ancient Japan, and was practiced by and large by
the bushi, or samurai class of the era. As practice with real blades is
inherently dangerous, the schools developed a dummy sword called a
shinai, and a set of protective equipment called bogu which protects the
head (men), wrists (kote), chest (do), and groin (tare).
Kendo training is based on a variety of movements of attack and defense
know as waza. Most fundamental are stance, footwork, cuts, thrusts,
feints, and parries. Though is it a highly strenuous activity, kendo is
also a means to strengthen the mind and the will to to improve oneself.
It is this aspect of kendo that attracts many of its most devoted
practitioners. A Kendo bout with skilled opponent is an intense
experience. For a moment in time concentration is absolute, conscious
thought is suppressed, and action is instinctive. Such training develops
in the serious student powers of resolution and endurance under pressure
which frequently affects his or her life beyond the confines of the
training hall.
Iaido,
In the beginning Iai-jutsu was a part of Ken-jutsu. When time passed and as a result of the relatively peaceful
Tokugawa period many masters saw in Iaido an excellent way of developing spiritual, mental and physical discipline.
Iaido was born.
Iaido does not actually mean overcoming an enemy, but overcoming one's own self. The only and the most dangerous opponent in
Iaido is the iaidoka themself.
"Kendo and Iaido Exist
together and relate to each other like Yin and Yang."
- Ueno Satanori Sensei, Iaido Hanshi 8th Dan ZNKR
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Think you are too old to start Kendo?
 Mochida
Moriji Hanshi Kendo 10th Dan
1885-1974
Mochida Sensei wrote:
There are many people who practice
kendo that believe that they have
completed their practice of the
kendo fundamentals during the
beginner stage and only attempt to
relate to them theoretically
thereafter. However, this is a
big misconception to the pursuit of
true kendo.
Until you are 50
years old, you must endeavor
to practice the fundamentals
of kendo and make it a part
of you.
It has taken me 50 years to
learn the fundamentals of
kendo by body.
It was not until I became 50
years old that I started my
true kendo training.
This is because I practiced
kendo with all my heart and
spirit.
When one becomes 60
years old, the legs are not
as strong as they once
were. It is the spirit
that overcomes this
weakness. It is
through a strong spirit that
one can overcome the
inevitability of the body
becoming physically weaker.
When I became 70
years old, the entire body
became weaker. I found
that the next step is to
practice the concept of not
moving ones spirit
(immovable spirit) when
practicing kendo. When
one is able to achieve the
state of an immovable
spirit, your opponent's
spirit and will manifests
itself to you. I tried
to achieve a calm and
immovable spirit at this
stage in my life.
When I became 80
years old, I achieved the
state of the immovable
spirit. However, there
are times when a random
thought will enter my
mind. I am striving to
eliminate these random
thoughts at this state in my
life.
Youtube
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm3CmNE72Bw
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At age of 89, still
practice daily!
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So! why train?
It would be absurd in modern
society to use a sword as a weapon of self-defense. So why train at
all??
During the Kendo match, one must remember battle between swordsmen is a
life and death situation and every cut may be the last. In order to
deliver a successful cut, you must overcome fear, panic, fright and
confusion before, during and after a cut. It is through this, Kendo can
improve your focus, insight and complex decision making and hopefully,
you will improve yourself.
Simplify put it, Kendo and Iaido provides an opportunity for you to have
an insight into your true self.
"The purpose of today's training ... is
to defeat yesterday's understanding."
- Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645)
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