Posts 2015
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December 19 2015 | Another great year ends
Another succesful year ends for Shidokan, looking forward to keep learning and improving together in 2016. Thanks to our dear mentors for their patience and dedication. Special thanks to Toida Sensei and our brothers from MKC for joining us for last keiko-2015!
Thank you Santoso Sensei for your constant guidance in both Kendo and Iaido; every valuable lesson keeps helping fortify our foundations, not only as martial artists but as better persons. |
Dec 12 2015 | Women's Joint Practice
Dec 5 2015 | Winter Grading
The next week, our Iaido grading applicants headed to Toronto as well for the Winter Iaido exams. There was a pre-grading seminar in the morning, which was a good opportunity to get some pointers and advice as to what the judges would be looking for during the exam. All participants were split into groups based on the level they were grading. It was a lot to take in for the day, but we'll be sure to apply what we learned in our regular training.
Grading commenced in the afternoon. The exams ranged from 1kyu to 4Dan, and we had applicants in the 1Kyu, 1Dan, and 3Dan categories. Once again, our applicants did very well and everyone passed their respective exams.
Thank you to our Sensei and Senpai for all of your help and guidance in preparing us for these events. Well done everyone!
Nov 21 2015 | Quebec Regional Championship - Granby
Overall we had a good performance and are proud of the spirit that everyone brought to their fights. In the Mudansha-Shodan and Women's categorie, Shidokan managed to bring back both bronze medals, as well as the Fighting Spirit award in the Women's category. A few of our seniors were missing this time around, but everyone stepped up and one team managed to make it to the second round, and the other brought home the silver.
Thank you to Santoso Sensei for your continued patience and guidance. As well, we would like to express our gratitude to the organizers of the tournament.
Nov 1 2015 | Joint practice at UdM
We were then treated with godokeiko for the rest of the practice, before refreshing ourselves with some cold beer to celebrate Schneider Sensei's birthday! Our sincere gratitude goes to Schneider Sensei and AMS for hosting the event, as well as to Toida Sensei for sharing his knowledge with us. We look forward to the next practice!
Oct 18 2015 | Kendo Kata Seminar at Shidokan
We discussed key points as we went through the five basic kamae, the differences in footwork, and the importance of keeping a strong connection between uchidachi and shidachi. Everyone had the opportunity to practice the first seven (Tachi) Kata together, after which we split into two groups, to allow higher-ranking kendoka to also work on Kodachi Kata. Finally, we regrouped for godokeiko before parting ways.
As our Kendo technique progresses, so should the execution of our Kata, which aid in the comprehension of important concepts. The seminar was successful refresher, and a good opportunity to improve. We hope to have similar events in the years to come.
We wish to thank the Senseis for their patience and guidance, as well as everyone who attended the seminar.
October 10 2015 | Shidokan visits McGill
September 2015 | New Beginnings
Fall marks the start of another semester. After a break from training in the last few weeks of August, our members return to the dojo, ready to get back to work. Our doors have opened to new and eager students as both Kendo (September 8th) and Iaido (September 12th) start back up again. To all our new recruits: Welcome! We look forward to training with you as you walk down this new path. |
Our sincere gratitude to D'Orangeville Sensei and our friends from McGill Kendo Club for joining our Friday practice, We will visit you soon !
August 9 2015 | Otakuthon
Afterwards, our kendoka demonstrated some of our drills, particularly kirikaeshi and oji waza, followed by some practice shiai fights.
At the end, members of the audience were given the opportunity to practice some basics with us. It was a lot of fun and we hope to see everyone there again next year!
July 31 2015 | Tsuji Sensei visits Shidokan
We warmed up with exercises aimed at correcting our posture and footwork. Building on that, shinai in hand, we reviewed our cuts and improved our tenouchi, through suburi and wrist exercises. After a quick break, we applied everything we had learnt in a spirited keiko.
We would like to extend our gratitude to Tsuji Sensei for his visit, and to both him and Santoso Sensei for their patience and continued guidance. We look forward to another great practice!
July 2015 | Summer training & activities
Things are heating up in the dojo as the summer continues. Even so, it's always nice to receive visitors who are ready to brave the heat of training with us. Thank you to those members from MKC who visit us throughout the summer! We also had the pleasure of training with Josh Moore from Boston Kendo Kyokai while he was visiting Montreal and Michael Kavich from Louisville Kendo Club. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again next time your in the area! |
We also would like to thank Montreal Kendo Club for hosting a fund raiser to help support children in need so that they can participate in sports summer camps. The main objective was to raise awareness against poverty in our community. A very noble task.
Jun 27 2015 | Spring Kendo Exams
Thank you to all of our sempai and everyone who has helped us train and prepare. And of course, thank you to Santoso Sensei for all of your patience and guidance. We are ever grateful for your continued support!
Now, back to work and to keep training even harder!
Jun 20 2015 | 6th Naginata World Championship
It was a great chance to observe Naginata practitioners at an international level, as well as to see and look for some of the similarities in principle and practice between Kendo and Naginata. Some of our members also got a chance to meet Alex Bennett Sensei of Team New Zealand. Perhaps one day we'll see the WKC held a bit closer to home as well.
Jun 19 2015 | Visit to MKC
Jun 13 2015 | Kendo Kata in the park
May 17 2015 | Preparing for the WKC16
We thank Toida Sensei for leading the sessions, and to McGill University for providing the space to practice. The bar has been raised, now we go back to train.
May 16 2015 | 25th Iaido & jodo Seminar - Guelph
May 15 2015 | Moscoso Sensei visits MKC
April 26 2015 | Quebec Regional Kendo Championship - Granby
Shidokan did very well in the mudansha-shodan division. We managed to bring back a bronze medal in the sandan-nidan division and Shidokan brought home the Fighting Spirit Award as well as a bronze medal in the women's category. Our teams also fought hard in their respective courts, giving their best against tough opponents and earning a silver medal. We returned to Montreal in high spirits and celebrated with some spicy Korean food at Shabu Shabu where Santoso Sensei joined us to celebrate.
We would like to express our gratitude Santoso Sensei for his patience and his constant guidance and to the organizers of the tournament for setting up this competition twice a year.
- SHIDOKAN
April 4 2015 | 26th Cleveland Kendo Tournament
Afterwards, there was a grading seminar and mock grading for ranks between 1kyu and 5dan given by Onda Sensei from Tokyo and Kato Sensei from New York. They emphasized the importance of chakuso, or the correct way to wear the kendo gear, at all levels and how those attempting higher ranks must be extra careful as their way of wearing their equipment would set an example for other students. On Saturday everybody participated in the individual and team tournament. It is a massive tournament that took place simultaneously on six courts throughout the whole day. After the tournament there was another godo keiko session with several 6dan and 7dan senseis.
On Sunday the gym was opened early and some of the participants took advantage for a short keiko session. The main seminar was lead by Onda Sensei, 8dan Kyoshi, kendo shihan of Tokyo Police Kendo. During the warmup, Onda Sensei stressed the fact that the warmup exercises should be performed in such a way that they can used as a base to build up to good kendo, not treated as an isolated activity. Next, Onda Sensei explained that kiri-kaeshi must first be big, second it must be firm, third it must be accurate and only lastly it can be light. This order is mandatory as it emphasizes first mastering the basics. After waza and some jikeiko, the last hour was reserved for another godo-keiko with some of the highest ranking sensei present.
April 4 2015 | Our friends from AMS
March 28 2015 | Inazuma Taikai
It was a great experience for all of us. Many of our junior members were exposed to pressure in combat, shiai rules and etiquette for the first time. It was also a great opportunity for our senior members to sharpen their judging skills being able to recognize an ippon with confidence.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our beginners who acted as volunteers: keeping the time, taking pictures, keeping the score, and placing the tasuki (colored ribbon) on the competitors. And special thanks to our friends from MKC who also helped us achieve our goal.
Mar 7 2015 | University of Toronto Kendo Tournament
Congratulations to Justin McNeil-Smith for taking home the bronze medal in the Kyu-Shodan division! As well, we would like to congratulate Kenji Toida Sensei, who accompanied us this weekend, for winning gold in the Yondan and up category. It was also very nice to see our friend Lawrence Tsuji Sensei at the tournament - as always, thank you for your guidance!
Time to reflect on both the wins and losses of the day so that we can incorporate it into our training moving ahead. Looking forward to the next competition!
Thank you again to Justin and Robert for helping us with accommodations for the weekend!
Feb 28 2015 | First CKF Iaido Grading in Montreal
After lunch, the grading began. It was open to applicants for 1kyu, 1st Dan, and 2nd Dan. Overall, it was a very successful grading. Congratulations everyone on a job well done!
The seminar continued once more after grading. The group was split in two, with Ohmi Sensei leading many of the newly-ikkyu back through Seitei iai while Cruise Sensei took those who hadn’t graded and focused on Koryu kata(s) for the rest of the afternoon. Afterwards, there was dinner at Kanda to celebrate over sushi and sake.
The seminar continued on Sunday at John Abbott. It touched on Seitei again, but the focus switched to Koryu with the pressure of grading off. All kata(s) of the Chuden level (Hasegawa Eishin-ryu) were reviewed as well as special drills such as haya-iai, diving into technical details and differences between Chuden and Okuden levels, such as 'noto' and 'tatehiza'.
Thank you to all the volunteers and everyone who worked hard to make this grading successful. Special thanks to Christian D'Organgeville Sensei, president of the CKF, for attending this inaugural event.
Once again, congratulations to all of the applicants. We hope to have this opportunity again in the future!
Feb 22 2015 | Women's practice
Afterwards there was practice shiai and jigeiko, giving everyone the opportunity to try out what was learned and worked on during the first part of the practice. It was also an opportunity to learn and develop shinpan skills.
Thank you very much to Véronique Marchand from AMS for organizing the event, and thank you to Ariyama Sensei for taking the time to lead us. We hope to see everyone again soon!
Photo credits: Our sincere gratitude to our friend Simon On (from AMS Kendo Club) for the great pictures!
Feb 6 2015 | Growing Iaido family
Jan / Feb 2015 | On full swing
It was a great chance to learn from some very skilled kendoka. We look forward to the next opportunity!
January 2015 | New beginning
January 2015 | New Years Celebration
Some of our senior members shared their thoughts and experiences from the past year, in addition to their plans and objectives for the upcoming year.
Here’s to looking forward to another great year!