Tag: Kendo

Interview with Byakkokan Dojo Founder Sang Kim: Toyama-ryu in the United States, Part II

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Sang Kim began studying battodo at the age of eighteen, after being inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at a young age. What also helped him join was the fact that he used to hang out consistently at Bob Elder’s East Coast Martial Arts Supplies. From there, he joined the Toyama-ryu battodo dojo at Shindai … Continue reading Interview with Byakkokan Dojo Founder Sang Kim: Toyama-ryu in the United States, Part II

Interview with Byakkokan Dojo Founder Sang Kim: Toyama-ryu in the United States, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Sang Kim began studying battodo at the age of eighteen, after being inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at a young age. What also helped him join was the fact that he used to hang out consistently at Bob Elder’s East Coast Martial Arts Supplies. From there, he joined the Toyama-ryu battodo dojo at Shindai … Continue reading Interview with Byakkokan Dojo Founder Sang Kim: Toyama-ryu in the United States, Part I

Interview with Ken-Zen Founder and Kenshi Daniel Ebihara: The Beginning of the Journey

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Daniel Ebihara first started kendo while he was a youngster in Japan but did not show much interest in it until he moved to New York and sparred a European fencer at a party. Spurred by his new friend and student, Ebihara searched for a certified kendo instructor, finding a Buddhist minister Rev. Shunshin Kan … Continue reading Interview with Ken-Zen Founder and Kenshi Daniel Ebihara: The Beginning of the Journey

Interview with Mushinkan Dojo Founder Mark Uchida: Training with Giants, Part II

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Mark Uchida first saw Chūshingura when he was a child and was immediately hooked on Japanese swordsmanship. Unfortunately, he never really found a place to train until 1973. From there, he dived deeply into both kendo and iaido, which he started learning a year after kendo. He would later become the first head of the … Continue reading Interview with Mushinkan Dojo Founder Mark Uchida: Training with Giants, Part II

Interview with Retired HEMAist Michael Edelson: HEMA in the Northeast, Part II

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Michael Edelson began studying Yagyu Shinkage-ryu in the early 1990s and happened onto historical fencing by chance. From there, he bought himself a fight book, gathered some friends together, and started figuring out what the historical sources said to do. In 2005, Edelson established his New York Historical Fencing Association. Becoming friends with influential personality … Continue reading Interview with Retired HEMAist Michael Edelson: HEMA in the Northeast, Part II

Interview with Longtime Kenshi Jim Dixon: Nobuto Omoto and Kendo Politics

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Rob Nobuto Omoto left a big impression of a young Jim Dixon after teaching a class at the Seattle Kendo Kai. Throughout his kendo training, Dixon always returned back to Omoto’s teachings and kept in contact often. Where Dixon went, Hawaii, New York, California, New Mexico, he always found a way to practice kendo and … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kenshi Jim Dixon: Nobuto Omoto and Kendo Politics

Interview with Ken-Zen Iaido Instructor Pam Parker: Her American Iaido Journey

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Pam Parker first started martial arts with taekwondo, then moving to aikido at the New York Aikikai. At one class at the New York Aikikai, she attended an iaido class and she was hooked. She found the late John Prough of Nichibukan, and later Shunshin Kan of Ken-Zen. In July 2014, she passed her nanadan, … Continue reading Interview with Ken-Zen Iaido Instructor Pam Parker: Her American Iaido Journey

Interview with UK HEMAist Fran Lacuata: Tournament Growth in the Movement

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Fran Lacuata began historical fencing in Bolognese sidesword and rapier rather than longsword because those were the only systems available, learning at The School of the Sword in Frimley, United Kingdom. In 2014, she inherited the school, opening the Godalming and Reading chapters. Lacuata also helped establish the competition community in the UK, assisting in … Continue reading Interview with UK HEMAist Fran Lacuata: Tournament Growth in the Movement

Interview with DFWKIK Historian David Cooper: Reminiscing About the Past and Kendo

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David Cooper started later in life, but he was committed. From the beginning, Cooper enrolled in both kendo and iaido, training them side-by-side. He enjoyed both arts that Dallas-Fort Worth Kendo and Iaido Kyokai offered, where he is currently the historian. Today, Cooper walked us through the history of kendo and iaido in the Dallas/Fort … Continue reading Interview with DFWKIK Historian David Cooper: Reminiscing About the Past and Kendo

Interview with Aikido of Madison Cofounders Robin Cooper and John Stone: Their Journey Through Aikido and Beyond, Part I

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Both Robin Cooper and John Stone started aikido at the same time, beginning their study in a dojo affiliated with Akira Tohei. After moving to California in the late 1970s, both of them trained with a variety of aikidoka and schools, ranging from Frank Doran, Bob Bryner, Bob Nadeau, and Bill Witt, to LA Aikikai … Continue reading Interview with Aikido of Madison Cofounders Robin Cooper and John Stone: Their Journey Through Aikido and Beyond, Part I