Heijoshin Dojo - iaido and kenjutsu in the West Midlands, UK

About Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu

Kenjutsu is the art of Japanese swordsmanship and is to kendo what jujutsu is to judo - the more combative side of the art, with no quarter given to sport or personal development but only to the defeat of the opponent using technique, spirit and strategy.

In kenjutsu, there is no armour or bamboo weapons - nor is there free sparring. Like all other Japanese weapons arts, the emphasis for development is placed on kata practice - the only safe way to learn the use of the sword. It is practiced as kumi-tachi (paired practice) with uchidachi (attacker) and shidachi (defender) working together to improve shidachi's skill, timing and spirit.

The style of kenjutsu we practice is that of Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, the school formulated by Miyamoto Musashi in the early 1600s. Although Musashi is famous for his two-sword style of kenjutsu, this is only a part of the entire curriculum which also has polearms, grappling and other weapons in its syllabus.

Please click on a link to the left to continue reading about Niten Ichi Ryu kenjutsu.

Masamune Dojo

Masamune Dojo

Sat, 10/12/2005 - 6:06pm — Ochiburi

Masamune Dojo teaches the martial arts of Iaido and Jodo in Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. For more information about Iaido, please see the following article "about iaido".

We are fortunate to practice under the guidance of Sensei Fay Goodman 7th Dan Renshi Iaido, 4th Dan Jodo. (There are very few 7th Dan Iaido teachers in England.)

Masamune Dojo is an approved British Kendo Association Dojo, authorised by the BKA to teach the arts of Iaido and Jodo.

Iaido has several different styles or schools, and Masamune Dojo is Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu and so we practice both Seitei Iaido as defined by the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei (ZNKR or All Japan Kendo Federation) and we practice MJER Koryu (old school) Iaido.

We also practice ZNKR Seitei Jodo. See below for more information "about Jodo".

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about Iaido

Fri, 02/02/2007 - 6:06pm — fay goodman

Iaido is known as ‘the way of the Samurai Sword’ and focuses on the healthy development of our mind, body and spirit. The main action of the sword is circular to work in harmony with our body as we flow from one movement to another using the power of our inner energy (ki).

The ‘I’ in Iaido refers to the existence of the body and the spirit. The ‘ai’ refers to adaptability and the ability to react and move quickly, efficiently.

Today, the true way of the sword is to fight the enemy within ourselves such as our ego, fear, anger and resentment. Through the study and practice of Iaido, we develop an inner strength, which encourages a strong character and an appreciation for the proud spirit (kigurai).

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about masamune dojo

Fri, 02/02/2007 - 12:28pm — fay goodman

Dojo leader Fay Goodman Nanadan Renshi started Masamune Dojo in 1985 as part of the Okimitsu Fujii Sensei Kenseikai Dojo.

The name Masamune was chosen following research into finding a name that would have real meaning for the Dojo and it's practitioners. Upon reading various publications, history revealed the great Masamune to be one of the most famous swordsmiths making swords only to represent a symbol of peace. Masamune also believed in making his swords to perfection and as such he did not sign many blades believing his workmanship would speak for itself. As Masamune strove for perfection when making each individual blade, so Iaido practitioners at Masamune Dojo also seek to strive for good technique, humbleness and aiming for perfection through a lifetime of practice.

Our governing body, the British Kendo Association, lists approximately 300 Iai students in the UK and, as you can imagine, each club within the BKA is quite small.

Our Dojo is almost like a tight-knit family - everyone knows everyone else (unlike some of the larger martial arts clubs) and the entire atmosphere is pleasant and friendly. Our training generally takes place twice a week at our Dojo in Birmingham.

We also find ourselves attending various seminars countrywide where we take Iai to other clubs and in return, learn a little of their arts - mainly Japanese weapons arts.

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Train with us at Masamune Dojo

Sun, 08/10/2006 - 4:18pm — Ochiburi

If you would like to train with us or just come and see what we do, perhaps with a view to joining the Dojo, you may find the following information useful.

Dojo Location

Small Heath Leisure Center,
Muntz Street, Small Heath,
Birmingham,
B10 9RX,
England.

Map of this Location

Our training space is located in the Dance Studio, as it provides the benefits of a sprung floor, generous space, and a mirror wall, which is valuable to help students check their technique during kata.

TRAINING SESSIONS

TUESDAY 19:30-20:30 - Informal Training Session - Tachi Uchi no Kurai, Niten Ichi Ryu, Jodo, Koryu Iai, or general practice

TUESDAY 20:30-22:00 - Regular Iaido Training Session

SUNDAY 10:30-11:30 - Regular Jodo Training Session

SUNDAY 11:30-13:00 - Regular Iaido Training Session

The cost of each training session is £6. Please note that Iaido is not suitable for young children owing to the environment in which we practice. Young children and lots of sharp swords do not mix well. If you are under 18 your parent or guardian should speak to Sensei first, who will advise about suitability for Iaido training.

If you are an experienced Iaidoka, and wish to visit the Dojo, please be sure to contact Fay in advance so that you can be welcomed appropriately.

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East Sheen (SW London) Aikido and Kashima Shinryu Kenjutsu Dojo

Robert Cowham (facing) demonstrating kenjutsu with Paul Smith taking ukemi (Photo Phoebe Cowham)

This is the home page for the Aikido and Kashima Shinryu Kenjutsu club based in East Sheen, SW London (near Mortlake, Barnes and Richmond) . The dojo is affiliated with Tetsushinkan dojo at MovingEast.

• Aikido and Kashima Shinryu Kenjutsu
• The Club - Time and Location and Costs and What to Wear
• The Teacher

If you are interested, please let me know your details by emailing robert.cowham@gmail.com (or ringing 020 8876 1697 or 07785 292 719).

Aikido and Kashima Shinryu Kenjutsu

Aikido is about using mind, ki (energy) and body to deal with your attackers energy and redirect it. Kashima Shinryu is more direct and focuses acutely on how to use your body while responding to an attack. The combination addresses softness and yet trains the ability to respond to pressure.

It is suitable for men and women of all ages from mid-late teens upwards.

Our interests include softness and sensitivity of the body and how kenjutsu (sword work) brings this out and informs the taijutsu (unarmed movements) of aikido. We practise with shinai (leather covered bamboo swords) and bokken (wooden swords).

The class typically starts with stretching and other centering and energy development exercises such as qi gong (also known as chi kung). These help to relax, calm and focus the mind and body, and also develop ki (also known as qi/chi in Chinese see Wikipedia definition).

Martial effectiveness is studied through the focus and pressures of kenjutsu, and researching the development of the tanden (central point of the body).

The mental and psychological aspects are as beneficial as the physical training. How can we train to respond appropriately rather than have all our training leave us in an unguarded moment? Most of us are very unlikely to be physically attacked, and yet are typically "attacked" verbally or psychologically on a daily basis - how can we maintain our centre in such situations?

The benefits are both physical and mental, and include:

• greater flexibility, softness, fitness and coordination
• increased sensitivity and awareness, both of our bodies, our state of mind and our surroundings
• increased concentration and improved confidence.

The Club - Time and Location and Costs

The club meets on Monday evenings from 20.15 until 21.45 (in 2008 classes start on 28 January).

Costs:	£8 per class, £6 for concessions.
Location:	The old United Reform Church (small hall) in Vernon Road, London SW14 (Google Maps link). This is close to Mortlake station (on the Richmond-Waterloo line) (see www.tfl.gov.uk for Journey Planner).
What to wear:	Beginners can wear a track suit or loose fitting clothes to start with; unless of course you happen to have a judo (or other martial arts suit with a white belt) which would be ideal. We practise in bare feet. Once you have decided to practise regularly, you will be expected to buy yourself a judo suit.

The Teacher

Robert Cowham has been studying Aikido since 1987. He studied in Italy and Holland before returning to London in 1989 and starting with Kanetsuka sensei (7th dan). He has studied Kashima Shinryu Kenjutsu since 1992 (with Paul Smith sensei of Tetsushinkan, and Inaba sensei of the Meiji Jingu Shiseikan) and is a yondan (4th degree blackbelt) in Aikido. His main teachers over the years have been Paul Smith sensei (5th dan) and Inaba sensei (8th dan). He has also studied regularly in Norway with Bjorn Eirik Olsen sensei (6th dan) and Suganuma sensei (8th dan), as well as various other teachers around the world. He also has an interest in Cheng Hsin as taught by Peter Ralston.

Robert was a founding director of MovingEast and is Assistant Instructor at Tetsushinkan dojo.

Links

Clubs and teachers with whom we have links:

• Tetsushinkan at Movingeast (Paul Smith), North London, UK
• Shiseikan Budojo (Inaba sensei), Meiji Jingu, Tokyo, Japan
• Battersea Dojo (Nicola Endicott), SW London, UK
• NatureWorks Dojo (Jessica Loeb), Central London, UK
• Free Form Aikido (Peri Macintosh), New Cross, SE London, UK
• Reimeikan Dojo (Bjorn Eirik Olsen), Tromso, Norway
• Tenshinkan Dojo (Atle Riise and Lars Lommel), Oslo, Norway
• Aikido of Eragny (Pascal Durchon), near Paris, France
• Darmstadt Aikido (Anita Koehler), Darmstadt, Germany