View Full Version : Kendo in Central Florida
KendoShiai
3rd June 2002, 22:23
Looking for anyone out there in or around the Orlando Florida area that wants to practice Kendo. I have been uninvolved for a while and plan on returning to the way. I would love to find someone experienced or a beginner but must be willing to learn. Casual players are not recommended at this time unless we can start up a school. I want to be fair to all but I don’t have any place to train at this time. I am willing to travel a little ways but be ready to learn. I do have one extra set of Bogu but it is a pretty old set. Email me anytime at KendoShiai@aol.com
gendzwil
5th June 2002, 12:48
You've probably already checked there but for the benefit of the lurkers if you are looking for a dojo see:
Canada <A HREF="http://www.kendo-canada.com/" TARGET="_top">Canadian Kendo Federation</A>
USA <A HREF="http://www.kendo-usa.org/" TARGET="_top">All-US Kendo Federation</A>
UK <A HREF="http://www.kendo.org.uk/" TARGET="_top">British Kendo Association</A>
Australia <A HREF="http://www.kendoaustralia.asn.au/" TARGET="_top">Australian Kendo Renmei</A>
Germany <A HREF="http://www.kendo.de.eu.org/" TARGET="_top">German Kendo</A>
Europe <A HREF="http://www.ekf-eu.com/" TARGET="_top">European Kendo Federation</A>
Japan <A HREF="http://www.kendo.or.jp/" TARGET="_top">Zen-Nippon Kendo Renmei</A>
Elsewhere <A HREF="http://www.rain.org/~galvan/ikfdir.htm/" TARGET="_top">International Kendo Federation Members<A>
KendoShiai
5th June 2002, 19:55
Thanks for the reply but I am a member of the AUSKF and I personally know there are no Dojo in the area. There are a few renegade clubs around practicing but nothing of any deceit quality. There are 2 Dojo in Florida but the closest is about 2 hours away. Also there are some Korean Kumdo Schools around that I have been know to practice at but they two are far from me. I was hoping that with the population of Japanese people here in Orlando there were a few that wanted to practice Kendo. As I see by the number of views here there is an interest from someone but no one wants to reply. Oh well I guess I must continue to travel to others.
Paburo
13th June 2002, 23:32
Hey if want to come to Puerto Rico you're are welcome any time you want there is no ken DOJO what so ever (that i know of ) in this area but we do have lots of people who like to learn me included:D
Pablo Rosado
Paburo
13th June 2002, 23:43
Hey if want to come to Puerto Rico you're are welcome any time you want there is no ken DOJO what so ever (that i know of ) in this area but we do have lots of people who like to learn me included:D
Pablo Rosado
Ian McDonald
14th June 2002, 12:06
Hello KendoShiai,
I have a small dojo about 60 miles west of you where you are always welcome to come play. I've always wanted to play kendo but have had limited opportunities to do so. I have quite a bit of sword experience, but have only had bogu on twice. I have many friends in the Orlando area who may be interested and you should post notices at Bob Elder's store, East Coast Martial Arts Supplies on Coloinial Drive. Bob is a good guy to know.
There are several aikido dojos in the area which may have open evenings when you could set up a group. You may also wish to contact the City of County Parks and Rec Departments to see what facilities and opportunities they may provide.
If you want to contact me, fell free to pm or e-mail (see profile). I'd also be glad to show you around a bit if you are interested in outdoor activities like camping, hiking, boatng. etc. If you are a newbie to Florida, you need to learn your local coping skills. Some quick advice, wear a hat in the sun and stay in the shade. Summertime is here so keep an umbrells handy.
Charlie Kondek
14th June 2002, 12:44
Eddie, I sympathize. Couple of thoughts: what about grouping those renegades together, drilling the snot out of them in kihon, and trying to formulate a study group of which the AUSKF would be proud?
Also, I've never done this but thought of it as an option: there must be dozens of kendoka hanging around that simply don't know there are opportunities to practice. If there is a Japanese-language newspaper in your area or a Japanese cultural center, advertise with them that you want to start a club. See what happens. Maybe there's some folks who haven't donned bogu in years and may suddenly think - y'know, that might be fun.
gendzwil
14th June 2002, 18:50
Ex-pat Japanese are a great source for a new club. Check for some sort of Japanese cultural association in your area. If you have a local university or college, check if they have an ESL program. Many ex-kendoka are leary of starting up again as they remember the experience as a lot of work and not much fun. Once they experience a North-American style club where everybody is there for enjoyment and the attitude is more relaxed, they find they regain their enthusiasm.
If you get a younger player through an ESL program or whatever, you'll have some convincing to do to get him to take any sort of teaching role. If he's 3 or 4 dan he won't have any teaching experience nor will he consider himself qualified.
One caveat: former high school or college players have to be really careful. They haven't had proper training in how to do adult kendo and will want to play the same way they did as kids. What they did easily at 15 or 20 years old isn't so easy at an out of shape 25 or 30. Serious injury especially to the achilles is a possibility. One such fellow who joined our club completely severed his achilles and ended his kendo career.
KendoShiai
14th June 2002, 19:54
Thanks guys¡K. I have explored some of these options before¡K This is the 2nd time I have posted this here in the last year. I have tried Community Centers, Churches, and other Parks and Rec. facilities. I also contacted the Japanese Embassy and they never returned any thing. I thought that I could find someone from Japan as there are about 1000 Japanese that come to Orlando each year to work at Disney. But most want to play golf only. Did have a couple last year that got to practice a couple of times before they had to leave though. I find most other martial arts schools are afraid I will take their students and Parks and Recs. does not want the responsibility. See my main problem is where ever I train I want it to be cheap for the students, almost to the point of free. The only thing I will charge is the cover for the host. I will not make a cent from it. There are a few renegade schools here and there, and even some Korean Kumdo that¡¦s really close to our Kendo. I do like your idea though Charlie, about getting them all together, and I will eventually work on it. First I have to establish something here to do it with. Paburo I know I talked to you before and I can¡¦t for the life of me find the documents that the school in Puerto Rico sent to us when I was on the SEUSKF board asking to be admitted into the SEUSKF. I have looked every where. I will send an email to Parker Sensei to see if he still has it. I know they were very interested but they suddenly stopped responding.
Ian I would very much be interested in meeting you though. Where exactly are you located? As for camping, Been there Done that, No thank you. To hot to be camping in Florida for me¡K. I need to be in Main to do that. Nope it¡¦s the Hilton for me :D. Guys if I can get things rolling here the AUSKF is interested in holding a Shiai here. I had some serious contacts this year but there was no way I could do it alone here. I had a Judo guy that wanted to hold a Shiai at the Disney¡¦s Wide World of Sports but without a school to back me up (local) there was no way. So if anyone is interested just send me an email and when I find a place to train I will be more than glad to let you come on in.:D
Charlie Kondek
14th June 2002, 20:01
That's the spirit, Eddie. Kinda sucks to be the co-ordinator sometimes, doesn't it?
We get free practice space through a university, so that's one route. Another route we've gone in the past is Parks and Rec. Up here, they said that as long as anyone in the community is eligible, we can use Parks and Rec. facilities.
Did you post this also at SwordForum.com? Lots of newbies hanging around there, might be a good start.
KendoShiai
14th June 2002, 23:09
Yes, I to looked into the local University here. 3 weeks of talking only to finally be told that the campus is only for students. Even the Kendo Club in Gainesville has strict policies regarding non students. When I went up there with them they had to slip me in for a quick Kekio. And at one of the other places they train it’s impossible, as they check IDs as you come into the building. Just had some other info come to me so I will be checking around at some local public schools as well. Just curious Charlie, who is your Sensei?
Charlie Kondek
17th June 2002, 13:20
We are a branch of the Detroit Kendo Dojo, which is headed by Yoshiteru Tagawa-sensei. Do you know him? He's da man! We are about 45 minutes west of there (Eastern Michigan University), and have been headed up by a sempai, currently 3rd-dan. We also get together to practice with Battle Creek Kendo Club and Michigan State University kendo. So, really, that's four dojos, all within a couple hours of each other. That's an embarrassment of riches! You could practice at EMU on Tuesday, zip over to Detroit on Saturday, go to MSU or Battle Creek for Sunday, and once a month Battle Creek has special kata practice. I mean, we are pretty hooked up.
Battle Creek's got it's own place - the head of that dojo built it, adding onto his business. (http://kendo.nscl.msu.edu/battlecreek/) MSU has university space, obviously, and Tagawa-sensei has been practicing out of the high school where weekend Japanese class is. You know, I'd forgotten the university thing meant students had to be involved. The club got started when the founder was a student, and it's mostly had students, but a lot of the people (like myself) have since graduated.
gendzwil
17th June 2002, 21:25
Is Ron Fox still at MSU? He used to contribute a lot to iaido-l but he's been pretty quiet of late.
Charlie Kondek
18th June 2002, 14:12
He is! I'm not sure why he hasn't been as active at Iaido-L, but I know he's still teaching. I hear he got real busy when he got married. Gee, I don't know anything about that...
Ron Fox is my sempai's sempai, and we have practiced with them often.
FastEd
18th June 2002, 15:12
Originally posted by KendoShiai
There are a few renegade schools here and there, and even some Korean Kumdo that¡¦s really close to our Kendo.
I have to ask..what is a renegade kendo school? (A karate club full of Conan wannabes?).
Also as far as I understande it, Kumdo should not be any different then Kendo. So you should find out if they have or are planning to join the AUSKF.
Best Wishes,
KendoShiai
18th June 2002, 21:29
Yea I was wondering what happened to Ron¡K. Have not heard from him since the AUSKF All US. Shiai in Cleveland, I think. And yes Ed, Kumdo should be the same as Kendo but it¡¦s not exactly the same. The shinai part is really close, all most exactly the same. But kata is different as well as drills. They also practice a lot of draw type cutting as well as a lot of weird blocks that you never could use in Kendo anyway. Don¡¦t ask me why they do because all I get is blank stares and the ¡§Well that¡¦s what we were told to do.¡¨ Hardest part is to get use to them calling different point names. But it will break a nice sweat. Oh and renegade schools here in Florida are the ones that have no affiliation with the AUSKF and either can¡¦t become recognized because their Kendo is so bad or they choose not to be because they want to practice some other way that the AUSKF does not agree with. When I was on the Board of Directors for the SEUSKF we had a few schools that tried to apply for membership here in Florida and they could not even hold a shinai with the string on top, much less enter or leave a ring or Dojo for that matter. I remember one group that use to practice with Football helmets and shoulder padsƒº. But seriously there are a few out there and I know they are not just in Florida.
Gene Gabel
19th June 2002, 08:16
[QUOTE]Originally posted by KendoShiai
[B]Looking for anyone out there in or around the Orlando Florida area that wants to practice Kendo.
..........................................
Seems like you have explored the usual ways.. How about this?
There is a TaiKai in Orlando on 24 August..You can contact East Coast Martial Arts for details.. There will be lots of people you can contact there I am sure.
Have you tried posting this on the swordforum.com?
Gene Gabel:smilejapa
Charlie Kondek
19th June 2002, 13:39
You've been up to Cleveland? Ed, have we been at some of the same tournaments? What club(s) did you practice with before? I've been at EMU for nearly four years, and pretty much anywhere you're seen Detroit you've seen us.
KendoShiai
19th June 2002, 23:37
Yes I was in Cleveland for the 1996 AUSKF Tournament. I was the Team Manager for the SEUSKF Team. Originally from the Memphis TN Kendo Club, my Sensei was Harry Dach. I have been practicing Kendo for about 10 years. If you were there I am sure we meet. I have been to a lot of Dojo, mostly here in the South East. I also served on the SEUSKF Board of Directors as Historian for 2 years. Originally I had gotten the SEUSKF newsletter off the ground. This newsletter is now completed by Sensei Ken Strawn of Charlotte NC. I to turned renegade a few years ago and secluded myself here in Central Florida, but a recent trip up to Charlotte made me want back in again. So my quest is on for some training space, oh yea and someone willing to learn.
Charlie Kondek
20th June 2002, 13:23
Unite the ronin, Eddie! You can do it - and lead them to greatness!
Regretably, I started kendo in '98, so I missed you. However, if I'm ever in FLA, or you're up here...
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