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Steve F
31st October 2008, 22:47
I'm planning to relocate to the Seattle area (Olympia actually).
There are several kendo dojo in the area (Tacoma, Puyallup, several in Seattle and further north) and some koryu dojo. Can anyone give me some specific recommendations? I know there is Tenshinsho Den Katori Shinto Ryu a bit north but I have not gotten any response to email - I don't have any direct referral so I'm not sure they will be open to my contact efforts.
Thanks
Steven Friedman

Jim O'Connell
1st November 2008, 01:49
Nami ryu in Seattle (http://www.garronbillick.com/martialarts.htm)

Dojo Location
Classes held at Puget Sound Aikikai
101 Nickerson St Suite 130
Seattle, WA 98109

Google map link

Contact Garron about classes or to set up private lessons.

(206) 450-8780
info@garronbillick.com

Brian Owens
1st November 2008, 06:40
There are several kendo dojo in the area...and some koryu dojo. Can anyone give me some specific recommendations?

You mention kendo and koryu in your post, so it would help to narrow it down a bit. What is your prior background, if any, and/or in what type of sword art are you most intersted?

Steve F
2nd November 2008, 20:50
You mention kendo and koryu in your post, so it would help to narrow it down a bit. What is your prior background, if any, and/or in what type of sword art are you most intersted?
I've studied kendo including the kendo no kata and seitei-gata.
I've also studied Kogen Itto Ryu and a very limited amount of Ona Ha Itto Ryu.
In my view, the teacher is more important than the style.
I'm more interested in koryu than kendo but quality koryu instruction is hard to come by so I try to be flexible.
Thanks for your help.
Steve

Brian Owens
2nd November 2008, 21:49
...I'm more interested in koryu than kendo but quality koryu instruction is hard to come by so I try to be flexible.

Yeah, it's not easy to find non-kendo JSA that are legit.

If you don't mind driving to Seattle for training there's a fair amount, but I'm not sure what's available down in Olympia. I'll see what I can find out.

If Seattle is okay, then there's MSR Iaido, MJER Iaijutsu, Shinkage Ryu, etc., in addition to the TSKSR you already mentioned.

HTH.

Bill Sampson
2nd November 2008, 22:15
Olympia is not Seattle nor is it Portland Oregon. But it is close to either one. How close it is depends entirely on what timeof the day you want to drive on I-5 and it depends on if you are going North out of Olympia towards Seattle or South towards Portland. I-5 is a very unpredictable animal, and if someone gets a flat tire both directions will slow down to look at it. Slower still if a trooper has someone pulled over. Slower than that if there is a wreck.

But you should look at the Portland area as well as the seattle area. Depending on your job and when you can travel, you might find it easier to get to Portland than say up past Seattle where you might find KSR/SMR.

Where did you find Kogen Itto Ryu... did you per chance live in the Chichibu area of Saitama prefecture?

Steven Baxter
3rd November 2008, 19:27
In terms of kendo, I would highly recommend Seattle Kendo Kai (http://www.seattlekendokai.org/). I trained there briefly before I had to turn my attention back toward finishing college, but I want to emphasize that Imanishi Sensei (nanadan) is an exceptional head instructor. I believe a few hachidan frequent the dojo as well, and there are over 10 instructors at the dojo who are yondan or above so there is a lot of individual/small group work.

In terms of koryu schools, I'm not too familiar with any that are to the south of Seattle (e.g. close to Olympia). Several on the north or east end of things if you don't mind a little extra travel.

I know there are 2 schools of Muso Shinden Ryu in the area: http://www.iaidoseattle.org/index.html
http://www.musokai.org/

I've done demonstrations with Bannister Sensei several times, and he seems to be a very good instructor. I have not seen Murosako Sensei or Konno Sensei, so I have no information on them specifically, but they have a lot of experience according to their bio.

Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu
http://gunstone.ca/todokai/
Scott Irey is the Seattle instructor, but it does not provide any contact info...I'm sure someone on the board may know how to contact him.

That is all the koryu schools in the immediate area that I know of. Some are in Everett, but that would be nightmare driving on I-5 north during the week days especially from Olympia.

There are non-koryu schools as well, but gauging from your post it seems that koryu or kendo is the direction you want to take your training. However, if tameshigiri or "non-kendo" sparring are more your thing then you might look toward one of them.

Good luck in your hunt.

John Connolly
3rd November 2008, 21:10
Hi Steve,

I live in Olympia, and there's very little in the realm of traditional schools here. I teach Icho Ryu Aikibudo and Jujutsu concepts at the Evergreen Jujutsu Club (a free student/community Jujutsu study group at Evergreen), and you're always welcome to come and practice empty hand stuff with us. We meet Mondays and Wednesdays at 7pm in the CRC (gym/rec center) at Evergreen.

I recently saw a flyer up on campus from a (I believe) Kendo 4th dan wanting to start a Kendo club on campus. When I find the email, I'll PM you.

I drive up to Seattle every week to train with the Seattle Icho Ryu group (TNBBC) under Neil Yamamoto, and yeah, the drive is long and rife with traffic. However, if you find a good group to train with, it can be worth it. BTW Portland is almost double the distance that Seattle is from Olympia. If you do decide on sword training in Seattle, please check out these guys: http://www.shinto-ryu.net/v1/
I train at the TNBBC with some of their Yudansha, and they are very talented martial artists and excellent people in general.

Good luck in your search, and I'll check for that Kendo guy's email on the flyers on campus.

Steve F
4th November 2008, 02:01
Thanks to everyone for your replies.
The move will probably be ~ June.

Steve F
4th November 2008, 02:01
OOPS - accidental duplicate

Steve F
4th November 2008, 02:06
Where did you find Kogen Itto Ryu... did you per chance live in the Chichibu area of Saitama prefecture?

There's a fellow near Baltimore that teaches Kogen Itto Ryu.

Brian Owens
4th November 2008, 04:39
...Muso Shinden Ryu http://www.musokai.org/

I have not seen Murosako Sensei or Konno Sensei, so I have no information on them specifically, but they have a lot of experience according to their bio.

Konno Sensei is one of the better teachers I have trained under. Patient when it's warranted, strict when it's needed, always -- that I saw -- patient.

Highly recommended.


Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu http://gunstone.ca/todokai/

Scott Irey is the Seattle instructor, but it does not provide any contact info...I'm sure someone on the board may know how to contact him.

Scott is a member here, although he doesn't post as often as he used to.

You can probably still contact him by PM, though.

HTH.

John Connolly
4th November 2008, 20:30
Steve,

Found the guy's email. I'm sending you a PM now.