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View Full Version : Good Iaido School in New York City?



TPFox
28th April 2009, 01:29
I am in New York City, and came across a few places to study iaido - but wondered what is best and what to look for.

I found the Nichibuken (through the Japanese Swordmanship Society http://www.ny-jss.org/iaido/what.html) which teaches Seitei-gata iaidô and Musô Shinden Ryû. This group is run by 4th Dan - John Prough (he appears favorably and even has an interview in google searches - I tried it) and the group is affiliated with AUSK for widely recognized certifications. They participate in events in NJ and try to get AUSK and Japan certifications etc. The group also has Naginata. Unfortunately, the group meets both in Hoboken, NJ and in New York City - extra train ride to New Jersey.

There is the Ken-Zen Institute. It has iaido a couple times a week and Kendo most days. This one appears to be a chain of schools. Little information, and I have a feeling instructors certify themselves - but I am not sure. Web page has little info (http://www.kenzendojo.org/Ken-Zen4.html#7836).

There in Shidogakuin also offering iaido Seitei-gata iaido, and muso shinden ryu, and offering some days iaido and some days kendo. I don't know that much about this place and they have little information on the web. (http://shidogakuin.com/dojos_ny.html)

New York Budokai is an iaido only school that is independent and draws its lineage from Sensei Yoshiteru Otani (deceased) and a headquarters school in Tokyo. It looks like it has an involved curriculum and skilled instructors who pop up throughout the internet and one teacher writes many articles. They offer 2 or 3 styles of iaido and also pole and cane fighting. They have a philosophy of not participating in any competitions. Dan Ortiz has an 8th and 5th dan ranking with two styles, and levels are awarded with visits to tests overseen by notables in Japan (Kunikazu Yahagi, Shihan, and Terutaka Kawabata, Soke). Great information and seems like good school, but not sure about non-affiliation with larger organizations of iaido or kendo (http://www.newyorkbudokai.net/curriculum.html). But, stresses visits to Japan and tries to host guest teachers for seminars from time to time.

I also found Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu New York City Study group. Very little information on this. (http://www.newyorkbudokai.net/tamiya/tri.htm)

There is also the New York City Kendo Club (http://www.nyckendo.com/sensei.html). The curriculum is mostly kendo with a little iaido. The group looks very large from the photos, and the sensei has a high rank in kendo. He claims to be very experienced in iaido, but lists no rank.

Thanks for reading this far! As you can see, I've worked hard to dig up what I could. Any thoughts from what I listed or do you know from reputation or personal experience who would be the best to study iaido? Anyone I missed? Just will add, I practice Yang style tai chi with push hands etc. so am much more interested in iaido than kendo.

Tim Fox

Josh Reyer
28th April 2009, 04:44
Mr. Fox,

There is a Yagyu Shinkage-ryu Heiho group that practices at KenZen Institute. They also practice the adjunct art of Yagyu Seigo-ryu Batto. I'm biased, but I highly recommend Yagyu Seigo-ryu if you are interested in iaido. If you are interested you could also practice Shinkage-ryu (kata-geiko), but I believe it's possible to practice just the batto. Check out this page (http://yagyu-shinkage-ryu.jp/yagyukai_e.html) for contact information. Here (http://yagyu-shinkage-ryu.jp/yagyu_e.html) is the main page.

Bruce Mitchell
28th April 2009, 04:51
Is Jersey really that far? You could apply to train here: http://shutokukan.org/index.html

TPFox
28th April 2009, 13:00
Thank you for the suggestions Bruce and Josh! And, apologies to anyone if I made any poor or wrong assumptions about your school. I only gave information I found on the web, but I can already see that Ken-Zen Institute has much more going on than I thought.

Bruce, the school you suggest looks interesting. To go into New Jersey though, I would need NY Transit, and I already take two subways to get into my work in Manhattan from Queens. So, ideally I'd like something in Manhattan that is easy to get to after work - more commute would mean more stress. But thanks anyways! Good to know what's out there!

Josh I didn't know there were classes at Ken-Zen (or through Ken-Zen) in Yagyu Seigo-ryu Batto. Looks interesting. I will take a better look at the website later. Thanks for the suggestion!

Josh Reyer
28th April 2009, 14:10
FWIW, Meik Skoss, who runs the Shutokukan, is also one of the senior people at the Yagyu-kai USA, in KenZen.

Eric Spinelli
28th April 2009, 14:33
Although I have never met Ebihara sensei of the KenZen Institute, I have trained with Pam Parker sensei. She is knowledgeable and capable. The KenZen is affiliated with the AUSKF / IKF and Parker sensei is also affiliated with Oshita Masakazu sensei (Gembukan, Kobe) and teaches Harasuke-ha Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. She also teaches ZNKR Seitei Iai. I believe the KenZen maintains a fairly close relationship with the Shidogakuin and its instructors, and work together to organize AUSKF seminars.

I also cannot speak highly enough of Thomas Hooper sensei, former instructor at the KenZen NY and now an affiliate with his Sei-Zen Kendo Kai dojo in Amherst, MA. He teaches kendo, ZNKR Seitei Iai, and Harasuke-ha MJER. If, through affiliation, you have a chance to receive his teachings, I highly recommend it.

I was unaware of the connection with the Yagyu-kai, but it further raises my impression of the KenZen Institute network.

pgsmith
28th April 2009, 19:37
And just to throw in something different, Sang Kim runs a Toyama ryu dojo in New York ... http://newyorkbattodo.com/
He's a good guy and quite a good instructor.

gendzwil
28th April 2009, 21:00
Shidogakuin is Kato-sensei's dojo, he is a former US kendo team coach. I don't know anything about the iaido side but he is certainly very reputable. KenZen as others have pointed out is a well-known dojo that certainly does not certify themselves. Actually I think all the schools you have listed are reputable.

TPFox
29th April 2009, 14:02
Sorry to draw everyone back to this post - as I am not adding anything substantive to this post. Often the best places to study are the ones that are not advertised well and are found out by word of mouth. So, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for adding their thoughts. I'll post again if anyone else has a recommendation for a place to study or I come to a decision as to my plans.

Tim Fox
Student at H. Won Tai Chi Institute, New York City

Kim Taylor
10th May 2009, 14:07
Kataoka sensei teaches Kendo under the AUSKF and is a student of Yokoyama sensei from Kochi, Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu. He doesn't/didn't participate in the ZNKR seitei system but his MJER is definitely worth looking at.

All the clubs originally mentioned are worth a look and many of those instructors have visited Guelph over the years so I can vouch for them personally.

Kim Taylor

May 15-18 U. Guelph Spring Iaido/Jodo seminar http://seidokai.ca/iai.seminar.html

TPFox
28th June 2010, 01:34
I am writing once again after a long pause to say I have come to a pretty final decision about where I would like to start iaido, and I plan to do so over the next 2 weeks. Other issues such as bad economy got in the way of starting a year ago when I first wrote (but now my job is stable thankfully!)

All of the suggestions here by various members have been excellent, and it has been very difficult to decide. I finally arrived at my decision based largely on convenience in terms of travel to and from a dojo, and schedule (I wanted a place to study on Saturday).

So I've decided that Yagyu-Kai New York (http://yagyu-shinkage-ryu.jp/yagyukai_e.html) is my top choice followed by Iaido at Ken Zen Institute (http://www.kenzendojo.org/Ken-Zen4.html).

I will let you know my final decision, and once again thanks for sharing the many great places to study and the great people to study with (here and via PM)!

Timothy Fox

TPFox
28th June 2010, 02:04
Masuo Nakajima contacted me to invite me to watch the Yagyu-Kai group practice this Saturday. He said that Mr. Meik Skoss is now the head of the group, and his experience and reputation in Japanese sword arts appears very impressive. I'll let you know how that goes - although I'm feeling very positive right now that this is where I'll start Iaido.

Timothy Fox

Black and Blue
28th June 2010, 06:04
I am writing once again after a long pause to say I have come to a pretty final decision about where I would like to start iaido, and I plan to do so over the next 2 weeks. Other issues such as bad economy got in the way of starting a year ago when I first wrote (but now my job is stable thankfully!)

All of the suggestions here by various members have been excellent, and it has been very difficult to decide. I finally arrived at my decision based largely on convenience in terms of travel to and from a dojo, and schedule (I wanted a place to study on Saturday).

So I've decided that Yagyu-Kai New York (http://yagyu-shinkage-ryu.jp/yagyukai_e.html) is my top choice followed by Iaido at Ken Zen Institute (http://www.kenzendojo.org/Ken-Zen4.html).

I will let you know my final decision, and once again thanks for sharing the many great places to study and the great people to study with (here and via PM)!


Timothy Fox



Best of Luck with your training, which ever you choose!

Phil Scudieri
ZNBR

TPFox
11th July 2010, 05:37
Thanks Phil!

I just joined the Yagyu Kai group, and I'm just waiting the next few days for my Shinai and uniform to arrive. Can't wait!

Timothy Fox

Black and Blue
16th July 2010, 04:15
Great choice Tim! I've had the pleasure of meeting Skoss sensei and see him at work.He has extensive training in several ryu.
Again,Best of Luck with your training and please keep me posted. Thanks!
Phil Scudieri
ZNBR
www.delawarebudokan.net