Beginner index & thumb cutts

[schanne]

I have been practicing on my own since there is not a dojo or instructor anywhere where I live. Iaido is now what I practice after my karate training. We are fortunate since my family has our own dojo next to our house. The seminars that I have attended were great and as a instructor I know the benefit and importance of training under a Sensei....anyway there are non where I live. Bottom line question, do you train with an unsharpend blade while learning Iaido or do most Sensei prefer to practice with a sharp blade? My thumbs says buy an unsharpend blade:o

[ulvulv]

According to the great google god there are iai-dojo in new jersey, the people there are the closest "real" persons to answer your questions about iai-technicalities.
My faceless opinion to a face I dont know: you dont need a live blade to make your blade alive. You can cover quite a distance on a path of iai, swinging a good iaito.

The progression bokuto-iaito-shinken is rather set in the iai-world, when to switch can and should only be told you by a skilled person who can judge your actual proficiency.
Different dojo, different opinions. If you practise hard, have good progression and can cough up the necessary money, there is no reason to stick to a iaito for that much time. If you train irregularly, with little or none qualified instruction, I see no reason to hurry on to a shinken.

Getting the thingie out and in is the hard part, all the fancy moves in between is rather lowrisk, as long as you have both hands on the tsuka, you have to work really hard to hurt yourself. Good nukitsuke and noto can usually only be taught by a sensei.

If you choose the hard way, split palms, severed thumbs, destroyed saya and bloody dojofloor are excellent teachers as well. but watching scar tissue and slowly healing wounds isnt that much fun.

:)

[schanne]

You are correct there are schools in the northern part of the state...two hours away. I will do what it takes to learn and in the mean time I will buy an unsharpend blade until I become proficiant.
Thank you for answering my post.

[Brian Pettett]

Steve, whereabouts do you live, exactly? Maybe we can come up with someplace that you haven't found yet.

I slid my hand down onto my iaito's blade multiple times while learning proper noto, and I'm glad I learned how to correct it with the right tool. Now I'm pretty confident in my abilities, and am now thinking about getting my first shinken within the next three or four months.

[renfield_kuroda]

Is two hours too far to travel to get proper instruction?

Regards,

r e n

[schanne]

Is two hours to long to travel for proper instruction? No it is not, so again I suppose I'll have to do what it takes & make the journey. There is a place in Philadelphia called the Tan Shin Kai which is only 30 minutes, I think by there website they only teach Kendo. I called them and emailed them but have not heard back as of yet? Yes I have called Shihan Rodger Werhrhahn too but he is three hours deep into Pennsylvania....why does everyone dislike South Jersey. For all you experts/dojo owners out there we sure could use a good Iaido dojo in South Jersey $$$$$. I know a lot of people who are interested in the art as well, at least four BB from my dojo said they want to learn Iaido too. If anyone knows a person in the area that gives private Iai leasons please let me know......Domo

http://www.mountainteachings.com/index.html

http://tanshinkaidojo.org/

[kokumo]

David Goldberg, Chief Instructor of the Aikido Seishinkan in Norristown PA (just outside Philly) is also a sandan iaidoka affiliated with the Sanshinkai, and iaido is taught regularly in his aikido dojo.

Also a sword maker and metalworker of some skill, David's work as a craftsman adds a dimension to his understanding of weapons that is outside the normal parameters.

http://www.aikidoseishinkan.org/

David works with a small study group at Bond Street Dojo in NYC, which might be of interest to folks a bit farther north than you are.

For a look at some of his metalwork, including tools for swordmakers, go to:

http://www.goldmountainforge.com/

Hope this helps.

Fred Little

[schanne]

That is the closest place, only 55 min. from home...Happy days!!
Just emailed him and asked about training and his seminar on Nov. 20th. You guys are really great .......thanks;)

[Tim Mailloux]

2 hours is nothing. We have a student at the dojo that drives from Jersey to the Springfield MA area to train with my teacher several times a month. If you really want to learn you will do what it takes.

[schanne]

Agree, but I found a Sensei only 55 min away that is fine, even had someone call me to tell me about his credentials as an instructor/ Sensei.

http://www.aikidoseishinkan.org/

[Kaoru]

Originally posted by schanne
Is two hours to long to travel for proper instruction? No it is not, so again I suppose I'll have to do what it takes & make the journey. There is a place in Philadelphia called the Tan Shin Kai which is only 30 minutes, I think by there website they only teach Kendo. I called them and emailed them but have not heard back as of yet? Yes I have called Shihan Rodger Werhrhahn too but he is three hours deep into Pennsylvania....why does everyone dislike South Jersey. For all you experts/dojo owners out there we sure could use a good Iaido dojo in South Jersey $$$$$. I know a lot of people who are interested in the art as well, at least four BB from my dojo said they want to learn Iaido too. If anyone knows a person in the area that gives private Iai leasons please let me know......Domo

http://www.mountainteachings.com/index.html

http://tanshinkaidojo.org/

Hi!

Well, there is Yagyu Shinkage Ryu Kenjutsu in Philly too. Paul Manogue teaches it, and you definately would not be sorry to train there. He is quite qualified.

You should visit each dojo before making a decision. You ought to visit a Kendo dojo too, so you know what all three styles of JSA they are, and then you can choose which one fits you best. You can't judge any of these arts and make a good decision without first watching a practice of each one. I've got a fairly large list of dojo for NJ, as well. Do you want this list? I can PM you what I have. I will also PM you the Philly dojo information. And, you can also PM Manogue-sensei here since he is an e-budo member. Also, you can PM Chris deMonch a member here, who is a student of his, if you want. I am sure he'd be happy to talk with you.

Oh, and 2 hours? I don't feel a bit sorry for you at all. :D My Kendo dojo is just a bit farther than that, and so I go twice a month unless my Mom can't drive me. You can do that too. It is better than nothing.(But I only got to go once last month. :cry: ) If you want good and highy skilled instruction, that just what you have to do. Getting there is part of the training. It is dedication, and a sensei will appreciate that. :) (I know you said it would be fine, but I wanted to add another good reason for traveling far. :) )

Oh... Yes, please do get rid of the sword and get a bokuto. Untrained people and swords make me nervous! The two do NOT mix. NEVER EVER try to teach yourself! And, I can't believe you went and bought a live blade... Didn't you realise it is a 3 foot or so razor blade? And, that you can easily lop off a finger or worse without regular and proper instruction? Seminars aren't really instruction. They are just icing on the cake so to speak. A taste of what you'd be learning if you trained. Sigh... Don't feel like giving the usual sword lecture I give people who do this and attempt self instruction. You are getting off easy.(As a few might tell you.) This was the shortest time I ever talked about this! :D I am really happy though, that you want to get proper training. That makes me happy. The thought of somebody untrained waving a sword around just scares me for them. You can even die or kill someone else if you are using the wrong kind of sword...IE wallhanger.

Well, I hope this helps. I'll PM you the Kenjtsu dojo and the Kendo dojos in Philly. I've got Iaido in NJ, but I don't know how far from you, since I do not have a location to use. I use maps a lot to see if what I have is far or near. I can't tell you those unless you tell me where you are, so I know which to give you. You need to visit more than one dojo, be it near or far, to be able to make an educated decision. Each sensei and dojo will be different. :)

Good luck, and please let me know if you want what else I have.

Sincerely,

[schanne]

Dear Carolyn, thank you for all the information and yes I would like to have the list you mentioned. I will check out Mr. Monogue as well and still plan to attend the the November 20th seminar at Sensei David Goldberg dojo in Norristown PA. Your correct about the practicing with a live blade vs. a bokken that is why I am seeking a good Sensei. Since 1975 I have been involved with MA and currently am the high ranking dan at our dojo, being around weapons has been apart of my life and I truly understand your point. Please don't get the idea that I'm a fool with a tool, far from it. As a Sensei myself I completly understand the student instructor relation. Didn't really need to tell you that information but I felt you had the impression I am one of those people that bought a katana on ebay and brought it out during beer parties to show my friend how to cut branches off the back yard trees.......now those are the people to fear! ;)

[Kaoru]

Hi Schanne-sensei,


Dear Carolyn, thank you for all the information and yes I would like to have the list you mentioned. I will check out Mr. Monogue as well and still plan to attend the the November 20th seminar at Sensei David Goldberg dojo in Norristown PA.


You're welcome! Ok, I'll PM that to you. :)


Your correct about the practicing with a live blade vs. a bokken that is why I am seeking a good Sensei. Since 1975 I have been involved with MA and currently am the high ranking dan at our dojo, being around weapons has been apart of my life and I truly understand your point. Please don't get the idea that I'm a fool with a tool, far from it. As a Sensei myself I completly understand the student instructor relation. Didn't really need to tell you that information but I felt you had the impression I am one of those people that bought a katana on ebay and brought it out during beer parties to show my friend how to cut branches off the back yard trees.......now those are the people to fear! ;)

hehehe, Actually, I wasn't even thinking that,(Farthest thing from my mind is a party and beer and showing off, to be honest. I knew you are a karateka and not unknowledgeable. :) ) but I can see how you could think I did. My humble apologies. :( I'm sorry if I offended you. *bow* I just always worry about beginners with real blades. I don't understand why people go out and buy a real sword when they first start without a sensei and not first wait to ask a sensei if they should buy one. It just makes no sense to me, given how sharp a sword is. And, I just hate it when people get hurt. So, that's why... :)

Anyway, sumimasen kudasai. :)

[schanne]

Band aids all over my thumb...apology unnecessary but accepted, (rei) Never had to wear a hakama, have always worn my old karate gi/obi. Was told to buy one fron Bujin design so I did, now I will need help putt'n it on and tying all those strings?:p

[Brian Owens]

Originally posted by schanne
Band aids all over my thumb...apology unnecessary but accepted, (rei) Never had to wear a hakama, have always worn my old karate gi/obi. Was told to buy one fron Bujin design so I did, now I will need help putt'n it on and tying all those strings?:p
As important as (or more than) the hakama, is a proper iai-obi. The karate style obi is too narrow, and not long enough to wrap around enough times.

Without a proper obi, the saya will dangle at the wrong angle, making proper technique nigh unto impossible.

Wearing a hakama correctly requires some instruction, because there are several "correct" ways to do it that vary from art to art, style to style, and even school to school.

For instance, Aikidoka often tuck the front panel into the obi and pull the himo through; this keeps the hakama secured better for ukemi.

Different koryu arts have ways of tying that are characteristic of the ryu.

Modern Iaidoka often use the modern formal-style himo knot (a plus-sign shaped knot at the front), while some koryu frown on this as being an "un-bushi-like" affectation.

And so on.

I think Band-Aids on thumbs, and a confusing mass of strings may be a sign:

Wait for Sensei.

:smilejapa