A bit of koryu help

[meat]

Hi guys, I'm starting to narrow down certain details of my stay in Japan. Looks like I'll definately be living in the Kyoto area, probably somewhere near the main train station. I'll be seriously ecstatic if I can just train in kyudo and judo, but if I can get into koryu, well lets just say it'd be a dream come true so to speak.
I've looked around koryu.com and a few other places, and I've found 3 schools that seriously interest me:

Hontai yoshin ryu jujutsu
Hozoin ryu sojutsu
Tendo ryu naginatajutsu

Here's where it gets tricky. I pretty much have no useful connections whatsoever for getting into a koryu school. The most I could probably get would be an introduction letter from my judo instructor or an acquaintance who is a 2nd dan in Muso Shinden ryu iai.
Does anyone have any experience in these ryu? Does anyone know the procedures to get into these schools, or how strict/lax they are with prospective students?
Any help is extremely appreciated.
Thankyou

[Ellis Amdur]

This idea of introductions has been blown up a bit out of proportion. I was invited to join one koryu aftger violating any and all of the sanctified procedures: I had no introduction, I spoke almost no Japanese, I was dressed very casually. Above and beyond all of that, one is invited due to a human connection. Many instructors, faced by the conundrum of a foreigner "out of context," will fall back on the only thing left - what their impression is of the man or woman in front of them - in other words, just like people do in any culture.

That said, an introduction from your judo instructor should be more than enough, particularly if you approach the dojo congruent to the praise that will undoubtedly be in the letter. Remember, in a real sense, the idea of an introduction is that it gives a) a context - where you are "from," b) who to go to if you mess up. In other words, if your instructor (or a citizen from any social group) writes such a letter, they are taking responsibility for you, and further, as a representative of their group, their GROUP is taking responsibility for you.

Anyway, Yoshin-ryu, in particular, should appreciate the judo intro, because they're a jujutsu school. Tendo-ryu is largely a woman's world, which can be interesting - the social dynamics of conflict within the dojo are quite different.

Best

[Mekugi]

Takenouchi ryu, the Bitchuden line is down there too. Also, Kukishinden Tenshin Hyoho is around in Hyogo.

Ellis is right. There is too much made out of the introduction thing. Just ask for Kengaku and see where it goes from there! Simple!
Originally posted by meat
Hi guys, I'm starting to narrow down certain details of my stay in Japan. Looks like I'll definately be living in the Kyoto area, probably somewhere near the main train station. I'll be seriously ecstatic if I can just train in kyudo and judo, but if I can get into koryu, well lets just say it'd be a dream come true so to speak.
I've looked around koryu.com and a few other places, and I've found 3 schools that seriously interest me:

Hontai yoshin ryu jujutsu
Hozoin ryu sojutsu
Tendo ryu naginatajutsu

Here's where it gets tricky. I pretty much have no useful connections whatsoever for getting into a koryu school. The most I could probably get would be an introduction letter from my judo instructor or an acquaintance who is a 2nd dan in Muso Shinden ryu iai.
Does anyone have any experience in these ryu? Does anyone know the procedures to get into these schools, or how strict/lax they are with prospective students?
Any help is extremely appreciated.
Thankyou

[wmuromoto]

If you are staying in Kyoto, you might think of observing a Takeuchi-ryu session at the Choufukan dojo, in northern Kyoto city, by the Shakkadaniguchi bus stop. I'm not going to vouch for you since I don't know you from Adam, but just drop in and ask to kengaku and take it from there.

Ono sensei, Kancho, is more than willing to let you watch. If you speak any smattering of Japanese, you will find him, like I have found many koryu teachers, to be quite open and friendly. Eccentric, too. But very friendly. You may also find that the college student deshi will want to practice their English on you.

Wayne Mruomoto

[wmuromoto]

PS,

A letter of introduction from you Japanese sponsor or employer may be more impressive to Kancho than one from a judo teacher from your own country that he has no connection to.

Letting a teacher know that you did judo (a bit) will help. But don't brag too much about it. SImple common sense stuff re: human relationships.

Wayne

[Ellis Amdur]

Sorry, should have read your letter better. Wayne is right. A letter from an American judo teacher (unless Japanese, written in Japanese) will certainly have less weight than your sponsor or employer.

Best

[Mekugi]

I agree with this 100%. You aren't there to show them what you know, you are there to learn. Matter of fact, they may not care. I wouldn't mention it unless they ask.

Just remember that you are there for them, they are not there for you. Be on your best behavior, wear nice clothes and remember to groom properly- it may seem stuffy but it can help. You may even have to go and watch a few times before being spoke to about joining, so be patient and do not be discouraged. This is of course, in general and not about any one dojo in particular.

Originally posted by wmuromoto

Letting a teacher know that you did judo (a bit) will help. But don't brag too much about it. SImple common sense stuff re: human relationships.

Wayne

[nicojo]

It is basic, but have you thought of using those names in search engine to see what others have said about the ryu? Because I have noticed one or two e-budo people, who do not study in Hozoin ryu, who do have contacts. PM them. But I think you will be fine and Kansai needs more good koryu guys to fight back all those Tokyo types, heh.

[meat]

Thanks so much to everyone for the wonderful responses, it is a great help! Things seem much more encouraging now
:)