Yagyu Shinkage Ryu in *Variety*? Wha???

[chrismoses]

So my wife studies Kung Fu at a women specific qwoon, and someone there posted this (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117946592?categoryid=2238&cs=1) to their mailing list. I haven't seen "The OC" or know who this actress even is, but I found it interesting that she claims to be the only white woman in the world studying Yagyu Shinkage Ryu. Mind you, I think it's pretty cool that one would even see the word Yagyu in Variety without the word Jubei in close proximity, but that seems like an odd claim. So, anyone in the Yagyukai know her? Ever heard of her? Inquiring minds want to know.

Oh and her imdb (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1027847/) entry lists her birthplace as Tokyo.

[wreddock]

Considering who her father is probably very legit (but with typical Hollywood overstated 'only white woman' )

Daughter of Hunter Armstrong

See: http://www.koryubooks.com/bio.html#harmstrong

[Alex Dale]

Yes, I heard this some time ago. She's legit. I hear she's quite good. If what is meant by Yagyu Shinkage-ryu is the YSR under the Hikita Shinkage-ryu umbrella, then yup, that's correct. Far as I know, she's a student of Hikita Shinkage-ryu under Mr. Hunter Armstrong.


As for the only white woman studying Yagyu Shinkage-ryu.. well, that's not true as far as the Owari lineage go. Maybe she means she's the only white woman studying Hikita Shinkage-ryu.



Regards,

[Charles Mahan]

The trivia section on her imdb entry lists judo but not Yagyu. Someone should update it :)

[Ron Tisdale]

I know a black woman who is a member of the Edo Yagyu Kai...does that count? :)

B,
R (nice article by the way. Seems she comes from good stock.)

[chrismoses]

Thanks guys, kinda cool to actually see a celeb with this kind of background.

[John Lovato]

I've watched her train, and she is very good. I was much impressed.

[mikeym]

The quote from the article is actually, "I'm the only white girl in the world who does this". Depending on what she means by "this", she's not necessarily claiming to be the only white woman doing Yagyu Shinkage Ryu. Without knowing anything else, I would assume that the confusion is the reporter's fault.

- Mike