Looking for school in Virginia

[yamamatsuryu]

A friend of mine who joined the Navy has (finally) completed his training and is stationed in Virginia. He is looking to join a school while he's there, preferably Ken-Jutsu or Iai-Jutsu/Do. Does anyone in that area (Virginia) know of good schools?

Thanks in advance :)

Jared Albrecht

(Edited for my rotton schpellung)

[ghp]

Dave Drawdy is teaching Toyama Ryu in the DC/Ft. Belvoir area. He posts here frequently, so perhaps he will leave a message.

Regards,
Guy

[socho]

1) Where is he in Virginia?

2) I am still in the 'getting organized' stage. Will have a class at George Mason University on Saturdays beginning in January. May also work with a group in Fredricksburg or Woodbridge, details still being worked out. Feel free to contact me with questions.

(Thanks, Guy)

[yamamatsuryu]

He's in the Oceana area, assigned to a squadron (Which just got back on the Enterprise). It will be a couple of months for him to re-settle, get a vehicle, etc. I told him I would check it out and mail him the info. Thanks for the replies so far gentlemen.

Jared Albrecht

[yamamatsuryu]

Wow, 6 hours or so away :(
Speaking from experience about "distance learning", that might be a bit difficult. Still, the Norfolk area is a lot more populous than the "bum-blank-Egypt" portion of the state I live in, so he might have better luck. All that's offered here is TKD (Not Flexible enough), Doshinkan Karate-Do (Shudder), Shudokan Karate-Do (Mack Sensei is awesome, but only offers Seitei, and that’s to Yondan or higher in that organization) and American Kick boxing (Getsinger Sensei is a neat guy and good instructor, but you will bleed profusely in that school). Hehehehe
Anyway, does anybody else out there know of any schools?

Jared Albrecht

[Joseph Svinth]

Jared --

For Goju Ryu in your neighborhood, Ernie Brennecke might be worth checking, as he was one of Morio Higaonna's first US students. His school is Pro-Action Family Martial Arts, Inc. Meanwhile, if you personally are looking for iaido, note that the Seattle Kendo Kai holds its iaido class at St. Pete's Episcopal Church on Sunday afternoons. If the pass is clear, it's just 2.5 hours each way. Likewise, WSU has kendo classes on Saturday and Sunday, and Pullman's what, 1.5 hours away?

As for your question, Google suggests that University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and George Mason U have kendo clubs, and usually where there is kendo, somebody does iaido, or knows somebody who does.

That said, Norfolk is real close to North Carolina. This fellow says he does iaido in Charlotte. http://www.mcluskie.com/ There's also a kendo club in Charlotte -- http://www.perigee.net/~we-flip/kendo.html . Okay, it's a couple hours in the other direction, but according to the site, classes are Sundays, 9 a.m. to 12.

[yamamatsuryu]

Mr. Svinth,
Thank you for the information. I remember Shito-Ryu Karate-do and Kempo being offered too, but haven't been able to track it down yet. I knew about the PNKF clubs around here (Pullman, Spokane, Seattle etc.) I thought about dropping in to the Iai-do class at Seattle when I go to the Takayama-matsuri at the PSC. I will (Undoubtedly) post another thread about schools in Wa later on (When the weather clears up a bit).
Meanwhile, thanks for the information about schools in Virginia and NC. I’ll add them to the list.
Mr. Drawdy,
I’d love to cross swords next time you’re in this area. Keep me posted as to the next time you visit Mack Sensei, and I’ll be there! ;)

Thank you for all the excellent information so far. I really appreciate it.

Jared Albrecht

[Charles Mahan]

I can highly recommend Greg Huff sensei in Woodbridge, although I'm afraid my knowledge of East Coast geography is pretty limited. Greg is a 6th dan in MJER through the Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei. I have only trained with him on a handful of occassions, but it is my opinion and that his Iai is very powerful.

Huff-sensei has a website, but I'm having trouble finding it at the moment. There is a link to Greg's site on http://www.dentondojo.com, but that site is down at the moment. I'll try to post it a little later.

If I'm not mistaken, Huff-sensei is a Navy man as well.

[carl mcclafferty]

MR. Albrecht (Jared):

My friend and SGR/RSK student Thomas Goodwin in Seattle, where Yamada Sensei will be on the 13th, teaches Seitei to Mack Sensei's students. I suspect there will be some of Mack Sensei's students at Yamada Sensei's Seminar. I believe David Drawdy and Ron Zediker Sensei also taught a Seminar at Mack Sensei's dojo. And we're all sort of connected through Guy Power; this sword thing is a small damn world.

Carl McClafferty:D

[Charles Mahan]

Here is Huff-sensei's website.

http://www.eishinkai.homestead.com/

His dojo is in the DC area.

<Snipped from his website>

Mr. Huff currently lives in Woodbridge, Virginia and is still serving in the Navy, stationed at Fort Belvoir Army Base. Anyone interested in Iaido may contact Mr. Huff by e-mail. mailto:Ryuhokan@aol.com

[yamamatsuryu]

I would like to thank everyone for their replies so far. He stated that he found nothing but TKD dojos in his area (I thought I had the monopoly on that one!!). I've sent him what info I've gathered so far. If anyone else has anything, please let me know.

Jared Albrecht

[braueral]

Try Great Falls Budokan in Sterling, VA. 703-433-5642. They have classes in Karate-Do, Aikijutsu and Kenjutsu

[Mark Brecht]

Originally posted by braueral
Try Great Falls Budokan in Sterling, VA. 703-433-5642. They have classes in Karate-Do, Aikijutsu and Kenjutsu

Hi,

welcome to ebudo. Please be so kind and follow the ebudo rules and sign with your full name.

The dojo you mention is or at least used to be associated with Fred Lovret. His lineage claims are rather dubious and nobody has yet seen the slightest proof of it... I recommend to do a search through ebudo (especially the "bad budo forum") to find more info regarding this highly questionable "Yamate ryu" and "Tenshin ryu".

Btw, I graduated from South Lakes...