Ladies and Gentleman,
Please allow me to take this opportunity to announce the 1st Annual West Coast Taikai.
The event will be held at the Hilton Hotel, located in Costa Mesa, California on February 17th-18th 2006.
There will be a variety of seminars to choose from on that Friday the 17th, running from 8:00am to 6:00pm that evening by some of the most influential and highly ranked senseis of their specific arts from Japan and the USA.
Following the seminars that Friday day, there will be a large Embu showcasing some of the individuals attending. This will take place around 7:30pm and is sure to be one of the largest collaborations for embu by both Koryu and Gendai teachers and representatives ever in the US.
It will take place in the Catalina room with theater type seating completely encircling the stage.
Some of the confirmed attendees both teaching seminars and performing demonstrations are:
Niina Toyoaki Gyoksui Sensei- Soke of Meishi-Ha Mugai Ryu IaiHyodo
Sakaida Zenemon Sensei- 6th Dan Toyama Ryu Batto Do / Chief Instructor ZNBDR
Bob Elder Sensei- 5th Dan Kyoshi, Toyama Ryu Batto Do / ZNBDR
Mike Femal Sensei- 4th Dan, US Federation of Batto Do / Toyama Ryu batto Do
Tom Smyth Sensei – 5th Dan, US Federation of Batto Do / Toyama Ryu Batto Do
Carl McClafferty Sensei- Okuden Menkyo. Shin Shin Sekiguchi Ryu / Nakamura Ryu
Brian Stokes Sensei- Suio Ryu Iai Kempo
And a host of others that will be included on this list in the coming weeks.
Sponsors of the event will include the following:
Howard Clark ( Yusho / overall winner of the event) L6 Katana
CAS Iberia
Mugen Dachi (All targets for the event and seminars)
Tozai Imports
Legacy Arts / Ted Tenold
Robin Ramirez Custom Fitting
There will be more sponsors added in the coming weeks.
Saturday will start at 9:00am and will run until 5:00pm or until we are finished! The divisions for this event are listed as follows:
Batto Do Kata: (Toyama Ryu, Nakamura Ryu, ZNBDR / US Fed. Seitei)
. Shodan and below
. Nidan / Sandan
. Yondan and above
Iaido Kata: (All styles)
. Shodan and below
. Nidan / Sandan
. Yondan and above
Batto Do Tameshigiri:
. Shodan and below
. Nidan / Sandan
. Yondan and above
Iai Tameshigiri:
. Shodan and above (Open Div.)
Wakizashi Tameshigiri:
. Open Div.
Yoko Narabi: (Multiple targets vertically side by side)
. Open Div.
Futo Maki: (Multiple targets rolled together to make one large target)
. Open Div.
Dodan: (Multiple targets stacked on their side)
. Open Div.
Iai Dodan: (Multiple targets stacked on their side)
.Open Div.
This event is open to all serious practitioners of Legitimate Japanese Sword Arts! kata and waza of a traditional manner will only be accepted as will the normally accepted attire of Montsuki for those that have them and or Keiko gi and Hakama. No flashy red white and blue get ups will be allowed.
This is a preliminary release and the complete taikai package and information will be available on www.tozaiimports.com web site by the first week of October. You will be able to go to that site and click on the link to the West Coast Taikai and receive all the information as needed. We will be up-dating the site regularly and will announce it here when we do.
Also, we will be creating a discussion forum on the website for the taikai only. Any and all questions that one might have can be asked there and answered by myself or one of the appropriate people.
Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there!
Gambate
Tony Alvarez
bigtony@senpokan.com
N.A. Shibucho Meishi-HA Mugai Ryu IaiHyodo
W.C. Shibucho, Zen Nihon Batto Do Renmei / Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iaido Renmei
VP. US Federation of Batto Do
__________________
BIG TONY
Senpokan Dojo
Tozai Imports