Austin Kenjutsu

[DrakeWurrum]

I'm going to UT Austin right now, originally from San Antonio, and I'm wondering if there is a place I could learn kenjutsu at within walking distance? Though I might be willing to ride the bus, I'd prefer not to. I used to have a bike, but Austin is not a good place to leave a bike with only one lock, I have learned to my disgrace. And, no, I do not have a car, though I hope to.

I'm especially interested in learning a two sword style, but I'm not going to be overly picky. I did find the San Antonio school of Kenjutsu, where they teach Min Ryu Shinto Ryu (and I am trying to figure out just how the ryu meaning dragon is pronounced differently from the ryu meaning school, as I have sadly watched Rurouni Kenshin enough to think they sound they same), but it seems like I'm only in San Antonio during school breaks. Once I get my own apartment here in Austin, I'll mostly be in Austin.

-Alex M. Marsh

[Chuck.Gordon]

I think there's a Yagyu Ryu group in Austin these days, and there is also a group of unaffiliated forlks who get together to do fukuroshinai fencing, but neither, I suspect are close enought to UT to walk.

Check with the aikido club there to see who's in town these days. They'll likely know if there are any active sword schools around.

Also, if you do a search of the 'Min Ryu' folks here on e-Budo, you can learn a bit more about them. Look here:

http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showthre...Min+Ryu+Shinto

Good luck! I'll be in Austin myself in June, likely the first week or so.

[Charles Mahan]

Can't help you with Austin. They Yagyu school that Chuck mentioned is the only one I know of. In San Antonio, there is a Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu dojo. Check out http://www.rivercityiaido.com Maybe not that helpful, but it's all I got.

[Alex Dale]

By limiting yourself to what you can walk to... well, you're bound to be disappointed.


There is a group of us that practices mainline (Owari) Yagyu Shinkage-ryu hyoho.


If you're interested, PM me.


Regards,

[DrakeWurrum]

Originally Posted by Chuck.Gordon

Also, if you do a search of the 'Min Ryu' folks here on e-Budo, you can learn a bit more about them. Look here:
http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showthre...Min+Ryu+Shinto

I actually found out about them through that link, and these forums at the same time, thanks to a Google search.

Originally Posted by Alex Dale

By limiting yourself to what you can walk to... well, you're bound to be disappointed.

That's pretty much what I was expecting, really. I'm not really in too much of a rush to get started, as I am rather worried about the grades in my UT classes right now. I'll probably be able to really get into a kenjutsu either over the summer or next semester, when I've got my own apartment.

[Chris Brown]

PM sent regarding some of your inquiries. Hope it helps.

[Brian Owens]

Originally Posted by DrakeWurrum

...and I am trying to figure out just how the ryu meaning dragon is pronounced differently from the ryu meaning school, as I have sadly watched Rurouni Kenshin enough to think they sound they same...

Maybe they do.

As with most languages (and more so than some), Japanese has many homophones; words that are pronounced the same, but have different meanings. Sometimes even context isn't enough to indicate which word is meant, and only seeing the kanji will tell you.


Regarding Austin, if nothing's in walking distance maybe you could arrange to car-pool with someone. Or, break down and ride the bus. Or get another bike.

If you really want to train, and particularly train at a legitimate dojo, then going a bit out of your way is to be expected.

Good luck.

[DrakeWurrum]

Thank you much for your responses and the info. It is much appreciated.
I'd love to get involved with a ryu right away, but I need to get other matters in line first. Like making sure I don't fail my courses this semester. I also need to see about getting a job soon, and setting up an apartment for next semester...maybe an internship over the summer, etc.

I was attending the aikido classes here on the UT campus last semester, but it didn't really appeal much to me. They don't focus much on the weapon combat, and the style itself doesn't appeal to me. I do admire the subtlety of the style, though. It continues to surprise me in how well it works. I suppose a side-effect of taking those classes, though, was a greater respect for the jo, as I did get a little basic instruction in that. After all, in the modern day, I could walk around with a jo with the appearance of using a walking stick. I still find myself attracted to kenjutsu, however.
Like I've said, I definitely plan to get into a kenjutsu next semester. I should have my life in it's proper order then.

Oh, and to Alex Dale, just to let you know, I did not send a PM regarding Yagyu Shinkage-ryu hyoho because I managed to Google it up. In the process, I believe I found the thread in which someone suggested it to you, so that was helpful as well. I managed to find the site of the aikido dojo that holds the classes as a result. Gotta love Google.

Again, thank you much for the help. Maybe I shall eventually meet some of you.

[pgsmith]

Alex,
One last thing. Get rid of the soft-porn cartoon in your signature. If you manage to get e-budo locked out on my workplace internet filter, I'll come and find you! Save it for the anime forums.

[Robert Corella]

Hello,
We have just started a new iaido dojo in Austin. Its small but it has already started to grow. You may want to look at our main website: www.kenshindojo.net .

We just returned from Himeji, Japan where we trained at the head quarters of Araki Ryu. If you have any questions please email me. My address is on the site.

Robert Corella
Phoenix, Arizona

Let me know if you want to see photos of us training in Japan.

[Charles Mahan]

Is this the Araki Ryu branch that is part of the ZNIR in Japan or one of the other branches?

[nicojo]

It's the same Charles, Araki Mujinsai ryu iaido.

[Brian Owens]

Originally Posted by Charles Mahan

Is this the Araki Ryu branch that is part of the ZNIR in Japan...

Looks like the same branch.

Here's the hombu's site: http://www1.winknet.ne.jp/~meirin/English/eindex.html, which lists Corella Sensei in their USA Dojo section.

[Edit] Nicojo beat me to it.

[Robert Corella]

Mr. Mahan,

Yes, Our main dojo in Himeji, Japan is a member of the ZNIR. When you look at the Himeji website, click on "topics" and you will see us training last week in Japan. As you knkow, Araki Mujinsai Mataemon was our founder. Four of his students then made their own schools. We study under one of these four students. You can see our geneaology on the website. I hope you have a chance to see our Phoenix site: www.kenshindojo.net . There you can see my profile and that of Toyoda soke. I will be glad to answer any question you might have.

Thank you,
Robert Corella

[Charles Mahan]

Wow. There are 3 other dojos in Texas with ties to the ZNIR. All MJER, in Denton, Houston and San Antonio. I did checkout the website, but didn't see any references to the ZNIR so I wasn't sure. I seemed to remember that there was a ZNIR related dojo in Arizona. Do you practice the ZNIR Toho kata?