Just watched my first Kendo class

[stevemcgee99]

I saw a lot of what I've been reading about here. There was no kata practice, apparently that's not that valued at this particular dojo. I also understood there was supposed to be seitei practice for the first hour, but I was told afterwards that they don't practice that there, only on the 1st sunday each month at the "big" class.

Then, someone mentioned a name of another club member who practices there, although not tonight, that does private practice of some koryu. Then it was mentioned that I could see about trying to practice with him.
How does one go about approaching another student like that and asking to be taught?

They also did mention Powers-sensei and the school in Berkeley. I'm still hoping to find something as close as possible.

P.S.- If this should've been a new thread, sorry.

[Charlie Kondek]

Maybe you should just jump into kendo and hope to make the koryu students acquaintance? I'm not sure if there's protocol for approaching a koryu school here in the states, or in Japan (hopefully somebody here can tell you).

Also, just because you didn't see the kata practice that day doesn't mean it isn't valued. Sometimes, I have had to organize kata practice outside regular class time to get the time with kata that I would like. There's so much to practice with kendo, that sometimes there isn't enough time for kata.

[stevemcgee99]

I wrote that late last night, and wasn't thorough. I had a brief discussion with the younger sensei after their class. I asked him about the seitei practice I was expecting to happen from 7 - 8 pm (listed that way on the US Kendo site), he said with the three main instructors for that now unavailable, it only happens one hour a month during the regional class (out of about five hours- another hour is spent on kendo no kata). I saw no bokken, the sensei said they usually only practice kata when a grading is coming up, and that he likes the "action" more.

I am convinced that not everyone in his club feels this way, though. There is a rotation of instructors, so perhaps I'll have time to see another sensei's style?

It was weird, however, not to see any "sune" attacks. Or tsuki.

Steve

[Charles Mahan]

If you are interested in koryu and have access to Berkley, there is a good ZNIR Affilitated MJER sensei there.

http://www.iaido.org/

Check it out.