Hatsugeiko 2000

      On 15 January 2000 the Kenshinkan held its annual First Training ("Hatsugeiko") of the year. Our "First Training" is a combination of Hatsugeiko and Kagami-Birakaki.

      Kagami-Biriki is traditionally held in Japan during the second week in January -- it is a festive occasion on which sweet rice cakes (kagami) are "broken" (biraki) and handed out to members and visitors. The sweet rice (mochi) cakes are presented before New Year and displayed prominently in front of the Shinto shrine, usually stacked one atop the other in two layers; a tangerine rests upon the smaller mochi cake.

      This year we were honored to have Dr. Benjamin Hazard as our guest of honor. Dr. Hazard, a kendo Koyshi 7th dan, is professor-emeritus of San Jose State University where he taught Oriental History. Additionally, Dr. Hazard is a full colonel and has retired from the US Army Intelligence Corps where he began his career as a Japanese linguist. Dr. Hazard speaks, reads, and writes Japanese and Korean (and reads Chinese) -- as a matter of fact, he prefers reading the pre-war Japanese with the "difficult" Chinese characters. Malyne Hazard Chu (kendo 5th dan; naginata 5th dan Renshi) accompanied her father and once again supported our Hatsugeiko. Thank you Dr. Hazard and Malyne.

      After Dr. Hazard led the assembled members and guests in bows to the Shinto shrine and the Shomen, he received our bow. We were very fortunate this year to have such gifted practitioners present performances of their respective arts. This year we saw Brian Barnes and Nick Streaker of Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu, and Maria Klein, Tracy Hall, and Alec Wheatley of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu Bujutsu perform koryu bujutsu. My sincere thanks to those enbu-sha as well as their absent teachers, Dr. Steven Fabian and Mr. Mark Jones, respectively.

Power sensei opened the enbu by performing "Hatsugiri" --the first cuts of the year. Following the Hatsugiri we were treated to the following schedule of events.

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Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu

Brian Barnes and Nick Streaker attended from Monterey, California, and performed approximately 25 techniques from Gyaku-no kata, Nage-no kata, Oku-no kata, Yoshin-no kata, and Tanto dori-no kata. We were quite impressed with Nick's ability to take full-force falls on the hardwood floor -- without showing any signs of discomfort. His only display of outright "discomfort" was when Brian "hog tied" him with an obi. Dr. Fabian later said that in future enbu, Nick should be allowed to throw Brian, "After all, fair is fair."

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Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu Bujutsu

Maria Klein, Tracy Hall, and Alec Wheatley drove all the way from Napa, California, to mesmerize us with their waza. Not only did they present paired sword forms from the Omote-no Tachi and Go-Gyo sets as promised, they also impressed us with a Bo-tai-Tachi set, pitting the sword against a six foot staff.

Nakamura Ryu Battodo

      Prior to concluding the ceremony, Power sensei offered sake and head towels (tenugui) to our guest performers, and sake to the remainder of attendees. Power sensei presented Ellyn Schumacher, Kenshinkan Dojo's WebDiva, with a copper plate bearing a Japanese tsuba design in recognzition of her long hours and dedication to Nakamura Ryu. Thank you Ellyn.

      After Hatsugeiko concluded, Power sensei allowed Brian, Nick, Maria, Tracy, and Alec to try their hands at tameshigiri. Four makiwara were left over for "post-enbu" fun and it certainly seems our guests enjoyed themselves in this endeavour. A first time for all, they did remarkably well. Hopefully their appetites for tameshigiri were whetted, and they will persevere in their wonderful training.

      Following the enbu, 16 people gathered at the The Golden Wok restuarant to have a meal and discuss everything from obtaining vegetarian meals to budo. Dr. Hazard impressed all of us with anecdotes, as well as his wisdom and knowledge: valuable gifts he is happy to transmit to anyone eager to learn.