[RarensussyRen]

Email is generally never a good way to communicate when you are in disagreement with someone. Some college clubs are like what you described unless their instructor places the importance on reiho. Generally most college students don't think of having a long term kendo career. Getting bogu and particpating in tournaments sometimes is placed more importance than reiho, basics, etc.. I agree that he should review reiho in a more constructive way and tell the students the importance of reiho. Now like you said it seems he is trying to do it only for the puposes of not looking like a bad instructor. If many of your students are still new and not in bogu than I don't think the 8th Dan will be insulted or disappointed as long as the students try their best. Like you said it is a college club and he is an instructor (maybe college age) not Sensei so I doubt the 8th Dan is going into the practice with exceedingly high expectations. Even though he does share some of the blame for not teaching them reiho I would not debate him or say he is trying to cover his butt. Maybe some wording that we don't have too many students so lets be careful not to scare them off or something like that.