[Kafuuil]

Oh, I see. I wasn't saying Tamiya Ryu itself doesn't have kenbu. Heck, I didn't even know a Ryu COULD have kenbu be a part of their curriculum. I thought kenbu was a seperate art. Hey Kaoru,
I don't know if Alexanian sensei teaches it or not, but he would certainly know about it. Kenbu is also part of the curriculum of the Shinto ryu group up in Seattle, but they specifically state that they do not practice that part of it in the U.S., probably due to lack of qualified instruction.

[Amorsesombabs]

Would you happen to know the details of its development?

Not as such, no, but I can ask my sensei tonight and see if they know. I'm sure our Iemoto could answer that, but I don't think I'm going to have another chance to see him again before I leave. I believe that the Shodaime (first) Iemoto was also a practicing kendoka when he founded the school; he might have been an iaidoka as well. Nihon Soushin Ryu was founded just over 100 years ago, though, so it predates the ZNKR and the ZNIR. I started around the same time that I earned shodan in iaido (ZNKR), so I could see some of the differences straight off. I wouldn't call Nihon Soushin Ryu "showy", but there are usually one or two places in every form where you lean forward or back, or bring the sword around for a strike in a larger motion. It's definitely a performance iaido, not an iaido for fighting. It looks very pretty, but it would probably get you killed if you were trying to use it to defend yourself. Thus my supposition.

[Doncarlito]

Minasan,

Konnichiwa!

I have been following this thread with some interest, as we are preparing to do a special Kenbu Seminar as part of our upcoming 2007 Tamiya Ryu Memorial Taikai. This Seminar will be a 4 hour lesson for members of the United States Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu organization and will be taught by Fuku Soke Tsumaki Kazuo (Genwa) Sensei and Endo Tsuyako (Gentei) Sensei, both of whom are Hachidan in the art of Kenbu.

It is our hope that these Seminars will become a regular event at the Taikai we have here in Michigan every other year (on the opposite years I take a Delegation from the US organization to Japan to train with our Sister Branch in Wakayama), and that we will eventually make Kenbu part of our regular curriculum here at the Michigan Honbu Dojo.

When that time comes, we will post an announcement about it on our USTRI website...

Many thanks for the interest...we will see where it all goes after this summer!

[atmowasia]

My kendo sensei in Fresno, CA, Sakazaki sensei, is actually also a shigin sensei. I heard he's pretty high up... but i don't know too much about it.

[Aozenee]

Alexanian-sensei,

It's great to hear that there may be more real opportunities for learning kenbu in the US in the future! Given the reaction to this thread, and what I've heard other people say both here in Japan and abroad, it seems like there's a lot of interest in it (though probably a good portion of that interest doesn't necessarily extend to practicing it, as with any art). Good luck with working kenbu into your regular curriculum. It sounds excellent.

Now, if only it were my school....

[QiuCIOdO]

Well, I just got word today about how the teaching system for my school of kenbu works. It sounds like one is eligible to take the shidou test on reaching 3dan, which is an obvious first step if I want to be allowed to teach in the United States (not the career path I have in mind, but since I want to continue with my school anyway, not at all something I would mind doing on the side).

As one of only two members of my school who will be living in the US, though, I have permission to, essentially, let other people practice with me, and to... I can't use the word "teach"... let them practice anything I've learned to do. I certainly wouldn't want or expect more than that, but it's nice to know that if people come to me asking to try it out, I'm allowed to show them what I know. For the moment at least - I'd like to get that shidou certification as well, when the time comes.

[gueremaisse]

Hello,

I am Robert Corella, a teacher of kenbu. First, thanks Kaoru for passing on the info about our iaido & kenbu dojo in Arizona. We are the only dojo that teaches kenbu in the USA. I first started to teach kenbu upon my return to the US from Himeji, Japan. That was in 1985. I think that I am the first American to ever learn Kenbu and the first to teach it on the mainland. And I am still teaching kenbu. Since my return, we now have many dojos in America. I often do iaido and kenbu seminars in the US.

If you have questions about Araki Ryu Iaido or kenbu, please feel welcomed to contact me.
Thank you

[SergeyLisin]

I wonder why nobody ever contacts me about kenbu. I believe I was the first American to study it in Japan. I teach kenbu as part of our iaido classes. I will be glad to answer any questions.
Bob Corella
kenshindojo.net
bcorella@cox.net