2011 AKR Seminar Report from President Yoshiko Buchanan
2011 American Kyudo Seminar Report
Yoshiko Buchanan
AKR president
Dear AKR members,
The 2011 American Kyudo
Seminar took place at Carleton College, in Northfield, Minnesota from the 1st
to the 5th of August, 2011.
It is my pleasure to have
this opportunity to talk about the 2011 American Kyudo Seminar. First of all I would like to express my
special thanks to Carly Born, Renshi Godan and MNKR president, and John Born,
the MC and the Dojo Manager. I would
also like to extend my great appreciation to the entire Minnesota Kyudo Renmei
that was the 2011 host federation. Many
MNKR members, friends, college teachers and family members provided their best
efforts to make this seminar successful. Of course, many AKR members assisted
and cooperated with the host. Their
contributions certainly supported the host to make the seminar successful.
A great part of their work
was the construction of three beautiful Shajo,
with smooth wood floors. Their efforts created works of art. Such Shajo and the Azuchi with Maku
impressed all participants and the teachers.
The teachers could teach correct movements with the correct speed and
rhythm. There was excellent translation
given throughout the seminar by Earl Hartman, Renshi Rokudan/NCKF, and other
assisting translators, for which I am deeply grateful.
It is also my pleasure to share with you that
I received a thank you note from the three teachers and Suguru Asami (from the
ANKF office). They expressed their
gratefulness to the efforts of the MNKR and the lovely hospitality that they
received from the MNKR and the AKR.
The 2011 American Seminars
The chief instructor was
Iijima Masao sensei (Hanshi Hachidan/Tokyo) and the other two instructors were
Satake Mariko sensei (Hanshi Hachidan/Wakayama pref.) and Kubota Kiyoshi sensei
(Hanshi Hachidan/Ibaraki pref.)
SPECIAL SEMINAR (August 1st): The
basic seminar program was presented by the AKR and Iijima sensei, the chief
instructor, modified it. The “Special
Seminar” was for Yondan and above participants.
The opening Rei was led by Iijima sensei (for the entire seminar). Raiki Shagi
/ Shahokun recitation was led by Mie Takahashi (Toronto/Canada).
The 28 participants received instruction (Kihontai, Hadanugi/Hadaire,
Tasukisabaki during the morning and shooting technique in the afternoon) from
the three teachers, which was quite a luxurious teacher to student ratio
(almost 9:1). The lecture “The Attitude and Responsibilities of an
Instructor” was given by Iijima sensei.
We have been told to use Japanese Kyudo
terms regularly in our daily practice.
DAY 1 (August 2nd): The 2nd
day of the entire program was, in fact, the first day of the regular
seminar. 135 participants from five
countries (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and U.S.A.) gathered. Raiki Shagi
/ Shahokun recitation was led by Reiko Blackwell (SCKR). Instead of Yawatashi the three senseis
performed Hitotsumato Sharei and all the students did Mitorigeiko.
Before the participants began shooting, a lecture about Kyudo equipment
was given by the teachers. Wrong Tsuruwa, Nigirikawa and Nakajikake
were picked up by the teachers and the owner of the bow and his group were instructed in ways to correct the problem. The Day 1 instruction was focused on shooting
technique to all the participants.
However, Sharei study was given to the senior students of the special
seminar group. The Daiichi Shajo was taught by Kubota sensei, Daini Shajo by Satake sensei and Daisan Shajo by Iijima sensei.
The three senseis rotated the dojo everyday and taught each group one
day during the regular seminar.
The AKR Tournament took place
in the evening from 7:00. (see the
report)
DAY 2 (August 3rd): Raiki Shagi / Shahokun recitation was
led by Miho Ohyasu (NCKF). Mochimato Sharei was demonstrated by the
senior group students instead of Yawatashi at the three Shajos and the
evaluation was given by the Shajo teachers.
Shooting technique study
continued along with Kihontai,
entering and exiting the dojo. Overall
on Taihai the slow movement was
pointed out to all the students. Kaizoe was studied among the senior
students.
The basics of Shitsu no Shori was taught by Kubota sensei to all the
students and the lecture of the Day 2 was “Rei in Budo” by Satake sensei at the
lecture room. Satake sensei spoke about
the historical flow of Yumi (Kyudo) and extended her thoughts of “On (Obligation
or debt)“ that we owe from our parents and also our teachers.
In the evening a
friendly banquet was given inviting the teachers, Dean Nagel and other
dedicated people to the seminar.
DAY 3 (August 4th): Raiki Shagi / Shahokun recitation was
led by Junko Kurita (NCKF). Hitotsumato Sharei was demonstrated by
the senior group students at the three Shajos and the evaluation was given by
the Shajo teachers.
The shooting practice continued at the Daiichi and Daini Shajo and more
Sharei practice continued at the Daisan Shajo. The 3rd day lecture was “How to
read and use the Hassetsu chart” by Kubota sensei. He explained the critical area of the chart
that we should understand correctly. In
the early afternoon test shooting was rehearsed at each Shajo.
The 2011 American Kyudo
Seminar was closed with a thank you speech by Carly Born representing the host
federation and the AKR. The seminar
certificates were handed to the students.
The 2011 Andrew West award was awarded to Patrick Suen (now Shodan /
Toronto, Canada).
The 2011 AKR Tournament
August 2nd, 2011
The 2011 AKR tournament took
place on the 2nd of August.
The tournament coordinator was Maria Peterson, Renshi Rokudan
/NCKF. Both Iijima sensei and Kubota
sensei stopped by to observe and gave us practical advice to run such a
tournament in the limited time. His
advice was certainly forwarded to the tournament coordinator and I hope it will
be used accordingly.
The tournament coordinator, Maria Peterson’s, report
is as follows:
The AKR 2011 tournament was completed successfully
and safely the evening of August 2, 2011. We had 72 participants (the largest
AKR tournament ever!) and were divided into 3 Shajo. We started at 7:00pm,
finished closing Rei by 8:50pm, and exited the Rec Center at 9:03pm, just 3
minutes over our allotted time. Both because of the strict time limit for the
tournament, imposed by the College facility, and because we wanted to allow as
many seminar attendees to participate in the tournament as possible, we
modified the standard tournament timing to "kai-uchiokoshi" timing.
This meant that everything moved along pretty quickly. We also eliminated
Yawatashi performance, and for tie-breaking, we eliminated the izume in favor
of enkin in the interest of time.
Most people thouroughly enjoyed the tournament
experience, and I extend my sincere thanks to the dojo assistants and target
judges that kept us on track with the fast tournament timing pace. A few
participants seemed uncomfortable with the quick pace. To those who found the
timing uncomfortable, please practice tournament timing in your home dojo as
often as possible. Try standard tournament timing; also, try kai-uchiokoshi
timing. There are times when the situation of the event demands that we keep to
a strict time schedule, and we need to be able to maintain Heijoshin (everyday
mind) even under pressure.
Congratulations to those that achieved the highest
number of hits in the tournament! The winners were awarded with gift
certificates to be spent at the Kyudo equipment vendors, Sambu or Takahashi,
that were present at the AKR 2011 seminar. Gift certificates were $25 (1st
place), $15 (2nd place), and $10 (3rd place) for each of A group and B group
winners.
Winners from B Group (Nidan and below):
#1 Yukiko Itokawa (7 hits)
#2 Audrey Yang (4 hits, and winner of enkin)
#3 Cesar Ortiz Rojas (4 hits)
Winners from A Group (Sandan and above)
#1 Fumiko Takada (5 hits, and winner of enkin)
#2 Eric Ruth (5 hits)
#3 David Boswell (4 hits, and winner of enkin with 2 others with 4 hits)
Thank you to everyone for your sincere support for the tournament, especially
the dojo assistants (Yoshiko Buchanan sensei, Eric Kong, Miho Oyasu, Rik
Center), the target judges (Steve Scott sensei, Daniel Kim, Andrew Platzer,
Bill Reid), the MNKR and the AKR.
Respectfully submitted,
Maria Peterson
The Test
Since Mr. Asami from the ANKF office was there, the 2011 “American Seminar” Special Foreign
Examination was very professionally announced and operated.
(This title is the
translation of the Japanese title that was created by the ANKF office.) This style of test operation should be
learned and used because it is the ANKF test operation standard. Takako M. Swain (Renshi Rokudan/IKR) assisted
Mr. Asami and administrated the Examination.
The chief judge was Iijima sensei and the two other judges were Satake
sensei and Kubota sensei. Written test
judges were Yoshiko Buchanan (Renshi Rokudan/NCKF) and Earl Hartman (Renshi
Rokudan/NCKF). The chief judge had
announced that they would judge just like any test in Japan and the result was
as he stated. Those AKR members who did
not test or could not test and volunteers enthusiastically helped the test
operation, which made the test operation very smooth and timely. It is a wonderful thing to see that AKR
members are learning, and experiencing in such operations and they are getting
better. I would like to express my
gratefulness to Mrs. Swain and all the helpers who were involved with the test
operation. The message from Takao M.
Swain, the results and the written test questions of 2011 test are as follows:
All
Thank you very much for your help with the testing
at the 2011 seminar.
Your help made it a successful event.
Thanks again
Takako Matsui Swain
The opening Yawatashi was
performed by Iijima Masao sensei (Hanshi Hachidan) assisted by Earl Hartman
(Renshi Rokudan/Daiichi kaizoe) and Maria Peterson (Renshi Rokudan/Daini
kaizoe).
The shooting test result is
as follows:
Nikyu 1 Testing Mushitei and testing Shodan were
58.
Ikkyu 25
Shodan 32
Nidan 12 Testing
Nidan was 15.
Sandan 3 Testing Sandan was 13.
Yondan 2 Testing
Yondan was 18.
Godan 2 Testing Godan was 10.
Renshi 0 Testing Renshi was 6.
2011 Written Test Questions:
Mushite/Testing for Shodan
1. What made you start Kyudo?
2. Explain Ashibumi
Testing for Nidan
1. Describe the mindset when you practice Kyudo
2. List the Hassetsu and explain Yugamae
Testing for Sandan
1. Explain the proper conduct in the Kyudojo
2. Explain Toriyumi posture
Testing for Yondan
1. Explain how Kyudo is different from other sports
2. Explain Sanjujumonji
Testing for Godan
1. Describe the important points for instructing beginners
2. Describe the ultimate purpose of Kyudo
Testing for Renshi
1. Explain the relationship of Ashibumi and Hikiwake
2. Explain the attitude and the points to consider when you do Kyudo
AND
“Overheard SENSEIS’ wishes and murmurs”
I would like to
introduce some of the “MURMURS” of the teachers that I and some other
translators overheard. I hope that this
introduction of the senseis’ murmurs will help us to realize things that we
really have to try and improve in some area of our Kyudo study. (This is a collection mainly from the
teachers of the senior group, from Yondan to Renshi Rokudan.)
1) “I
said, ’Watch carefully ‘ but they do not watch.
2) “They say ’Hai, Hai‘ but they do not do
the thing.”
3) “I
wonder if everyone thinks they are doing correct things.”
4) “How many times do I have to say? I wonder they do not correct because
they would think they had corrected themselves
?!.”
5) “The white board still has the writings
from yesterday.”
6) “Rinki Ohhen….Is it that difficult?”
7) “Osoi, osoi , and osoi ” (slow, slow and slow)
There are some
sensei wishes. The sensei’s are truly
wishing that all of us practice WHAT WAS TAUGHT DURING THE SEMINAR, continuous
practice and to see improvement at the next seminar.
Meetings
Beside
the four-day seminar the IKYF meeting and the annual AKR General Meeting were
held. The minutes of those two meetings
have been completed and should be available with the AKR secretary, Jannette
Curran.
Special
thanks to Takako M. Swain, IKYF director, for making the summary of the
opinions about the “Pacific Rim Club” and also to Bill Reid, AKR VP, who led
the AKR General Meeting
Kyudo Equipment
Vendors
This
seminar was the first time the ANKF officially sent an inquiry to the AKR to
invite equipment vendors from Japan.
Unfortunately, an American vendor, Mr. Don Symanski, was not one of the
vendors invited. Hopefully in future
seminars we hope to invite him to a seminar.
This
method of going through the Japanese kyugu association to invite vendors should
be maintained to be fair and provide an opportunity to all Japanese vendors who
may wish to come.
The
two vendors were: Sambu Kyuguten from
Chiba prefecture and Takahashi Kyuguten from Kumamoto. Both were very helpful in construction of the
dojo and, of course, handling equipment problems and providing advice to the
seminar participants. They enjoyed the
seminar and wish to come back.
In
closing I’m afraid that I cannot report everything that happened or that I
wanted to include; such as comments and feedback from the participants. But I would be happy to hear those
comments. Feel free to send your
impressions and comments about the seminar to me as feedback to improve future
seminars.
Thank you Minnesota
and
see you in Northern California
in 2012!