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ANOTHER GIANT OF
THE GENTLE PATH
Last month we focused on Kenshiro
Abbe as the founder of the Kyu-Shin-Do. This month we
look at another Judo master who has influenced the practice
of Zen Judo. This one is the great Kyuzo Mifune. Mifune
Sensei is still in many ways the model for light and
gentle Judo that is followed by American Zen Judoka.
For information on his biography, try this website: http://www.bstkd.com/JudoHistory/HistoryMifune.htm
.
For information on his Judo, you can check out one of
the video tapes made about him: http://www.onlinesports.com/pages/l,CEN-18712.html
.
For a quick view of Mifune style, check out two videoclips
of him working out at the age of 76 at http://judoinfo.com/video.htm
.
ZEN JUDO TRAINING -- THATCHAM
ZEN JUDO WEEKEND
By Mike Healy, 4th Dan; mike.healy@tjrp.net
The Saturday commenced with a brief
introduction followed by warm up and then straight into
the first planned training session on the Katame No Kata
led by Gordon Lawson 4th Dan of the Radcliffe Club. Gordon
worked us all hard and at the end of the three hours
those new to the Kata had acquired a working knowledge
of the Kata and those with some experience in it had
had an opportunity to improve and refine their skills.
While this was going on at one end of the hall Andrew
Millard 6th Dan was conducting gradings at the other.
The afternoon started with Mike Healy taking the assembled
crowd through a 90 minute session on Kuzushi as gradings
continued. Junior Members of the Thatcham Club had been
invited to take part in the last session of the each
of the two days so Mike took the opportunity to use some
of the visiting Dan Grades to work with them so that
they might broaden their experience and knowledge.
Many of the participants gathered later in the Pub which
was conveniently situated next door to the Dojo for a
few drinks, some conversation and a chance to prove that,
at darts and pool they are very skilled judo players.
Sunday morning saw Jim Dart adding variety to the weekend
by introducing us to the Newaza No Kata which, though
not in the Judo syllabus, gave participants to look at
something not unrelated but different. There was only
one session planned for the afternoon and the format
for that session had been left fairly open. In the event
Andrew Millard produced a very entertaining session for
all of the Thatcham Junior grades covering technique,
etiquette and the history of Zen Judo and how it relates
to other styles and, at Andrew’s request, Mike continued
on the theme of Kuzushi.
This was followed by a competition to demonstrate the
best Randori compatible with the Zen approach which brought
us to the end of the training, but not quite the end
of the event, as a presentation were made to Ann for
her hard work over the two days, thanks were expressed
to Mike, Andrew, Gordon and Jim for their input and a
presentation was made by members of the Thatcham Club
to Mike to mark the end of his time as chief instructor
of that club prior to his departure to Cornwall.
Mike then handed over the club to his daughter, Caroline
Gourlay 3rd Dan. During the weekend the following gradings
took place: Caroline Gourlay, Ann Parker and Michael
Dickinson tested successfully for 3rd Dan, John Robertson
for 1st Dan, Jonathan Parish for Ikkyu (brown belt),
and Ian Harper for Nikyu (blue belt).
ZEN JUDO TRAINING -- ASAGEIKO
2001
This year's American Zen Judo Asageiko
International training will take place on August 1-4.
On Wednesday, Aug. 1, we will be expecting everybody
to arrive in Richmond, Virginia. On Thursday, Aug. 2
and Friday, Aug. 3, we will have all-day workouts from
8 am to 5 pm (with the lunch break and two coffee/tea
breaks).
We'll take Saturday morning (Aug. 4) off to do a little
tourism in the area (and for some of us to get over feeling
sore...) and will be back on the mat on Saturday afternoon.
The training will be divided into two-hour sessions that
will deal with different aspects of the art.
We do invite Zen Judoka from all over the world to join
us for Asageiko. As usual the training is open to all
branches of the Zen Judo family. |
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