15th seminar of Shinto Muso Ryu Jo in Czech Republic
April, 9th and 10th 2011
The 15th seminar of traditional Jodo was held in Prague on April 9th - 10th, 2011. The seminar was lead by Fred Quant (menkyo kaiden) and was attended by 34 jodoka. Most of them were Czech, ten guests came from Hungary and one from each of Slovakia and Germany. (To be precise… Fred represented the Netherlands, while John also trains in Prague, he lives in Switzerland and comes from the United States, and Dmytro and Mykhailo are from Ukraine.)
Throughout the two days we practiced the basic techniques - kihon sotai on Saturday and dynamic tandoku on the spot on Sunday. Some time was also devoted to the customary uchikomi geiko (drill of the four basic techniques) and bokken practice (ken kihon, kiri awase and kiri otoshi). Fred added an interesting exercise combining kuri tsuke and (kaeshi) tsuki similar to the usual kihon sotai training, in order to better manage this common combination appearing in omote waza.
Furthermore, we practiced the omote and chudan waza kata all together, and the more advanced people then focused on ran-ai, kage and samidare. Beginners trained kenjutsu (aisuri). Due to the large number of participants, it was not possible to cover the whole curriculum; therefore, Fred chose particular techniques from the series to study in more detail (e.g., ukan and ichi rei from omote). Most of the participants learned one or two new kata, which they then had chance to practice with the more advanced participants. Those who finished omote were enthusiastic to start their progress to chudan waza.
On Saturday evening, we held exams for kyu degrees. While the 5th and 4th kyu candidates succeeded, the two participants attempting 3rd and 1st kyu failed. Let us hope things will work out better for them the next time. The exams were organized quite methodically and everyone was tried exactly to the extent prescribed by the exam regulations. Whether successful or not, all examinees received some remarks and corrections from Fred, which will hopefully help them improve.
As usual, we had the chance to watch and be motivated by Fred's precise and dynamic practice, during both the explanations and demonstrations of the first four series. We also learned a lot of important information and corrections for basic techniques, as well as more advanced kata.
The 15th seminar in Czech Republic was successful and felt way too short. We are already looking forward to the following one, to be held in Moravia the next year.
Patrik Orth, FEJ CR (English translation: Zdenëk Dvorak)
further pictures:
Stage,
Exams
Fédération Européenne de Jodo / European Jodo Federation