grapplator: April 2010

From The Pros - Kendo

Special Interview with my Sensei, Miho Iwamoto

Name: Miho Iwamoto

Country: Japan

Type of Martial Arts: Kendo

Rank / Belt: 5th DanAward /

Achievements:
-Hong Kong Asia open kendo championship '09 champion '10 second place
-'05 Tokyo public offices kendo tournament individual champion
-'05 All Japan public offices Kendo tournament individual Best 8
-'02 Tokyo junior college kendo tournament individual champion

Years of Training: 20years

How / Why you start Kendo?: My grandfather (7dan) has dojo

When was the first time you won a kendo competation?: 11years old

How do you feel at that time?: I was Very happy and I can't stop crying

Why do you think Kendo is a good?: We can become strong not only body but also mind.

What would you advice to Beginners?: Don't think seriously. Please ENJOY first.

Special Interview with my Sensei, Miho Iwamoto

Name: Miho Iwamoto

Country: Japan

Type of Martial Arts: Kendo

Rank / Belt: 5th DanAward /

Achievements:
-Hong Kong Asia open kendo championship '09 champion '10 second place
-'05 Tokyo public offices kendo tournament individual champion
-'05 All Japan public offices Kendo tournament individual Best 8
-'02 Tokyo junior college kendo tournament individual champion

Years of Training: 20years

How / Why you start Kendo?: My grandfather (7dan) has dojo

When was the first time you won a kendo competation?: 11years old

How do you feel at that time?: I was Very happy and I can't stop crying

Why do you think Kendo is a good?: We can become strong not only body but also mind.

What would you advice to Beginners?: Don't think seriously. Please ENJOY first.

Notes from the Chief Editor:

I still remember when I was only 14 when I first got to learn about Martial Arts, I was always beaten up by some school bullies, learning Martial Arts was just to defend myself. I was very active in other sports too, such as Basketball, Swimming, Skating, but my favorite day fell on Sunday, because I get to go to my favorite class, which is Martial Arts.

It all ended when I reach 17, after a serious injury during sparing. And I am not able to pick up any more sports after that.

Back in 2009, while I was reading the weekend papers, something caught my eye. It was an interview on about Kendokas in Malaysia. I was thinking, it would be great if I can still do martial arts (some of you might understand) I decided to call up the club which is JCKL (Japan Club Kuala Lumpur) and join.

The first 2 class was tough, I can’t even barely run, and now I need to slide and raise my heel while standing? I taught of giving up upon the 3rd or 4th class. It was when I first saw Iwamoto Sensei in her Bogu sparing.

She has the person the lit up the fire in me to continue training, I was stunned with her move. She is so graceful in her moves, Especially when she block a “Men” cut and immediately charge at the opponent with a “Do” cut. It looked as if she is dancing.

I really hope Iwamoto Sensei is reading this because I really wanted to thank her very much as I didn’t get to thank her when she left back to Japan, I enjoyed and loved every single class that I go to and I felt as if I’m young again. After enduring a year of pain while doing Suriyashi, the pain is now gone, sometime I do feel the pain coming back, but it doesn’t matter anymore, cause I enjoyed my class.

Ishii Sensei, Chua Sensei, Masuo Sensei, Yap Sensei, Lim Sensei, Wong Sensei and sorry if I missed any names, has been really kind to me and made me realize how fun can Kendo be, I slowly realized that I have changed a lot in the past 1 year, and now Kendo is not what I do for fun anymore, it has been a part of me.

I really wanted to thank all Sensei/Teacher/Master/Senpai like Kongnapa (Muay Thai) , Mark Small (Tai Chi), Graham Clunan (Taijutsu), Michael S. Fuchs (Tai Chi), Ric Hurst (Ninjutsu), Ebony Washington (Taekwondo), Antonio Graceffo (Bokarto) for accepting the interviews and being an inspiration to the students like myself

Please do enjoy the short interview with my favorite and the MOST Graceful Kendoka I have met, I hope that those who wanted to take up Kendo, can really get some advice from her.

Regards

ShouJian

I still remember when I was only 14 when I first got to learn about Martial Arts, I was always beaten up by some school bullies, learning Martial Arts was just to defend myself. I was very active in other sports too, such as Basketball, Swimming, Skating, but my favorite day fell on Sunday, because I get to go to my favorite class, which is Martial Arts.

It all ended when I reach 17, after a serious injury during sparing. And I am not able to pick up any more sports after that.

Back in 2009, while I was reading the weekend papers, something caught my eye. It was an interview on about Kendokas in Malaysia. I was thinking, it would be great if I can still do martial arts (some of you might understand) I decided to call up the club which is JCKL (Japan Club Kuala Lumpur) and join.

The first 2 class was tough, I can’t even barely run, and now I need to slide and raise my heel while standing? I taught of giving up upon the 3rd or 4th class. It was when I first saw Iwamoto Sensei in her Bogu sparing.

She has the person the lit up the fire in me to continue training, I was stunned with her move. She is so graceful in her moves, Especially when she block a “Men” cut and immediately charge at the opponent with a “Do” cut. It looked as if she is dancing.

I really hope Iwamoto Sensei is reading this because I really wanted to thank her very much as I didn’t get to thank her when she left back to Japan, I enjoyed and loved every single class that I go to and I felt as if I’m young again. After enduring a year of pain while doing Suriyashi, the pain is now gone, sometime I do feel the pain coming back, but it doesn’t matter anymore, cause I enjoyed my class.

Ishii Sensei, Chua Sensei, Masuo Sensei, Yap Sensei, Lim Sensei, Wong Sensei and sorry if I missed any names, has been really kind to me and made me realize how fun can Kendo be, I slowly realized that I have changed a lot in the past 1 year, and now Kendo is not what I do for fun anymore, it has been a part of me.

I really wanted to thank all Sensei/Teacher/Master/Senpai like Kongnapa (Muay Thai) , Mark Small (Tai Chi), Graham Clunan (Taijutsu), Michael S. Fuchs (Tai Chi), Ric Hurst (Ninjutsu), Ebony Washington (Taekwondo), Antonio Graceffo (Bokarto) for accepting the interviews and being an inspiration to the students like myself

Please do enjoy the short interview with my favorite and the MOST Graceful Kendoka I have met, I hope that those who wanted to take up Kendo, can really get some advice from her.

Regards

ShouJian

Introduction to Japanese Martial Arts

Japanese Martial Arts also commonly interchanged with “Budo” or “Bujutsu” literally means the art of war and/or the application of the Japanese Martial Art techniques in actual combat scenario.

It all started back in the Samurai eras where all the warriors are expected to master various combat weapons as well as unarmed combat, and that is around the time where the purpose of mastering and perfecting the skills of Martial Arts became a Philosophy of Achieving Spiritual Goals began.

Weapons for Armed Combat You might be interested in the type of Japanese Martial Arts especially with the wide range of weapon that the warriors has used, which the COMMON ones consists of:

Bo (Long Wood Staff)

Jutte

Kama

Katana

Naginata

Nunchaku

Sai

Shuriken (Flying Star)

Tanto

Tonfa

Yari

Yumi (Bow and Arrow)

And yes, these are not the only weapons that the Japanese Warriors used, there are actually more, as the tools keep on changing due to the development of the combat techniques, and all these weapons are studied with great depth as the techniques evolved into perfecting the martial art itself.

Koryu and Gendai Budo

In Japanese Martial Arts, there is a slight difference with the rest of the Martial Arts in Asia. The difference is due to Meiji Restoration era where Martial Arts are generally divided into 2, which are Koryu and Gendai Budo.

Koryu is basically known as the “Old School/Traditional” way where the arts are founded before the Meiji Restoration back in 1866-1867. And Gendai Budo is the Martial Arts after the Meiji Restoration.

The Main difference between Koryu and Gendai Budo is Koryu martial arts are used for war and the tradition is preserved since then. And Gendai Budo is the martial arts that have been modified due to modernization where the focus is more to self improvement or self defense.

Images taken from:

Powayshotokan.com

Bubishi.com.au
Freewebs.com
Iconarchice.com
Okinawankarateclub.com
Trueswords.com
Bugei.com
Crimsontigers.com
Oriental-weaponry.co.uk
Weaponhouse.blogspot.com

Japanese Martial Arts also commonly interchanged with “Budo” or “Bujutsu” literally means the art of war and/or the application of the Japanese Martial Art techniques in actual combat scenario.

It all started back in the Samurai eras where all the warriors are expected to master various combat weapons as well as unarmed combat, and that is around the time where the purpose of mastering and perfecting the skills of Martial Arts became a Philosophy of Achieving Spiritual Goals began.

Weapons for Armed Combat You might be interested in the type of Japanese Martial Arts especially with the wide range of weapon that the warriors has used, which the COMMON ones consists of:

Bo (Long Wood Staff)

Jutte

Kama

Katana

Naginata

Nunchaku

Sai

Shuriken (Flying Star)

Tanto

Tonfa

Yari

Yumi (Bow and Arrow)

And yes, these are not the only weapons that the Japanese Warriors used, there are actually more, as the tools keep on changing due to the development of the combat techniques, and all these weapons are studied with great depth as the techniques evolved into perfecting the martial art itself.

Koryu and Gendai Budo

In Japanese Martial Arts, there is a slight difference with the rest of the Martial Arts in Asia. The difference is due to Meiji Restoration era where Martial Arts are generally divided into 2, which are Koryu and Gendai Budo.

Koryu is basically known as the “Old School/Traditional” way where the arts are founded before the Meiji Restoration back in 1866-1867. And Gendai Budo is the Martial Arts after the Meiji Restoration.

The Main difference between Koryu and Gendai Budo is Koryu martial arts are used for war and the tradition is preserved since then. And Gendai Budo is the martial arts that have been modified due to modernization where the focus is more to self improvement or self defense.

Images taken from:

Powayshotokan.com

Bubishi.com.au
Freewebs.com
Iconarchice.com
Okinawankarateclub.com
Trueswords.com
Bugei.com
Crimsontigers.com
Oriental-weaponry.co.uk
Weaponhouse.blogspot.com

Judo star hangs himself

UK -- An inquest heard how a 23-year-old British judo star hanged himself on New Year's Day with his own black belt after struggling to get over splitting from his girlfriend, according to dailymail.co.uk.

The judo fighter was reportedly listed as one of the amateur sportsmen expected to shine during the 2012 London Olympics.

UK -- An inquest heard how a 23-year-old British judo star hanged himself on New Year's Day with his own black belt after struggling to get over splitting from his girlfriend, according to dailymail.co.uk.

The judo fighter was reportedly listed as one of the amateur sportsmen expected to shine during the 2012 London Olympics.

Judo coach resigned

Singapore -- A school's judo coach has resigned following some rather dramatic scenes that unfolded at the Schools National Judo Championships recently, according to news.asiaone.com.

The 57-year-old man had to be restrained by onlookers when he confronted the convener of the tournament, to protest the disqualification of one of his young fighters.

The coach had also reportedly ordered his five-man team to stage a sit-down protest on the competition mat.

Indeed, another shining role model - a great example of control, discipline, budo spirit and sportsmanship :-)

Singapore -- A school's judo coach has resigned following some rather dramatic scenes that unfolded at the Schools National Judo Championships recently, according to news.asiaone.com.

The 57-year-old man had to be restrained by onlookers when he confronted the convener of the tournament, to protest the disqualification of one of his young fighters.

The coach had also reportedly ordered his five-man team to stage a sit-down protest on the competition mat.

Indeed, another shining role model - a great example of control, discipline, budo spirit and sportsmanship :-)

Embarrassing

"Is MMA becoming Professional Wrestling?", bleacherreport.com asks, calling the latest brawl after Strikeforce Nashville "embarrassing". Couldn't agree more - I'm beginning to wonder what this has to do with martial arts.

Here's what Bleacherreport.com says:

Jake Shields defeated Dan Henderson in a successful title defense of the Strikeforce middleweight belt. After the victory, Jason "Mayhem" Miller came out to greet Shields in what seemed like a gentleman-like request to have a rematch with the champ Shields.

What happened from there onward was simply embarrassing.

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Shields decided to shove Miller, which progressed to an all-out brawl that included Shields’s training partners Nate and Nick Diaz, as well as everyone else in the cage. Even though Shields "didn’t think it was that big a deal," the post-fight conversations in MMA have been increasing in cheesy antics reminiscent of WWE.

"Is MMA becoming Professional Wrestling?", bleacherreport.com asks, calling the latest brawl after Strikeforce Nashville "embarrassing". Couldn't agree more - I'm beginning to wonder what this has to do with martial arts.

Here's what Bleacherreport.com says:

Jake Shields defeated Dan Henderson in a successful title defense of the Strikeforce middleweight belt. After the victory, Jason "Mayhem" Miller came out to greet Shields in what seemed like a gentleman-like request to have a rematch with the champ Shields.

What happened from there onward was simply embarrassing.

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Shields decided to shove Miller, which progressed to an all-out brawl that included Shields’s training partners Nate and Nick Diaz, as well as everyone else in the cage. Even though Shields "didn’t think it was that big a deal," the post-fight conversations in MMA have been increasing in cheesy antics reminiscent of WWE.

Former UFC fighter jailed

Canada -- A former MMA fighter has pleaded guilty to charges which are stemming from an incident where he crashed his pickup truck into a casino, according to niagarafallsreview.ca.

He was sentenced to nearly five years in prison after pleading guilty to a variety of charges - including attacking family members with a hammer and crashing his pickup truck through the front doors of Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort on December 22, 2009.

Canada -- A former MMA fighter has pleaded guilty to charges which are stemming from an incident where he crashed his pickup truck into a casino, according to niagarafallsreview.ca.

He was sentenced to nearly five years in prison after pleading guilty to a variety of charges - including attacking family members with a hammer and crashing his pickup truck through the front doors of Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort on December 22, 2009.

Birthday "party"

Minnesota -- A 28-year-old Rochester man celebrating his birthday was jailed, following a shooting spree that ended when he accidentally shot himself while allegedly trying to shoot his dog Wednesday morning.

The trigger happy "birthday boy", described by the prosecutor as a professional MMA fighter, also runs a martial arts clothing business out of his home.

The prosecutor said the man also had a history of violence, with convictions for robbery, breaking and entering and car theft in North Carolina, Florida and Iowa. In addition, he has three open felony files in Winona County for theft and driving while impaired, according to postbulletin.com.

Minnesota -- A 28-year-old Rochester man celebrating his birthday was jailed, following a shooting spree that ended when he accidentally shot himself while allegedly trying to shoot his dog Wednesday morning.

The trigger happy "birthday boy", described by the prosecutor as a professional MMA fighter, also runs a martial arts clothing business out of his home.

The prosecutor said the man also had a history of violence, with convictions for robbery, breaking and entering and car theft in North Carolina, Florida and Iowa. In addition, he has three open felony files in Winona County for theft and driving while impaired, according to postbulletin.com.

Ninja at 90

Australia -- News-mail.com.au reports about 87-year-old Joseph Smith who currently is a second dan black belt in traditional shotokan karate.

The Childers karateka says he is determined to become a 90-year-old ninja and that he wants to keep doing martial arts until he dies.

In one word: Impressive!

Australia -- News-mail.com.au reports about 87-year-old Joseph Smith who currently is a second dan black belt in traditional shotokan karate.

The Childers karateka says he is determined to become a 90-year-old ninja and that he wants to keep doing martial arts until he dies.

In one word: Impressive!

Former coach guilty

California -- A 57-year-old former high school wrestling, karate and coached karate youth football league team coach, of El Cerrito, has been convicted of three felony sex charges for molesting teenage boys.

The man is facing a term of 15 years to life in state prison according to ktvu.com.

The County Deputy District Attorney said authorities received reports of molestation from as far back as 1975, and that the man has engaged in "predatory sexual behavior going back 30 years."

California -- A 57-year-old former high school wrestling, karate and coached karate youth football league team coach, of El Cerrito, has been convicted of three felony sex charges for molesting teenage boys.

The man is facing a term of 15 years to life in state prison according to ktvu.com.

The County Deputy District Attorney said authorities received reports of molestation from as far back as 1975, and that the man has engaged in "predatory sexual behavior going back 30 years."

Karate coach accused

Florida -- A St. Cloud taekwondo instructor will be facing a judge, being accused of molesting two of his juvenile students.

He has been charged with several counts of lewd and lascivious battery and molestation on two girls (15 years old), according to wesh.com.

Florida -- A St. Cloud taekwondo instructor will be facing a judge, being accused of molesting two of his juvenile students.

He has been charged with several counts of lewd and lascivious battery and molestation on two girls (15 years old), according to wesh.com.

An inspiration to many

Arizona -- 43-year-old, former US Army paratrooper and military police officer Tom Hicks is also a third-degree black belt in karate. He's also legally blind and teaches classes in Gilbert.

You can read more of his inspirational story in kswt.com.

Arizona -- 43-year-old, former US Army paratrooper and military police officer Tom Hicks is also a third-degree black belt in karate. He's also legally blind and teaches classes in Gilbert.

You can read more of his inspirational story in kswt.com.

A karate 'rip-off'

New York -- A 36-year-old employee at a politically connected Brooklyn nonprofit has been arrested on charges of submitting phony receipts for karate instruction, attempting to swindle the city out of $4,080, according to nypost.com.

The man allegedly submitted expense reports showing that a senior citizens center - on 59 dates in 2007 - provided classes in karate to 20 young people. This allowed the center to access an $80,000 anti-gang-violence grant from the City Council.

However, 50 sign-in sheets that were part of the expense report were altered photocopies, authorities said.

New York -- A 36-year-old employee at a politically connected Brooklyn nonprofit has been arrested on charges of submitting phony receipts for karate instruction, attempting to swindle the city out of $4,080, according to nypost.com.

The man allegedly submitted expense reports showing that a senior citizens center - on 59 dates in 2007 - provided classes in karate to 20 young people. This allowed the center to access an $80,000 anti-gang-violence grant from the City Council.

However, 50 sign-in sheets that were part of the expense report were altered photocopies, authorities said.

Fighting disability with taekwondo

Here's an inspirational story from etruth.com about dedication and overcoming obstacles - in effect what martial arts is all about.

I sure need these kind of reminders when I might be tempted to feel sorry for myself or come up with excuses. What about you?

----

Indiana -- 53-year-old Linda Koeppel might not move as quickly or kick as high as others in her taekwondo class. However, the Elkhart woman is using her slower speed to move past a disability that limits her ability to move her legs.

Koeppel battles a condition which causes loss of muscle tone and unpredictable burning, stabbing or dull pain in most of her right leg and some of her left. The condition, called 'reflex symptomatic dystrophy' does that she experiences pain in each step, and some days she doesn't make it out of the house.

She has to sit down and stop exercising every 10 to 15 minutes. "As you can see, my training takes longer than someone who can just come in here and train hard," she said.

Just getting to the gym can be a struggle. She wants other people fighting disabilities to know she feels their pain -- literally -- but that they can still enjoy exercise. "If it takes 20 minutes to put one sock on, that's OK," she said.

Training has helped her ward off the depression that set in shortly after she couldn't move around and drive normally.

Here's an inspirational story from etruth.com about dedication and overcoming obstacles - in effect what martial arts is all about.

I sure need these kind of reminders when I might be tempted to feel sorry for myself or come up with excuses. What about you?

----

Indiana -- 53-year-old Linda Koeppel might not move as quickly or kick as high as others in her taekwondo class. However, the Elkhart woman is using her slower speed to move past a disability that limits her ability to move her legs.

Koeppel battles a condition which causes loss of muscle tone and unpredictable burning, stabbing or dull pain in most of her right leg and some of her left. The condition, called 'reflex symptomatic dystrophy' does that she experiences pain in each step, and some days she doesn't make it out of the house.

She has to sit down and stop exercising every 10 to 15 minutes. "As you can see, my training takes longer than someone who can just come in here and train hard," she said.

Just getting to the gym can be a struggle. She wants other people fighting disabilities to know she feels their pain -- literally -- but that they can still enjoy exercise. "If it takes 20 minutes to put one sock on, that's OK," she said.

Training has helped her ward off the depression that set in shortly after she couldn't move around and drive normally.

Scam artist jailed

UK -- After a laborious and complex four-year investigation, a scam-artist has been handed down a three-year jail sentence, according to thisisderbyshire.co.uk.

The man reportedly fleeced a martial arts organisation of more than £180,000, something which in effect left 60,000 amateur fighters uninsured against injuries.

The Chaddesden-based group provided instructors and students in judo, karate and several other martial arts across the country with insurance cover, competitions and grading exams.

UK -- After a laborious and complex four-year investigation, a scam-artist has been handed down a three-year jail sentence, according to thisisderbyshire.co.uk.

The man reportedly fleeced a martial arts organisation of more than £180,000, something which in effect left 60,000 amateur fighters uninsured against injuries.

The Chaddesden-based group provided instructors and students in judo, karate and several other martial arts across the country with insurance cover, competitions and grading exams.

Robbery gang busted

India -- Following the arrest of five men, Delhi Police have allegedly solved a large number of cases of robbery, snatching and car theft , according to sify.com.

The gang leader is reportedly a 35-year-old former karate national champion. The gang also includes a 27-years-old MBA graduate from a reputed university in Pune.

India -- Following the arrest of five men, Delhi Police have allegedly solved a large number of cases of robbery, snatching and car theft , according to sify.com.

The gang leader is reportedly a 35-year-old former karate national champion. The gang also includes a 27-years-old MBA graduate from a reputed university in Pune.

The "Love Master"

Argentina -- A kung fu "master" who was accused of abusing minors was arrested on 15 September, 2009 in La Rioja, according to momento24.com.

A judge has now confirmed his release and acquittal because "after 12 years from the date of the criminal acts, the case prescribed."

One of the man's alleged victim, now 25, denounced him for sexually abusing him and other minors, when he lived in La Rioja and taught kung fu in the boy's house.

The man, nicknamed "Love Master", reportedly told his students that he was God and that they should let him penetrate them with his "divine light".

He allegedly told his young students: "I am the teacher, trust me", and that they shouldn't say anything to their parents, since adult sexuality "was something perverse".

The children eventually stopped attending his classes, but the man reportedly continued living in the house that the young victim shared with his parents.

Argentina -- A kung fu "master" who was accused of abusing minors was arrested on 15 September, 2009 in La Rioja, according to momento24.com.

A judge has now confirmed his release and acquittal because "after 12 years from the date of the criminal acts, the case prescribed."

One of the man's alleged victim, now 25, denounced him for sexually abusing him and other minors, when he lived in La Rioja and taught kung fu in the boy's house.

The man, nicknamed "Love Master", reportedly told his students that he was God and that they should let him penetrate them with his "divine light".

He allegedly told his young students: "I am the teacher, trust me", and that they shouldn't say anything to their parents, since adult sexuality "was something perverse".

The children eventually stopped attending his classes, but the man reportedly continued living in the house that the young victim shared with his parents.