Budo Q&A 2021 March/April By Louis Vitalis Introduction • Budo is more than techniques training; • Shape your character, knowledge, position within (budo)society • A pandemic shouldn’t stop us from training those other aspects • So let’s ask our highest grade European sensei! Louis Vitalis sensei – kyoshi 7th dan kendo, -- kyoshi 7th dan jodo, -- kyoshi 7th dan iaido Guidelines for the Q&A • MUTE! So we can all enjoy Vitalis sensei’s talk • Questions: • Put them in the Google Form so we add them to the list for Vitalis sensei • Slides will be shared after the meeting, please handle with care Enjoy, learn, train! List of Questions (1) Your name Your dojo Your country Your question Can you explain how your Kendo teachers introduced a scientific approach to budo training and how that differed to Andy Watson Ryoshinkan UK what you experienced elsewhere? With his long experience of Budo in Japan; I would like to ask Louis sensei's view on the different social/financial/education/political leanings between the practitioners of Kendo, Judo, Kyudo, Karate etc. that he Jock Hopson Eishinkan U.K observed in Japan. Dear Vitalis sensei, How should you stand / sit during an Iaido seminar when an explanation is given by a Japanese sensei. During the Ishido cup I saw many variants. What to do when you have sat down in seiza and the explanation takes longer than your legs can handle. If standing is allowed, how do you hold your hands? Hans Pillen Kiryoku Zoetermeer The Netherlands Has reiho influenced the fundamental techniques of budo? Do koryu contain certain body movements as a consequence of court etiquette such as the Ogasawara ryu? John Kennedy Dublin Kendo Kobukai Ireland About the name of 'Hasso no kamai'... 'Eight directions' just refers to visibility 'all around'? Or is there a theorical Xavier Kodokan Netherlands explanation for the eight directions? Dear sensei, Thank you very much for the opportunity, you gave to us, to ask questions. I would like to ask how we can further develop our perception and practice around concepts such as Reiho and Zanshin. Kind regards Yannis Papadopoulos Asunaro Kai Greece Yannis Why is the side of the tsuka, instead of its edge, used to strike Teki in ZNKR Iai kata Ju Ponme - Shihogiri? My question George R. Beck Sei-Zan Kai United States has so far been unanswered at multiple seminars; so, I look forward to Vitalis Sensei's answer. Jock Hopson Eishinkan U.K how should we understand the concept of do-chu-sei and sei-chu-do in both Iaido and Kendo training List of Questions (2) Loui Vitalis Sensei, thank you for reading a questions and my apologize for them. A question about iaido meaning in ZNKRN kata, learning mae gives us opportunity to stop to kill person (kasoteki) if he (she) would give up (in our imagination and meanings). Other kata doesn't give us possibility to stop (make person to give up) or persons to do that. With some aggressive or dangerous persons and situations we can be sure for some reasons. First question, could be techniques adapted in future to use sharp side and non lethal sword side (not related the beginning of kata 4, 8, 10, zuki or ...) to change situation and meaning of what we are practicing. Second, is there any techniques that have non lethal (that brings kasoteki some wound, scare, or just run away) situation. And third question, what you most loved and still care and love in Japan (not meaning of territory, but in people, in culture, in nature), what is hidden that only you and some people can see and feel there. Thank you very much for reading. Dank u well. Alexey Alchin KaiSeiKan Bulgaria My apologize for questions again. Sumimasen. Loui Vitalis Sensei. Thank you for reading a questions and I am apologize for them. In the whole history of All Japan Kendo Federation (ZNKR) how communication and interaction between schools (ryu) developed (especially inside committees)? How it was at the beginning and how it is happened nowadays? How the members of committees and all hachidan's Senseis from different schools interact to each others in cultural way? What they thought (told) and think (telling) about non Japaneese students along the whole history of ZNKR? And last question How to behave and what to do it not meeting Senseis from Japan (any advices)? Alexey KaiSeiKan Bulgaria Sumimasen. Our sensei’s, you included, make no financial profit out of your lifelong commitment to budo. Why is that? What is behind this choice? Many martial artists choose to finance their activities, or their life, by paid lessons or workshops or Inti Suarez Yushinkan Netherlands whatever financially rewarded budo-related activity that can possibly be invented. Why don’t we do that too? Over the years have you seen a change on how our three budo are being practised? Not looking at specific techniques or kata, but for example attitude of the Japanese sensei or the atmosphere in the dojo David Smits Yushinkan The Netherlands or at seminars. List of Questions (3) Concept of kan-kyu-kyo-jaku, how to apply it in jodo/iaido kata, and the relation with merihari. Emanuele Covino Seishinkan Bari Italy it is said that the Japanese sword is the symbol of "haja-ken-shou" (translation: smashing the incorrect opinion and Elaine van Ommen Kloeke Yushinkan The Netherlands announcing the correct one.). What does that actually mean? In light of samurai times and now for 'modern' budoka? Only a few mentions are found about female samurai (bugeisha or Onna-musha). For example Tomoe Gozen, Hangaku Gozen and Nakano Takeko. The first two even being generals. How did the role of women change over time within the samurai class up till modern times? Elaine van Ommen Kloeke Yushinkan The Netherlands (I realize this is a difficult one! Any info is welcome... or a book!) I would like to ask Louis Sensei his view about how budo in Europe generally attracts the liberal/arty/left-leaning people Jock Hopson Eishinkan U.K. whearas in Japan more people seem to be the traditionalist/conservative/right of centre members of society. Dear Louis sensei, Please tell us the origin of the shogo titles (renshi, kyoshi, hanshi) , the meaning of them in the "old times" and Norbert Bota Kiryoku Budapest Hungary nowadays. Hello! Because of regarding Koryu there is always said about tradition and succession, I would like to ask about the connection between the Ishido-sensei's line and Nakayama Hakudo (as founder of Muso Shinden Ryu). I was asked Leonid Karavaev Kaiseikan Bulgaria about it several times, but I don't know the answer and situation with it. Many thanks in advance! When we see different koryu lineages of the same school (in our case - Muso Shinden Ryu), we see different "main" variants of a kata (hon-waza). I would like to ask, do I understand correctly that the head of the line set the hon-waza based on his personal preference, from the idea that this particular version of waza will help his students to understand Leonid Karavaev Kaiseikan Bulgaria it better? Thanks! List of Questions (4) As for navigating social obligations and communication in budo, I am wondering if Vitalis-sensei might have some advice regarding invitations and visits. When speaking with Japanese sensei, or Japanese budoka, how does one discern a genuine "please come and visit" (as in, they do mean you not only are welcome but SHOULD come visit, it is as near an order as it can get) from a politeness phrase (which might be more of a "we liked having you here"-comment)? The same goes for accidentally or genuinely inviting to one's own country/dojo/etc, how to communicate that sensei or budoka are welcome if they wish, but that the question is not meant as being the cause of an obligation ("please come visit this and that date" and they feel socially obliged to do so)? I am sorry if my question is not the right one but I am not offended if it is not chosen! It is merely something I have been Amanda Gydemo Östbom Kensei Kensan Kai Sweden thinking about since many years. Emanuele Covino Seishinkan Bari Italy Books you suggest to read about budo? Not only technical, but also about history of philosophy of budo. Dear Sensei, the term OMOTE HANAMI and URA HANAMI is regarding to the movement of a horizontal cut or is it a part of the sword or both? (Omote means when the kurigata is visible if the sword is on katanakake, or when wearing in obi Sylvia Hakushinkai Steinbach Germany the kurigata is outside.) Thank you very much! my question is about the origin of the jodo kihon. The first eleven of them are basic for the execution of ZKR kata, whereas the twelfth kihon, taihazushi uchi, finds no place in ZKR jodo, but appears for the first time in ichi rei, the tenth kata of omote kata. Has Vitalis Sensei any opinion about the reason why Shimizu Sensei included this last kihon, fit for koryu kata, after the giovanni fiorucci sishinkan bari italy former eleven, fit for the twelve ZKR jodo kata he conceived? In the Japanese culture there are many preserved documents, teachings, stories and even myths about the influences and relationships of traditional swordsmanship and zen. It would be valuable in our recent days of inner pursuits, Vitalis sensei to shed some light on the current day representation of this traditional preserved relationship. Hristo Yordanov Shinbukan Dojo Bulgaria Bulgaria Thank you advance, Vitalis sensei Dear Sensei, how we can improve Iaido reiho and tecnics with home training for beginner as me? and which kind of Stringano Nicola Seishinkan Bari Bari, Italy exercise we can do to do it? List of Questions (5) Which are, in your opinion and for your