Greetings:

Last week I travelled to Los Angeles, CA. to train with Obata Kaiso (Shinkendo founder) at the honbu  (headquarters) dojo for private lessons and the bi-annual instructor seminar . For five days I practiced four hours per day which was a refreshing change from my usual schedule of teaching four hours per day. I took private practice and evening classes in both Shinkendo and Aikido in addition to the instructor seminar training which was most enjoyable.

The main theme of the seminar was a new set of suburi / tachiuchi drills which are practical, and fun to perform.  Naturally, Kaiso observed all of us closely to help us to fine tune our Shinkendo. Toyama-ryu was practiced as well as considerable depth and focus on Nitoken.

Thank you Obata Kaiso, Mrs. Obata and the International Shinkendo Federation Honbu students and my fellow instructors for their hospitality and care.

Obata Kaiso is featured in the July issue of Black Belt Magazine. To be sure you have the correct issue go to page 126 where coverage of Kaiso begins. Matthew Lynch Sensei assisted during the photo shoot, wrote the article and did a fine job explaining Shinkendo to the uninitiated. Please pick up a copy for your collection.

Thanks to Modern Samurai assistant Taekwondo instructors; Kevin Liang, Andrew Poon, as well as Shinkendo / Aikido student Walter for leading classes in my absence. I also appreciate our senior students / black belts who helped out in ways I might not know about. I was able to relax, knowing that our classes would be run safely and professionally even though I was 3000 miles away.

L.D.

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