SRDJAN:
Smaller group of people, preferably not more than 10. It is five pairs
of practitioners and one can easily control them and correct them in their
errors. It is hard to find today more than 10 people interested in kenjutsu
at the same time. Besides, it also depends on the size of the practice
room - which can be a problem: hard to find large halls these days. Finally,
I have to mention that one class of kenjutsu should not last over 90 minutes,
two hours top. Everything beyond that is a waist of time both for instructor
and students.
KIAI Q#2: Lots of films
with Japanese swords arts have been successfully released in last year
or so. "Kill Bill", "The Last Samurai", "Zatoichi" - to name a few... These
Blockbusters attract lots of audience to cinemas around the world. In your
opinion, what will be the effect of this fashion to the number of kenjutsu
students in yours and dojo nearby? Will these movies attract more new students,
repel even the current ones or will make no affect at all?
NICK:
I have seen Kill Bill and The Last Samurai (the latter having the most
effect on me, although Kill Bill was good, it was very Hollywood!) and
what I would like to say is that I believe that there may be the odd few
individuals who are or have been stirred enough by these movies to go to
their nearest dojo to study Kenjutsu/Kendo. From my own experience, I have
had one person call me to study sword arts since these movies were released.
In my opinion, The Last Samurai was more of an enduring tribute to a unique
way of life and the warrior spirit. Kill Bill more of a violent slasher
movie !
RAMON: A very interesting question - one that I have personally been watching in the last twelve months. "Kill Bill" never attracted one student into my dojo's (we ask these questions sensitively to determine where our students come from and why). However, "The Last Samurai" attracted many new students for the different sword arts we do. The main reason that attracted them was more from the philosophical side. I think a large amount would depend on the socio-economic area you are pulling your students from too. I tend to get a very balanced group of beginners across the board and it helps maintain a balance of committment and understanding within the dojo - there are those that think it must all be physical and those that think it should be mental, but at the end of the day it must move from a physical approach toward a mental one without loosing touch with either aspect. It all comes down to "balance". I might add that the "Karate Kid" series had a huge influence on beginners into the martial arts arena and the need to see both sides.
SRDJAN: Unfortunately, even beside some very good (but rare) techniques that can be seen in these films, I do not notice any contribution of the films in increasing the number of people interested in kenjutsu. At least that is so in Serbia. People are regularly more impressed with main actors and computer effects than with the story or fighting scenes and techniques.
KIAI Q#3: On one of the
kenjutsu related forums I have heard a Japanese based kendo sensei
saying something like this: "The Kendo population it mostly kids who give
up after school or continue for a few more years at University or if they
join the police college." Now, this may be a sad fact, especially when
knowing that more than 85% of all kendoka live and practice in Japan. Do
you agree with current course of kendo "development" and obvious lack of
interest from kendo authorities to popularise their sport through e.g.
Olympic games - or you have some alternative ideas for increasing the number
of practitioners of kendo and related arts?
NICK:
Most of the Kendo students I have seen within the BZIS are children for
some reason. I think that popularising Kendo through the Olympic Games
would on one hand bring it to a wider audience, though a lot of martial
arts are now becoming more and more competition orientated which, as a
traditional martial artist, I am not too interested in. Interest in weapon
arts within the BZIS has come mainly through the instruction of Aikijujutsu
and Aikido and every time a major seminar or course is held, there is a
great interest in Kenjutsu and Jojutsu specifically.
From
my own point of view, I am more than happy to spread the interest in the
UK via Kenjutsu and Aikijujutsu seminars along with Ian Stewart Sensei.
However, I do not particularly think that the movies stated above will
mean an upsurge in Kendo. You never know.... I may be wrong.... Bruce Lee
did it for Kung Fu and Steven Seagal did it for Aikido.... who knows!!
RAMON: It is also interesting to note that the Japanese Sensei have made changes recently towards retention of students into martial arts in Japan. They are more about moving away from the introduction of kendo into Olympics for instance. The kendo authorities are pushing to bring more understanding of kata forms and "proper" sword cutting back into the art and moving away from the "slash & bash" systems that we have moved towards. I have heard such comments as "take off your armour and try doing kendo and see if you take the same chances to strike your opponent". There are two sides to most arts - the classical and the sporting. Each art needs to keep a balance of these elements so that the student can understand the concepts. It is very much like "budo" and "bujutsu" - similar but different. In my dojo I teach the classical side as the most important and to use the sporting side as the "fun" you have in playing with it. The sporting suide remains as long as you remain within the athletic qualities required but the classical side continues to develop for the rest of your life and will have the greater rewards within your life overall, but like Ying and Yang there are two elements of all arts that must stay within balance for the level, age and maturity of the student/practitioner.
SRDJAN: I don't have any special opinion nor attitude towards Kendo (except that you can get a headache from it), so I cannot give any answer to this question.
KIAI: Thank you for your
participation in our "323" series. Have fun and success in your ongoing
budo practice!