2006-3-30
Sorry for the lack of updates
I wont repeat myself by saying that it has been a long time since last time. But that I did anyway. We are working with the official site for the WTF but sometimes things don't work as fast as you like. Since last time several things have happened in the Taido world. The most recent is the Martial Art Festival of Bercy held last weekend in Paris, France. I have not yet heard the news about how Taido was received but I am sure it was quite impressive for the other participants and the public.
The first Asia Pacific Games was held in Sydney in the beginning of March (more information >>).
During the Easter holiday the Finnish Taido Association will celebrate their 25th anniversary.(more information >>, sorry I couldn't find any good link)
In late April the 28th Sakura Championship will be held in Hirosaki with more than 300 competitors from all over Japan, a team from Australia and Andy (US taido). In 2008 we will celebrate the 30th anniversary, and would like more international friends to join us in the celebrations!
I guess there are much more news that I should report but I will stop now, and hope you can send me a note if you want me to add something here.
2005-9-9
Historical News
It has been a long time since I last wrote here. Since March we have had the annual Sakura Competition in Hirosaki. With 300 competitors from all over Japan, and a group of Australian friends. This was in late April. during the three months period, May, June and July, we had the Aomori district championship, the Tohoku district championship, high school students championship. Personally, I was working to prepare for the world taido championship, held in Sweden, see link below. The last weekend in July, the US Taido Association celebrated their 30th anniversary. Unfortunately, I had not the chance to attend.
Now back in Japan after some weeks in Sweden, I am working on the re-organization of the WTF, in the position as its general secretary. This means that this site will now be handed over to the WTF, and become the official site I always wanted Taido to have. I will try to keep this "old" version but any updates will be done on the World Taido Federation site. I hope you will come back here and have a look when the new site is ready.
Until then, I will try to cover the news in Japan, starting with the Shakaijin championship this weekend.
2005-03-12
Hokkaido Camp
Sitting on the train back from Hokkaido, Hokkaido University and Hokkaido Medical University Spring Camp, reflecting over the past two days training and shinsa, I must say that I am impressed over the high level these students have in spite of the fact that there is no Sensei that regularly visits their dojos. Teaching Taido to students with as a high a level of motivation as these students is very easy as they as totally focused. At the same time it is very demanding as the level of the students range from freshmen to 3 Dan. Putting it in another way, it is very refreshing as one has to give 100% leaving nothing left inside except for empty space for new ideas. Teaching is maybe not the right word as I probably learned as much as the students did. If you have a chance to come to Japan, try to plan your visit so that you can attend some spring or summer camp.
2005-02-17
Visiting Wolfson (UK)
On February 16 we departure Narita airport for London. Since Lars started the Taido club at Wolfson College, Oxford University, Saito and Shima always talked about visiting him, but the chance didn't occur until now. We, Shima 8 Dan Hanshi, Saito 8 Dan Hanshi, Tanno 3 Dan, Nagakubo 3 Dan and I left Japan with different expectations and feelings, for me it was the first time to meet Lars again since he left for the UK and to meet all the people in Oxford that I heard so much about. For Shima and Saito it was both a chance to meet a new Taido nation and to visit the country that inspired Shukumine Saiko Shihan so much. For Tanno and Nagakubo it was the first time to leave Japan.
Arriving to London well met by Lars, Emily, and Yusuke we arrived at Oxford Wednesday evening. A welcome party was arranged where members from the Helsinki Taido Association and Reine Kyoshi from Stenungsund also met up. Warmed by the friendly welcome and wine we went to bed filled with satisfaction and expectations for the following two days.
After spending Thursday for sightseeing we changed to Dogi and met at the Wolfson College "Dojo" for a two and a half hours training, held by Shima and Saito Hanshi. Seeing my travel mates, Tanno and Nagakubo in their true element, doing Taido, I could sense the happiness they felt being able to share some of their experience. Hit by the energy, high technical level and eagerness for Taido, all of us felt the importance of this trip.
At the evening we met at the local pub to further deepen our friendship and to share memories, make some new and the say good-bye.
Friday morning, a very hard morning for some of us, we left Oxford for London where we spent the afternoon on the upper deck of a tourist bus.
Although this was a very short and intensive trip I be live that it gave much more than any of us expected. Thank you all at Wolfson, Helsinki and Sweden!
2005-02-01
Taido Kyohan
In an earlier notice I have mentioned that Taido Kyohan was going to be published. Now it is here, at least a Japanese version. We are working on an English translation and hopefully the first part will be published before the end of the year.
The original Japanese book contains of two volumes, each about 350 pages. This is a very comprehensive material and together with the earlier published Taido Gairon these complete a set of information setting the foundation of Taido, both theoretically and technically.
Translation is planned to be divided into three (maybe four) parts, Part I - Technical Basics, Part II - Theoretical Basics, and Part III - Advanced Techniques and Theories
All publications are published and sold by Taido Hon'in.
2005-01-25
International Taido Convention and the World Taido Championship 2005 - OFFICIAL SITE
You'll find more information on the following site.
2005-01-23
Happy Birthday!
Today is Taido's 40th birthday. This is celebrated in Tokyo with a big party following on the annual Hanshi Championship, held on the Meiji Jingu premises after a shorter ceremony in the morning.
Together with these celebrations the first complete book (2 volumes) describing techniques, hokeis, theory and much more is officially released. The English version will hopefully be published in a not too far future.
My best wishes to Taido and to you all. I hope that this year will be a year full of interesting events for us all.