Kendo seminar at Kashi-no-ki (Ollerton) with Professor Hiroshi Ozawa.

It was a pleasure to welcome Ozawa Sensei (7th Dan Kyoshi) back to Ollerton. Professor Ozawa has a long history of association with the area having made an extended visit to the Yoshinkan Dojo in 1989 (then at Nottingham Trent University). Once again, this seminar was given on the back of a private visit to the Ollerton and Liverpool dojos. This was the second seminar that Ozawa sensei has given at Ollerton and this seminar built upon the issues that he gave last year. Once again, Professor Ozawa was assisted by Fujieida sensei (5th Dan) from New York and translation was provided by Honda sensei (6th Dan). Paul Budden (6th Dan) represented the BKA at the seminar. The seminar was well attended with over 50 participants over the two days.

Ozawa sensei began by emphasising the importance of good kihon within kendo and the seminar was based around the practice within his own dojo in Japan. The morning of both days was taken up with teaching around the development of good basic technique as Ozawa sensei maintains that this is essential to continued practice through the ‘lifetime’ of the kendoka. By practicing correct kihon, it will provide a solid foundation for all keiko. The emphasis was on the development of correct timing, distance and the use of te-no-uchi. Ozawa sensei made the point several times about the importance of striking the target properly. All too often, this is done without correct te-no-uchi and from a distance that is incorrect. Other aspects of practice were also highlighted - perhaps most importantly, correct posture and the need to practice kihon using a big cutting action. Posture is something that is often overlooked by many kendoka - and correct posture is something that has to be instilled in kendoka from the start. All too often we see people who attack with their heads back (which is dangerous as well as an example of bad technique) or break their posture to avoid a cut. The essence of the kihon practice was aimed at correcting these habits and to try and instil the view in participants that we can also learn from being cut - especially with correct form.

As always, there was an extended period of kata practice. Ozawa sensei pointed out that all too often, kendoka ignore kata practice until just before a grading. This, he feels, has a negative impact on people’s understanding of the true nature of kendo and its connections back to its historical roots. In his own dojo, kata practice is integrated into every session and dojo members practice kata for at least 30 minutes before starting shinai-kendo. The two sessions on kata were particularly good and Ozawa sensei provided many different insights into correct form and execution of the techniques. There was something new for all participants as he emphasised different facets of the kata to the different ability groups. Anyone who felt that kata lacked the tension and immediciacy of shinai keiko were quickly made to realise that kata is both vibrant, dynamic and, perhaps above all, real. The levels of concentration required to carry out correct form left many of the senior grades exhausted.

Professor Ozawa also provided all seminar participants with a copy of the latest version of his collection of extended essays. This represented a perfect opportunity for seminar members to reflect upon the historical and philosophical origins of kendo. All too often, and especially in the West, there is little opportunity to read material of this nature in English and Professor Ozawa has made an important contribution to our understanding of much of the symbolism surrounding kendo. This current extended essay builds upon the one that he presented to seminar members in 2005 and it is hoped that he is able to present further work at the 2007 seminar.

Those who have practiced with Ozawa sensei will know that he brings a wonderful spirit to his practice. He also brings a generosity with his teaching that is a rare gift.
Professor Ozawa will return to Ollerton in 2007 and those who were unable to practice with him on this occasion will have another opportunity to benefit from his teaching.

Billy Ware, Liverpool Kendo Dojo.