On Sunday 8th of August there was a Kata Seminar hosted by Gary O’Donnell and Trevor Chapman, joint winners of the British Kendo Association Nihon Kendo No Kata Taikai in 2002. Around 18 Kendoka attended and were taught Nihon Kendo No Kata and Mizoguchi Ha Itto-Ryu forms.

This started with an in-depth look into the different Kame involved with the Kata’s and how to perform them including Chudan, Gedan, Jodan, Hidari Jodan, Hasso no kame and Waki-game.
After these were explained, teaching was split into two groups to practice Nihon Kendo No Kata. Lower grades were to practice Ipponme, Nihonme and Sanbonme while senior grades practiced to their required level.

Several demonstrations were performed by both Sensei and each Kata was then broken down to explain each part in great detail. These were practiced several times, and everybody had a chance in the roles of Shidachi and Uchidachi. The lower grades then performed all three Kata in sequence as if grading.

We were also given the chance to practice Kodachi Ipponme (Shin) and Nihonme (Gyo), the first two of the Mizoguchi Ha Itto-Ryu Katas, which use a shorter, single-handed “Kodachi.”
This was a special opportunity to practice these Katas, which are rarely seen, especially as a lower grade kendoka. The seminar drew to a close in bogu with a session ji-geiko where we all had a chance to fence each other.

I would like to thank both Sensei for a most interesting and informative seminar and hope there will be many more like it.

Andy Rowberry and Jake Law.
Kashi No Ki Kenyu Kai.