2011 Swordfest features Capital Area Jodokai, Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo

May 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Virginia Kenshinkai is pleased to present our Sixth Annual Swordfest and an outstanding opportunity to reach Mixed Art Edged Weaponry, Japanese Community, and East | West Sword Art practitioners and enthusiasts 13–15 May 2011. Swordfest is an annual event held  by the Virginia Kenshinkai at Capital Area Budokai in Alexandria Virginia (Metropolitan Washington Region). This year we are also featuring training on Friday May 13th and Sunday May 15th for nominal fees.

The Capital Area Jodokai studies jodo, the way of the stick, as taught by Kaminoda Tsunemori Sensei of the Nihon Jodokai.  We practice Saturday (11-1:30 pm) & Tuesday (7-10 pm) at 25 S. Quaker Lane, Alexandria VA. This classical Japanese weapons art, which is approximately 400 years old, is built around the use of a staff to defeat a swordsman.  Invented by Muso Gonnosuke as a dueling art, jodo rapidly evolved into a policing art. The jo proves to be a formidable weapon against a swordsman, and a skilled jo practitioner can tune the amount of force to the situation.

Over time, associated weapon arts were added to the curriculum. These include tanjo (a walking stick), kenjutsu, kusarigama, jutte & tessen, and hojojutsu (rope tying).

The Capital Area Jodokai trains in Alexandria, Virginia, performs embu around the region, and members travel to Japan as frequently as life allows to train in gasshuku or at the Zoshokan dojo in Tokyo with Kaminoda Sensei and the other senior instructors of the Nihon Jodokai.

Shindo Muso ryu jodo is a koryu, or classical martial art, and training in it is not a casual enterprise. There are many good instructors around the U.S., often with different ties back to Japan. If you are interested in studying Shindo Muso Ryu jodo, make sure that you find someone who has a live tie back to a master instructor in Japan. Jodo cannot be learned from a book, from Youtube or from films; it must be learned through direct transmission.

The Capital Area Jodokai has two members with a license to teach jodo from Kaminoda Sensei (Dan Pearson & Corey Comstock). In addition, we are affiliated with the Go Daiko Jodokai of Milwaukee, Wisconsin led by Rich Friman, also licensed by Kaminoda Sensei to teach jodo. Jack Bieler of “The Dojo” in Denton, Texas is also leading a group working on Kaminoda Sensei’s jodo.
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On Saturday 14 May all demonstrations and exhibits are "free." Please reach out to us for a training schedule to ensure your seat at "nominal" rates ($10.00 to $20.00 per hour-long session) for Friday evening 13th of May or Sunday morning 15th of May.

Our basic itinerary is presented for your reference here:

Friday 13 May 2011 – Training Schedule
05:45 pm   06:00 pm   Welcome to 2011 Swordfest Training Session #1
06:00 pm   06:30 pm   Shakuhachi Flute
06:30 pm   07:30 pm   Nakamura Ryu Happo Giri Toho
07:30 pm   08:30 pm   Shin Shin Sekiguchi Ryu Iaido
08:30 pm   09:30 pm   Kendo
08:30 pm   09:30 pm   Naginata
10:00 pm   12:00 am   Washington DC Activities | Sedan Service City Tours

Saturday 14 May 2011 – Exhibitor Schedule
09:15 am   09:30 am   Welcome by Sensei Drawdy
09:30 am   09:50 am   Northern Virginia Budokai, Kendo - Brian Sherry Sensei
09:50 am   10:10 am   Northern Virginia Tendokan, Aratashii Naginata - Fran Vall Sensei
10:10 am   10:30 am   Capital Area Jodokai, Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo - Dan Pearson Sensei
10:30 am   11:00 am   New York Historical Fencing Association - Michael Edelson Lead Instructor
11:00 am   11:30 am   Shin Dojo, Mugai Ryu Meishiha - Rob Rivers Sensei
11:30 am   12:00 pm   Yagyu Shinkage Ryu Hyoho - Paul Manogue Sensei
12:00 pm   12:30 pm   Lunch Break--------------Lunch Break
12:30 pm   12:50 pm   Shakuhachi Flute Playing - Raymond Sosnowski Sensei
12:50 pm   01:20 pm   Virginia Kenshinkai Nakamura Ryu Batto Do - Dave Drawdy Sensei
01:20 pm   01:50 pm   Byakkokan Dojo, Toyama Ryu, USBDF - Sang Kim Sensei
01:50 pm   02:20 pm   NVA Assalto - Steven Reich Lead Instructor
02:30 pm   02:50 pm   Shutokukan Dojo - Meik Skoss Sensei
02:50 pm   03:20 pm   Shin Shin Sekiguchi Ryu - Dan Keupp Sensei
03:20 pm   04:05 pm   Hobyokan Dojo - David Hall Sensei
04:05 pm   04:35 pm   Northern Virginia Kyudo Kai - Bill Reid Sensei

Sunday 15 May 2011 – Training Schedule
06:30 am   07:30 am   Exhibitor Registration and Move-In
07:45 am   08:00 am   Welcome to 2011 Swordfest Training Session #2
09:00 am   10:00 am   New York Historical Fencing Association
09:00 am   10:00 am   Toyama Ryu, US Battodo Federation
10:00 am   11:00 am   Gekken Sparring
10:00 am   11:00 am   NoVA Assalto, Spadone Large Sword
11:00 am   12:00 pm   Sekiguchi Ryu Kenjutsu
11:00 am    12:00 pm   Kendo
12:00 pm   12:15 pm   Closing Thoughts (Ketsumatsu) by Sensei Drawdy
Washington DC Activities | Sedan Service City Tours (late evening)

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About the Virginia Kenshinkai: a 501(c)(3), Virginia Kenshinkai provides student training and education, sponsored trips to international and national venues, and facilitates appreciation of Japanese culture and history centered on Japanese Sword Arts. Invitations are extended to elicit further tradition, participation, education, community awareness and market capabilities. This year we will be accepting donations to aid our friends in Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. These are to be remitted to affiliate organizations within Japan to use at their discretion in restoration and renewal.

We appreciate community support and look forward to your participation. Join us in Alexandria for an outstanding 2011 Swordfest. If you have any questions regarding exhibition, training, sponsor, vendor, marketing and literature distribution opportunities - please contact Ms. Donna L. Quesinberry at dp@donnaink.com.
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