VA Kenshinkai 2011 Swordfest welcomes Diane & Meik Skoss Sensei of Shutokukan Dojo - 14 May 2011

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 Shutokukan Dojo are going to embu the following arts:

- Shinto Muso-ryu jujutsu and its fuzoku bugei (related arts) of Shinto-ryu kenjutsu, isshin-ryu kusarigama, Ikkaku-ryu juttejutsu, Uchida-ryu tanjojutsu, and Chuwa-ryu tankenjutsu

- Toda-ha Buko-ryu naginatajutsu (including su naginata, kagitsuki naginata, tachi, yari, kusarigama, bo, and nagamaki)

- Yagyu Shinkage-ryu kenjutsu and Yagyu Seigo-ryu battojutsu

Instructors Diane and Meik Skoss are a team on and off the circuit as one a few married Mixed Sword Art | Edged Weaponry enthusiasts. Diane Skoss has been training in martial arts since the early 1980s, studying aikido (Tomiki-style), judo, atarashii naginata, jodo, jukendo, tankendo and hsing-i/pa-kua. At present, she trains exclusively in Shinto Muso-ryu jujutsu and its related systems, and Toda-ha Buko-ryu naginatajutsu. She holds go mokuroku and is an authorized instructor in Shinto Muso-ryu and has an okuden in Toda-ha Buko-ryu.

Meik Skoss began training in Japanese martial arts in 1966. He has studied aikido (Ueshiba-style), judo, jodo, atarashii naginata, karatedo (Okinawa Goju-ryu), jukendo, and tankendo, along with t'ai-chi ch'uan (Yang-style). In addition, he trains in several classical Japanese martial arts: Shinto Muso-ryu jujutsu and its related arts, Toda-ha Buko-ryu naginatajutsu, Tendo-ryu naginatajutsu, as well as Yagyu Shinkage-ryu kenjutsu and Yagyu Seigo-ryu battojutsu. He is go mokuroku and an authorized instructor in Shinto Muso-ryu, honden and betsuden mokuroku and inka-jo in Toda-ha Buko-ryu (in which he is a full licensed shihan), and is the Coordinator and Technical Director of Yagyukai USA.

In addition to their substantial martial arts credentials (see below), both are extensively involved in research and publications focused on the classical Japanese martial arts, or koryu bujutsu. Meik is fluent in Japanese, and the owner of a significant library of martial arts books in both English and Japanese; he is also one of several hoplologists continuing the work of Donn F. Draeger. He has traveled throughout Japan visiting various dojo collecting information on the Japanese martial arts, and has published a number of articles based on these forays. Diane is the creator of Koryu.com, the premier web site devoted to the koryu bujutsu, and is founder and owner of the publishing company, Koryu Books. She is editor of the three-volume "Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan" series.

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More about the Virginia Kenshinkai and 2011 Swordfest:
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.

For 2012, the IBF (International Batto Do Federation), headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, has asked the Virginia Kenshinkai to host an International Batto Do Tai Kai next spring. The Kenshinkai is a branch Dojo within the IBF. We are hosting Judges and Senior Sensei from Japan with invitations to international branches (Britain, Serbia, Indonesia, and Australia). All exhibitors, vendors, sponsors, marketers and literature distributors from the 2011 Swordfest are first tier of invitees for IBF participation next spring. Various Japanese Sword Art Dojos throughout the United States (Florida, NY, California, plus others) are committed to attend and support Tai Kai in 2012 as well, which is to be an excellent Sword Art event
opportunity.

Along with our demonstrations (as stated above) are training sessions on Friday May 13th and Sunday May 15th with both hands-on and observational attendee capability. Feel free to reach out to us for a training schedule to ensure your seat at "nominal" rates ($10.00 to $20.00 per hour-long session).

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   NoVA Budokai Kendo
08:30 pm   09:30 pm   Aratashii 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   NoVA Budokai Kendo
12:00 pm   12:15 pm   Closing Thoughts (Ketsumatsu) by Sensei Drawdy
Washington DC Activities | Sedan Service City Tours

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.

See you 13-15 May!

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