For as long as I can remember, my dad and I have shared a fascination with the samurai and their legendary martial arts. Growing up, our imaginations were fueled by tales of these noble warriors, their disciplined lives, and their mastery of the sword. This mutual passion has always been a special bond between us, sparking countless discussions and even backyard sparring sessions. Now, as we prepare for a transformative journey to Kyoto, we are not only fulfilling a lifelong dream but also embarking on an adventure that will deepen our connection to the samurai spirit and to each other. This trip represents the culmination of years of shared dreams and a significant step in our martial arts journey, offering us the rare opportunity to train in Iaido and Kendo and experience the ways of the ninja in the very heart of Japan.
Our Time in Kyoto
Most people start their journey in Japan; however, my dad and I started our martial arts trip in Kyoto. The city was filled to the brim with Jinjas (shrines) and traditional buildings, and with three main activities planned, we had a lot to get into.
Tea Ceremony
While we didn't start our Japan trip with a martial art, we started with something that some of you who study Japanese Martial arts may be aware of. The Tea Ceremony played a crucial role in negotiations and general conversations between samurai, it was created as a way for two warriors to be able to enjoy tea together without having to worry about being poisoned or attacked. We also made okashi, which is the type of sweets that you eat before drinking the tea as matcha tea can be quite bitter.
The tea ceremony itself was amazing, and we learned a lot about the different types of equipment. Just watching the maiko (geisha in training) make the tea was quite meditative. The entire experience was incredibly meditative and was a great opportunity for personal reflection while surrounded by people.
Tatami Matt Cutting
The next experience we did was Tatami mat cutting. Being a long-time fan of the Katana, I've always wanted to cut a tatami mat and test just how good my cut would be. The katana we used was an Uchi-katana, which is what they called their long katana during the early edo period. Both Chris and I took a swing at cutting the tatami mat, and both managed to cut it. At the same time, it may not look that cool, I assure you that not only does it look cool, it is cool. During the Edo period, the Samurai needed a new way to test their cutting skills and the sharpness of their weapons, and that's how the tatami mat came about.
The Last Experience: Ninja Experience
The last experience we had in Kyoto was a Ninja experience; we not only got to wear the traditional Ninja amour, but we also got to use shuriken, a blow gun, learn how to walk silently, and how to effectively use their false doors. Alongside this, we also got to learn a bit about how Ninjas stored their weapons and the true use of the Ninja hand signs known as kuji-in. Unlike popular shows like Naruto, the ninja hand signs (kuji-in) are a form of meditation, with each one representing something, and it would help the Ninja focus and be prepared for the worst outcomes.
Other than the experiences, we saw our first Jinja (shrine) and got to stay in a traditional Japanese-style hotel.
Welcome to Osaka
The next stop of our martial arts tour was Osaka, home to the beautiful white Osaka Castle (which we did go to). We had two experiences booked here, and they were Kendo and Iaido, the two Japanese sword arts.
Our Iaido Experience
After a quick detour to an unhealthy number of anime shops (My Fault), we arrived at our destination, where we would meet Isao Machii, who holds the Guinness world record for "Fastest tennis ball (708KM/h) cut by sword". We didn't learn the traditional Iaido forms or curriculum as we were being taught the older version of Iaido known as Iaijutsu. We learnt the importance of sticking to the wrists with the sword. Machii-sensei told us that the Samurai did not always aim to kill their opponent as their opponent was also a human trying to survive. We also then learnt how the samurai left some of their bodies exposed to purposefully draw in a hit and open the enemy up for an attack.
The Kendo Experience
The next experience was a kendo experience where we would be taught everything from footwork to etiquette. We started out with a quick meditation after we had put on the hakamas. The first thing we learnt was how to move about the dojo in kendo fashion with our left foot backwards and our right foot forwards. You push off the back foot to move forward and the front foot to move backward. Once we had the hang of this, we got to learn about the strikes of kendo.
- Men (head)
- Do (body)
- Kote (Wrist)
- Tsuki (Throat)
These are the main points of contact for the shinai (bamboo sword) to hit, and you shout each one when you hit those parts. After we put the bogu (amour) on, it was time to spar. Our sensei placed a balloon on our heads, and our goal was to protect ours and pop our opponents ' balloons. Overall, I really enjoyed this experience, and I think Kendo will be another Japanese martial art other than Kyudo that I would love to study.
To Tokyo
The last stop on our martial arts trip was Akihabara. While this doesn't have anything to do with martial arts, I have an interest in anime, so we went to Anime Central, and I managed to get some figures of my favourite character (who some of you may say is basic) Rem from Re: Zero. We also went to a maid cafe and had a lovely coffee and a kitty cat desert.
That's it for this blog. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Japan, and we both joked about us belonging in Japan due to our personality traits, but we soon returned with the girls to do a longer and more touristy visit.
Thanks for reading. Stay flexible, stay disciplined, and keep studying!
