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THE Embassy of Japan, sponsored by the Japan Foundation and supported by the Okayama Perfecture presented a Kobudo (Traditional Japanese Martial Arts) Demonstration in front of a huge crowd at the Barbados Shotokan Karate Club, Dojo at Marine Gardens on Thursday.
The seven specialist from Okayana Prefecture, Japan presented some of the most popular forms of Kobudo, Iaido and Kendo and both groups performed Katas, while the Kendo demonstration ended with a a display of sparring. It is the first time that Kobudo has been showcased in the region by Japan and making the journey were Isamu Akagi Iaido 7th dan, Masao Sahara Iaido 7th dan, Koushi Kanda Iaido 6th dan, Setsuko Sahara Iaido 6th dan, Yukihiro Fukushima Kendo 7th dan, Hajime Kuroishi Kendo 7th dan, Masao Sakate Takenouchi Ryu 4th dan. There were four specialist in Iaido – the way of the sword. Iaido is concerned with drawing the blade and cutting in the same motion, which is to slay an opponent with one stroke of the sword immediately after unsheathing it. A typical form consists of the draw and cut, a finishing cut, cleaning the blade and returning it to the scabbard, all without looking away from the imaginary opponent. Kendo also meaning the way of the sword, is practised using a shinai, which is the practice "sword" and is made up of four bamboo staves, which are held together by leather fittings. Kendoka also use bokken/bokuto (wooden swords) to practice more formal, set forms known as kata. It is practised wearing traditionally styled clothing and protective armour. Kendo may be seen as a Japanese style of fencing. However, the movements in kendo are different from European fencing as the design of the sword is different, as is the way it is used. In contrast with Kendo, Iaido is performed without protective coverings of any kind. The masters of the two different styles held workshops during the day which were attended by Barbadians and a group from Trinidad led by Eddy Devisse, who also helped co-ordinate the workshops and demonstration. A Canadian who now resides in Trinidad and Tobago, Devisse has been practising Kendo for about 20 years, and he attended both session which were on both styles. "The first session was a Kendo session and the second session was an Iaido session, which has some similarities and aspects which are beneficial to Kendo and we practice a little bit if Iaido as well," said Devisse who has a Kendo School in Trinidad. Despite the short nature of the workshops, Devisse thought that the quality was "very good". According to Masao Sakate who is a 4th dan in Takenouchi Ryu, the group which flew over from Japan, head to Costa Rica and then Cuba on their tour. Sakate mentioned that it is very hard when using a sword as one mistake can cause injury. Because of this one has to keep training and do the moves over and over again as well as concentrate. |