Volume 30, number 10/11/12
October/November/December 2016
PNKF DATEBOOK
January 2017
- 1/7-8: Boise State University Iaido Seminar & Shinsa “Kokusai Budo Daigakku, Kazuhisa Kaneda Iaido Seminar”,
Sat/Sun, KANEDA Kazuhisa sensei, Iaido Kyoshi 8 Dan, Instructor at International Budo University in Katsuura Japan,
8 time All Japan Iaido National Champion, Author of “Iai no Kihon” (Iai Basics) Book and DVD set I II & III,
Boise State University, Rec Center Main Gym, 1515 University Drive, Boise Idaho 83725.- 1/7: 10am-5pm.
- 1/8: 10am-3pm
- 1/8: Iaido Shinsa testing up through 3rd Dan, Sun, 9-10am, open to PNKF members, AUSKF members, and FIK
affiliates.
- 1/14: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
- 1/21-22: FIK America Zone Shinpan Seminar, Sat/Sun, Feldman Recreation Center, 8800 W. Kathy Lane, Niles, IL 60714.
- 1/21: Seminar, Goodwill Keiko 9am-4:30pm; Welcome Party 7-9pm.
- 1/22: Seminar, Goodwill Keiko 8:30am-12noon.
February 2017
- 2/4: PNKF Kata Seminar, Sat, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Chinook Middle School, 18650 42nd Ave S, SeaTac, located right off I-5 at S. 188th Street.
- 2/11: Steveston Taikai, Sat, 9am, McMath High School, 4251 Garry Street, Richmond BC.
- 2/25: PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-3:30pm, Godo Keiko 3:30-4:30pm, Chinook Middle School, 18650 42nd Ave S, SeaTac, located right off I-5 at S. 188th Street. Stroud Sensei wants to emphasize the importance of this Godo Keiko, and he would encourage all PNKF members to make an effort to attend. Some of his fondest memories of coming up through the Kyu and early Dan ranks were associated with PNKF Godo keiko events. For him, we can all benefit from a chance to keiko with each other, cross shinai with people who we seldom see, and get a chance to work on our own keiko. He will be trying to be the first one on the floor.
March 2017
- 3/18: Highline Taikai, Sat, 10am, White Center Community Center.
- 3/25: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1610 S. King Street, Seattle. Please enter at the street level behind the big bowl shaped tree planter off King Street.
- 3/31-4/2: 29th Cleveland GNEUSKF Championships, Albert Gymnasium, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
April 2017
- 4/1: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
- 4/8-9: AUSKF Board meeting and Kodansha Shinsa.
- 4/21,22,23: Cherry Blossom probable date.
- 4/22: UW Taikai, Sat, 10am, Intramural Activities Building (IMA), UW campus, Montlake Boulevard NE.
May 2017
- 5/6: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1610 S. King Street, Seattle.
- 5/13: 52nd Annual Vancouver Kendo Club Taikai, Sat, 10am, Byrne Creek Secondary School, 7777 18th Street, Burnaby, B.C.
- 5/20: Bellevue Junior Taikai, Sat, 9:30am-3pm, Highland Park Community Center, 14224 Bel-Red Road, Bellevue.
June 2017
- 6/10: Rose City Taikai, Sat, 10am, Portland.
- 6/10-13/2017: AUSKF Iaido Seminar.
- 6/22-26: AUSKF Championships and Junior Championships, Wed-Sun, Independence High School, San Jose, California.
- 6/21 Manager/Referee Meetings, Wed.
- 6/22 Junior Open National Championships, Thu.
- 6/23-25 AUSKF National Championships, Fri-Sun.
July 2017
- 7/6-9: 10th US Nito Seminar and Shinsa, Thu-Mon, Boise State University, Rec Center Main Gym, 1515 University
Drive, Boise, Idaho. - 7/22: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
August 2017
- 8/12: PNKF Shinsa, Sat, Iaido 9am-12noon; Kendo 12:30-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
September 2017
- 9/16: PNKF Board, Sat, 3-5pm, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
- 9/28-10/1: PNKF Iaido Seminar, Fri/Sat/Sun.
- Rain City Fencing, 1776 136th Place NE, Bellevue. Teachers: Iaido Kyoshi 8th Dan Hideo Noguchi; and Iaido Kyoshi 7th
Dan Shigehiro Aoki and Kaoru Suzuki. - Schedule: Fri, 7-9pm Jodo/Iaido; Sat, 9am-5pm Iaido; Sun 9am-12noon Iaido Tournament; 1-5pm Iaido.
- Rain City Fencing, 1776 136th Place NE, Bellevue. Teachers: Iaido Kyoshi 8th Dan Hideo Noguchi; and Iaido Kyoshi 7th
October 2017
- 10/7: PNKF Shinpan Seminar, 12noon-4pm, open keiko 4-5pm, Tyee Educational Complex, 4424 S. 188th Street, SeaTac, located
right off I-5 at S. 188th Street. - 10/21: Tacoma Taikai
- 9:30am Opening Ceremonies (doors open at 8:30am), Curtis High School, 8425 40th Street West, University Place, WA 98466
(tentative).
- 9:30am Opening Ceremonies (doors open at 8:30am), Curtis High School, 8425 40th Street West, University Place, WA 98466
November 2017
- 11/4: PNKF Taikai, Sat, 9:30am,525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
- 11/11-12, AUSKF Board and Kodansha Shinsa, Sat/Sun, TBD.
- 11/18: PNKF Board, Sat, 9-11am, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
December 2017
- 12/??: Kent Taikai, Sat, report time 9am, start 9:30am, 525 4th Avenue N. (corner of 4th and James St.) Kent.
September 2018
- 9/14-16: 17WKC, Fri/Sat/Sun, Seoul, Korea.
PNKF BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2016/2017
A special meeting was convened the evening of Thursday, December 8, 2016, at Saint Peter’s Church, to count the ballots from the
Board election. This tally determined the composition of the Board for 2016/2017. The proctors doing the counting were: T. Bolling
(Bellevue), CJ Chaney (Sno-King), Noelle Grimes (Sno-King), Doug Imanishi (Seattle), Damon Tsai (Sno-King), Frank Wessbecher (Highline),
Aaron Yen (Seattle), and David Yotsuuye (Bellevue).
Then, at their December 17, 2016 meeting, the new PNKF Board elected officers. President – CJ Chaney (Sno-King); Vice President –
Robert Stroud (Idaho); Treasurer – Mary DeJong (Highline); Recording Secretary – Thomas Bolling (Bellevue); Secretary of Internal Affairs
– Elizabeth Marsten (Highline).
The other Board members are: Sean Blechschmidt (Bellevue), Brian Blomquist (Everett), Connor Blomquist (UW), Cougar Capoeman
(Tacoma), Janell Frazier-Day (Kent), Mark Frederick (Northwest), Noelle Grimes (Sno-King), Doug Imanishi (Seattle), Van Le (Obukan),
Michael Mabale (Seattle), Edward Olson (Tonbo), Russ Sinclair (Spokane), James Smith (AiShinKai), Frank Wessbecher (Highline), and David
Yotsuuye (Bellevue). Jeff Marsten (Bellevue/Highline/Sno-King) continues as Advisor. CJ Chaney (Sno-King) continues as UW Advisor.
17th INVITATIONAL TACOMA KENDO TAIKAI – October 22, 2016, Curtis High School, University Place
9 and Under 10-12 Years Kyu 1st place - Jonathan Yu, Northwest 1st place - Josh Kim, Federal Way 2nd place - Nicholas Chu, Bellevue 2nd place - Joshua Paik, Tacoma 3rd place - Daniel Shilov, Highline 3rd place - Keiji Underhill, Northwest Participant - Nina Underhill, Northwest Participant - Katie Larson, Federal Way Participant - Dan Terao, Cascade Participant - Juah Paik, Tacoma 13-15 Years Kyu 16-18 Years Kyu 1st place - Betty Park, Bellevue 1st place - Drake Imanishi, Seattle 2nd place - Yuki Wakasaki, Obukan 2nd place - Kyle Fukuda, Cascade 3rd place - Michizane Ohata, Bellevue 3rd place - Allison Kojima, Bellevue Adult 0-2 Kyu Adult 1 Kyu-1 Dan 1st place - Rafael Soriano, UW 1st place - Jake Yamauchi, Cascade 2nd place - Tom Fukuda, Cascade 2nd place - Caleb Ogier, UW 3rd place - Chi Tak, Portland 3rd place - Andrew Miller, Portland Youth Dan Adult 2-3 Dan 1st place - Andrew Nagasawa, Bellevue 1st place - Frank Wessbecher, Highline 2nd place - Andy Yuen, Seattle 2nd place - Erica DeJong, UW 3rd place - Tiarnan Marsten, Kent 3rd place - Bernice Lin, UW 15 and Under Team 1st place - Northwest A (B. Underhill, T. Miyamoto, E. Underhill) 2nd place - Bellevue A (B. Park, T. Koob, M. Ohata) 16-18 Team 1st place - Bellevue A (J. DeJong, J. Higa, A. Kojima) 2nd place - Bellevue B (M. Blechschmidt, -0-, A. Nagasawa) Senior Team 1st place - Obukan (D. Anzai, R. Wakasaki, N. Holtorf) 2nd place - Sno-King (M. Verrey, V. Blancarte, T. Patana) National Anthem Singer - Josie Asi Sportsmanship Pledge - Joshua Paik Award Distribution Service - Taryn Imanishi Shinpan Cho - Doug Imanishi
42nd ANNUAL PNKF KENDO TOURNAMENT – November 5, 2016, Kent Commons Recreation Center
10 Years and Under 11-12 Years 1st place - L. Takahae, Steveston 1st place - B. Miki, Steveston 2nd place - K. Yoshimura, Renbu 2nd place - K. Squance, Renbu 3rd place - M. Gardner, U Vic 3rd place - C. Robillard, Steveston 3rd place - E. Chui, Steveston 3rd place - Y. Lee, Renbu 13-15 Years High School Girls 1st place - K. Muramatsu, Renfrew 1st place - J. DeJong, Highline 2nd place - M. Iwai, Steveston 2nd place - JW An, Tozenji 3rd place - E. Chui, Steveston 3rd place - J. Higa, Bellevue 3rd place - M. Fukuoka, Tozenji 3rd place - I. Kim, Renbu High School Boys 0-4 Kyu 1st place - E. Lee, Renbu 1st place - V. Blancarte, Sno-King 2nd place - T. Marsten, Kent 2nd place - J. Tang, UBC 3rd place - A. Nagasawa, Bellevue 3rd place - T. Fukuda Cascade 3rd place - B. Liao, Bellevue 3rd place - J. Nguyen, UW 3-1 Kyu Women Dan 1st place - Y. Chen, UBC 1st place - J. Kurahashi, Renbu 2nd place - C. Pak, Portland 2nd place - E. Marsten, Highline 3rd place - Y. Paik, Tacoma 3rd place - W. Robillard, Steveston 3rd place - G. Vielhaber, Portland 3rd place - B. Lin, UW 1-2 Dan 3 Dan 1st place - D. Yao, Steveston 1st place - S. Kawai, Bellevue 2nd place - J. Jeong, Youshinkan 2nd place - E. Kita, Renbu 3rd place - JW Lee, Portland 3rd place - T. Okitsu, 3rd place - J. Lamb, Spokane 3rd place - K. Chun, Hawaii 4 Dan and Above 1st place - S. Harris, Hawaii 2nd place - B. Imanishi, Cascade 3rd place - A. Giang, Northwest 3rd place - W. Fujimoto, Hawaii Junior Team 1st place - Renbu (Y.Lee, A. Son, I. Kim, K. Squance, R. Kim) 2nd place - Steveston (D. Chui, E. Chui, B. Miki, M. Iwai, C. Robillard) 3rd place - Tacoma (M. Kao, D. Kao, Y. Wakasaki, J. Shim, J. Paik) 3rd place - Tozenji (N. Horikawa, U. Kanauchi, K. Kono, A. Shimizu, M. Fukuoka) Senior Team 1st place - Hawaii (K. Chun, W. Fujimoto, H. Itokazu, S. Harris, A. Fujimoto) 2nd place - Bellevue (J. Higa, A. Kojima, M. Blechschmidt, B. Liao, L. Tsybert) 3rd place - Steveston (S. O'Sullivan, I. Miki, I. Takagaki, N. Nakano, D. Yao) 3rd place - Spokane (C. Ruiz, S. DeNardi, Ju. Lamb, Je. Lamb, M. Nelson) Taikai Co-Chairs - CJ Chaney and Taryn Imanishi Sportsmanship Pledge - Andrew Nagasawa Shinpan Cho - Harry Samkange Shoji Trophy - Allison Kojima, Bellevue Award Distribution Service - Taryn Imanishi
20th ANNUAL KENT KENDO CLUB INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT – December 10, 2016, Kent Commons
10 Years and Under (Jr A) 3-1 Kyu
1st place - A. Yuen, Seattle 1st place - A. Kojima, Bellevue
2nd place - A. Mabale, Seattle 2nd place - D. Imanishi, Seattle
3rd place - DV Chung, Cascade 3rd place - Y. Paik, Tacoma
3rd place - J. Yu, Northwest 3rd place - S. Wetlesen, Obukan
11-12 Years (Jr B) 1-2 Dan
1st place - K. Underhill, Northwest 1st place - T. Marsten, Kent
2nd place - J. Kim, Federal Way 2nd place - J. Croes, Portland
3rd place - H. Koob, Bellevue 3rd place - B. Liao, Bellevue
3rd place - L. Ohata, Bellevue 3rd place - C. Im, UW
13 to 15 Years (Jr C) 3-4 Dan
1st place - K. Underhill, Northwest 1st place - S. Kawai, Bellevue
2nd place - S. Wetlesen, Obukan 2nd place - S. Denardi, Spokane
3rd place - M. Ohata, Bellevue 3rd place - S. Day, Kent
3rd place - T. Miyamoto, Northwest 3rd place - I. Morgan, Kent
4th place - V. Vulfson, Northwest
Women 4th place - D. Pan, Bellevue
1st place - M. Suzuki, Sno-King 4th place - T. Imanishi, Cascade
2nd place - N. Grimes, Sno-King 4th place - M. Scott, Sno-King
3rd place - J. DeJong, Highline
3rd place - J. Frazier-Day, Kent
4 Kyu and Under
1st place - K. Fukuda, Cascade
2nd place - T. Fukuda, Cascade
3rd place - B. Sprenger, Obukan
3rd place - D. Yip, Cascade
Junior Team
1st place - Bellevue (H. Koob, K. Takamatsu, L. Ohata, T. Koob, M. Ohata)
2nd place - Northwest (B. Underhill, S. Yu, T. Miyamoto, T. Ting, K. Underhill)
3rd place - Federal Way (M. Day, K. Kubal-Komoto, I. Lee, S. Lee, J. Kim)
3rd place - Obukan (K Acoba, E. Jurado, S. Wetlesen, A. Mabale, Y. Wakasaki)
Senior Team
1st place - Kent Red (I. Morgan, J. Frazier-Day, T. Marsten, T. McManus, S. Day)
2nd place - Bellevue Red (S. Kawai, J. Higa, B. Liao, A. Kojima, L. Tsybert)
3rd place - Highline (F. Wessbecher, C. Chan, J. DeJong, A. Law, J. Oh)
3rd place - Sno-King (M. Scott, M. Suzuki, C. Chaney, T. Patana, D. Lew)
Sportsmanship Pledge - Ian Morgan
Head Shinpan - Curtis Marsten
PASSAGE
Paul Hiromi Kurose.
One of the last pre-War kenshi in our area passed away on September 20, 2016 at age 88. Born in Tacoma July 15, 1928,
he was raised in Seattle and Spokane. He taught at West Seattle High School for 31 years, and one of his former
students, David Lunde, has happy memories of “his sly grin and his daily wearing of a lab coat” in biology class and
study hall. Throughout his life he loved fly fishing. Kurose Sensei studied Kendo at Maryknoll Dojo under Tomotsu
Takizaki Sensei, until Kendo was suspended following Pearl Harbor. He served in the military. He joined Seattle
Kendo Kai when it resumed after the War, and was one of the founders of the Washington State Kendo Federation, serving
for a time as Treasurer. In 1990 he became a member of Cascade Kendo Kai, and held the rank of 4th Dan. Kurose
Sensei especially liked to explain earlier ways of producing hits, for example demonstrating the amazing way Kazuo
Shoji Sensei could suddenly strike Do from tsubazeriai and go through on one knee – as in Kata Number Seven. Our
deepest condolences to his wife of 62 years, May, and their four children and two grandsons.
THE LAST WORD
I reread the Chi No Maki and focused on Musashi’s words that “the true value of Kendo cannot be seen within the
confines of Kendo techniques.” Yes, I had learned the basics of Kendo in Hawaii, the ground of Kendo: the Chi. I had
learned how to breathe differently, into the hara. Balance and stability comes from the hara. I had watched animals;
the belly expands and contracts with the breath, not the upper chest. The power does not come from the head or
shoulders. “Up tight” is slang in the United States for tension, and indeed, the shoulders are raised, the breath
shallow, and the chest heaves when a person is uptight. The breath of a baby is seen as the stomach area (the hara
area) rises and falls. Such is natural breathing. And swordsmanship is based on what is natural. The Kendo stance,
solidly rooted to the ground, is powerful. The sword cuts, not from shoulder action, but from the natural pull of
gravity, guided to its target by the right hand, and cinched from the hara. I recalled the tameshi giri practice
demonstrated by Miura Sensei which focused power at the conclusion of the cut driven by the breath, the kiai or spirit
shout, from the hara. The cut was efficient and effective. In Kyoto, I added to the basics that I had learned from
Miura Sensei. And that is how it is: Nothing is ever finished.
–Rod Nobuto Omoto, Autobiography, edited by Charlotte Omoto, 2014, p. 24.
Available as free download at lulu.com.
PLEASE NOTE – THIS KENYU ONLINE IS THE EDITION OF RECORD
Kenyu – Monthly Newsletter of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation
Tom Bolling, Editor – 7318 23rd Avenue N.E., Seattle, WA 98115