ENGLISH ∙ ESPAÑOL ∙ FRANÇAIS ∙
GALLERY — JUNE 2007, OKINAWA
After checking in at the hotel, the Latvian delegation was free to enjoy a fantastic resort hotel. However, Artis Pabriks and Edgars Skuja traveled one hour south back to Naha for a good training session at the Shinjinbukan Honbu Dōjō under the direction of Onaga Yoshimitsu, Kaichō.
WELCOMING AT THE SHINJINBUKAN HONBU DŌJŌ
TAMESHIGIRI (IAIDO TARGET CUTTING)
WELCOMING TRAINING SESSION AT THE SHINJINBUKAN HONBU DŌJŌ
And we spent a few hours being drilled on the basics of Sankaku Tenshin & Shiko Dachi Tenshin...
Then, Onaga Michiko Kanchō demonstrated the applications of Tenshin during makiwara training...
TAMESHIGIRI (IAIDŌ TARGET CUTTING)
As a special gesture, Arakaki Shunichi Sensei demonstrated Tameshigiri (Iaido target cutting). This was a unique opportunity, because we were able to try a few cuts using a Nihonto (an authentic sharpen Japanese sword) rather than an Iaito (a practice sword).
KANPAI - REIGI SAHOO
Around 1:30 am, Onaga Kaicho stopped the formal training to welcome us to the Shinjinbukan Honbu Dōjō. In fact, this is one of the last Dōjōs in Okinawa that follows the ancient Reigi Sahō, the propper etiquette used by the Ryūkyū martial artists, which include sitting down for instruction, eating & drinking awamori. During these quiet moments is when the most important lessons are passed down from Sensei to Deshi.
Finally class ended around 3:00 am. Just on time, to drive Artis and Edgars back to their hotel in Nago, a short drive one hour north from the Dōjō in Naha City. But just before we left, we took a few more pictures...
