April 2019
Atarashi Naginata Seminar in Helsinki
Ann and Andrew seized the opportunity to attend a European atarashi naginata seminar in Helsinki on 6–7 April, led by Mark Alexander Berghaan (naginata godan). Two days of intensive training alongside Daria Litunenko, focused on the fundamentals of both practice and teaching. The seminar offered a rare chance to connect with naginata practitioners from Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Estonia, Spain, France and Germany — a reminder of just how small and close-knit the naginata community is outside Japan. It was a truly enriching experience, both on and off the floor, and one that will inform our own practice for years to come.
SOLKI at KAMINARIKAN
Following the LIII Moscow Open Kendo Tournament, our club joined forces with the SOKI club for a combined team entry. We were grateful to Gena, Lev, Lyosha and Yura for their spirited matches and solid tactics. The collaboration continued the following day with keiko at our dojo under the guidance of Boris Nikolaevich Mishin. We extend our thanks to the SOLKI club, Boris Nikolaevich and Stanislav Budin for several memorable days of kendo. We hope to see them again soon — perhaps even in Vladivostok.
May 2019
Sakhalin Kendo Association visits KAMINARIKAN
We had the pleasure of welcoming kenshi from Sakhalin to our dojo: Vadim Politsinsky, President of the Sakhalin Kendo Association, and Leon Klyuev, a member of the Russian national kendo team. They were in Moscow en route to a national team training camp in preparation for the 29th European Kendo Championships in Serbia. Their kendo was of a very high level, offering us a clear target to aspire to. We are deeply grateful for their visit and look forward to the opportunity to return the hospitality on Sakhalin.
First Shiaigeiko
Inspired by the words of our friend Ko Yamasaki — "the more strikes you make and the more opponents you face, the better your kendo becomes" — we launched our own shiaigeiko event. The name captures the essence: a gathering focused on spirited, competitive matches against a variety of opponents. Following a visit from Tomoyuki Ishio and his family, we felt compelled to create a regular platform for this kind of practice.
The first shiaigeiko took place at KAMINARIKAN dojo, bringing together a dozen kenshi. Each participant engaged in an hour of exhausting jigeiko and at least five shiai-style matches with different opponents under ippon-shobu rules. The seven most effective kenshi advanced to a second round, fighting each other in a further series of bouts. Every participant left with valuable experience, having tested themselves against unfamiliar styles and opponents. We are already looking forward to the next shiaigeiko.
June 2019
Atarashi Naginata Seminar in St Petersburg
Our naginata team travelled to the northern capital for a seminar with Sato sensei, held at the Red Triangle venue during a spell of unseasonably hot weather. The seminar stood out for its remarkable dynamism and speed, offering a fresh perspective on atarashi naginata techniques. A parallel kendo seminar was organised alongside by the St Petersburg Shiten kendo club, adding to the festive atmosphere. We are grateful to all the organisers for a true celebration of budo — and to St Petersburg for the glorious weather.
Stay tuned for more news from KAMINARIKAN — and if you're in Moscow, come and say hello!
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