Wonderful day, I say!
On the last day of the spring, May 31, 2025, we were not only graced with sunny warm weather, but with an atarashi naginata event that became possible to host by the dedication of Ann and Andrew. Usually we host a naginata seminar annually in Moscow under the lead of our signora presidente – Daria Litunenko. However, Daria asked us to lead the seminar this time as a follow-up to our trip to Japan this March where, as you should be well aware about, we had the whole nine yards of naginata with Sumi Kaoru hanshi for two consecutive weeks.
Five hours are not enough!
Despite the mere fact that we’ve become experienced enough in the way of naginata to lead such an event, nonetheless it is purely impossible to teach someone something within one training session, even if it’s long enough. Especially when it gets to the point of fixing mistakes that have become as one with a kenshi who makes them. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we succeeded to fix at least something in the course of five-hour long session, including:
- to build up kihon a little;
- to rethink the basics;
- to prepare for the grading;
- to hold the grading;
- to work on bogu techniques;
- to endure a long kakari-geiko; and
- to clash in keiko.
Main focus
The focus of our mini-seminar was to pay attention to very strict requirements of making ashi-sabaki, of the body posture and positions of hands in hasso-no-kamae, of making proper mochikae-waza, men-uchi and taisabaki in different situations when one easily forgets to pay attention at all.
The novel rethinking of said basics by Sumi Kaoru hanshi hit our guests a couple of times out of the blue, as previously hit us. Anyway, it only fueled interest in the event. Thus, we are happy with the result of spreading proper naginata among our kenshi. Cheers!
Grading
Congratulations to those who has succeeded:
- Natalie Wodzinskaya – 2 kyu
- Veronica Polikarkina – 3 kyu
- Alex Panasenko – 3 kyu
- Anastasia Sudilovskaya – 5 kyu
- Yanina Chernykh – 5 kyu
- Alex Devaykin – 5 kyu
We are most grateful to our signora presidente – Daria Litunenko for pushing us beyond our limits to host this event, as well as for coming in person and bringing kohais with her.
Moreover, we got a chance to wish our Max sempai all the best on his birthday the very same day and present him with a birthday kakari-geiko non-stop for ten consecutive minutes. Happy birthday Max!
Till we meet again clashing our naginatas together!