Kenshokai Iaido Dojo

05/07/2020

As traditional martial artists we still endeavor to utilize honor and a code of reiho to generate character, will and inner strength as individuals. This manifests inside the dojo and in the greater world outside as well.

Throwback Thursday
Reverend Kensho Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on January 6, 2003.

In martial arts, as warriors we live by a strict code of honor, respect and manners. Warriors and samurai are distinguished by the strict code of ethics and morals they bind themselves to. This is what makes them very special and this is where their inner strength and spiritual energy comes
from.

04/09/2020

Ichi-go Ichi-e . . . Lessons From My Teachers

I remember quite clearly many years ago as the Zen priest and sword master Sensei Kensho Furuya would admonish his Iaido students to “Learn all you can from your teachers while they are here. When they are gone, they are gone forever”. He was one of the last “old school” traditional martial arts teachers alive and clearly spoke it with the perspective of someone who had devoted a lifetime to the martial arts. While we each heard the serious tone in his voice, I often avoided consideration of the stark truth his message carried. Since his passing 13 years ago, time has imbued his words with a particularly poignant significance that in present day and in present circumstance I recall often.

Now and then on rare occasions – towards the end of a very long sword class Furuya Sensei would call the Iaido students to gather, sit and listen at a corner of the practice floor. He used these times to teach about swords, swordsmen, samurai ideals, feudal history and Japanese culture as it existed in ages past. He crafted these sessions as opportunities to spark personal introspection of his students’ own spirits, intentions and motivations. I always cherished these lessons as they were steeped with his insight and perspective. As was their design, they often fostered the opportunity to examine my own inner self more deeply and more often than might have been common.

During one such session Furuya Sensei spoke about the Japanese phrase Ichi-go Ichi-e. I have never forgotten it and in my more self-aware moments I attempt to ingrain the concept as a guidepost in my own living and training. Ichi-go Ichi-e comes to us from the traditions of Japan’s tea ceremony. I have seen a handful of English translations of the phrase, the most frequent being “One Moment, One Meeting”. Regardless of the specific English words used in translation, the spirit of the phrase is always the same. Every moment we share with another may be the only one, or perhaps the last one we may have. This simple phrase suggests, reminds us, even compels us to recognize that each and every encounter with another is unique and can be precious.

Ichi-go Ichi-e reflects the truth that every moment in time is never able to be recaptured or recreated in exactly the same way. Furuya Sensei took great care to make sure we understood the significance. Ichi-go Ichi-e illuminates the reality that life truly is fleeting and each meeting with others is to be treasured as if it were to be our only or perhaps our last one. Although short and simple, it has the power to inform our actions, reveal the precious nature of others and the limited days of life each one of us has.

We can see this principle manifested in the great care of the tea ceremony where this phrase had its birth. We see it in the uniqueness of each stroke of the brush in Shodo and in the deliberate irrevocable actions of all martial arts. We see the truth of Ichi-go Ichi-e taking active form in the presence and certainly the absence of those we love and who are important to us. I also see this principle in Furuya Sensei’s admonishment to learn all we can while our teachers are still with us. To treasure and treat each moment in the dojo, each opportunity to learn as if it were the only or the last one we might have.

I encourage each one of us, particularly during this time of challenge to meditate on the message of Ichi-go Ichi-e and recognize the precious nature of our time here with others.

Jeff Wheeler
Chief Instructor, Kenshokai Iaido Dojo
Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

08/01/2019

The Kenshokai Dojo of Little Tokyo is honored and excited to present a demonstration of Traditional Japanese Swordsmanship on August 11th - 2:00 pm at this year's Nisei Week in Los Angeles!

Public demonstrations of authentic styles of ancient Japanese swordsmanship are uncommon these days in Japan. They are even more rare in the United States. This free event represents a true opportunity to see techniques which were in use hundreds of years ago and passed down .directly - teacher to student to the present day.

07/09/2019

Demonstration at the 2019 Lotus Festival

12/15/2018

The importance of reiho cannot be overstated in traditional dojos. Observing proper etiquette fosters the correct attitude, internal state and the increased awareness so critical in martial arts.

09/04/2018

The Kenshokai Dojo gave a demonstration of traditional Japanese swordsmanship on the opening day of Nisei Week 2018 on the JACCC Plaza in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.

08/02/2018

We are excited to demonstrate Iaido at this year's Nisei Week.

05/02/2018

Schools of Iaido vary widely as do techniques and traditions, but in this post Nishi Kaigan has expressed the core of the essence we all share as Iaidoka. Many thanks to Nishi Kaigan for posting this.
Jeff Wheeler, Chief Instructor Kensohkai Iaido Dojo

03/31/2018

In traditional martial arts students often hear the admonition to train with a "Beginner's Mind". That being a state of mind that puts aside preconceptions, is eager to learn, open and unencumbered by one's own ego.

Although this is easily understood, it is not necessarily an easy state of mind to achieve. It seems that as human beings the very core of our nature is to continually question, evaluate, reason and respond. Although these traits have enabled our species to survive and thrive through millennium, these are at the same time some of the primary stumbling blocks to fostering a beginner's mind in the dojo.

Many of us have no doubt heard the story about a well known Zen monk & a noted professor of religion who had come to interview the monk. When they first sat down, the monk offered & poured the professor a cup of tea. Instead of stopping when the teacup was near full, the monk calmly continued to pour as tea overflowed onto the table and floor. The alarmed professor cried out "What are you doing?" "Pouring tea" was the monk's calm reply. The monk continued "Your mind is like this teacup. It is so filled with your own ideas that nothing else will go in. Empty your mind so we can begin."

Please consider the beginner's mind as you train. Be well,
Jeff Wheeler, Chief Instructor Kenshokai Dojo

03/07/2018

In remembering my Sensei. Keeping the tradition at Kenshokai.

On this day 11 years ago, Furuya Sensei passed away. Here is a quote that he wrote that I found inspiring.

"We don't settle for real today, fake is fine as long as it is quick, cheap and easy. Fortunately, I am not quick, cheap or easy, - well, maybe cheap! Haha! I guess I will still prod along in my own way. This is not my way, this is the way I have been taught and my attempt to do honor to my teachers by passing on their teachings. I suppose I should not worry if it falls on deaf ears or not.

My soul is from my teachers, my blood is from my students, my life is this art I struggle with each day, but I myself am long gone."
- Rev. Kensho Furuya

Read Furuya Sensei's bio here: http://www.aikidocenterla.com/kenshofuruya

02/19/2018

Furuya Sensei taught that the very core of Iaido is focus and attention to detail. The care of his lush garden dojo entrance is a good example of this. Everything in the way he lived and in the way he taught reflected his effort to foster development of these qualities in each of his students.

On March 6th I mark the passing of Kensho Furuya Sensei & I join with all of his students in honoring the great dedication & care of his teaching and of his heart.

Jeff Wheeler - Chief Instructor, Kenshokai Dojo

“Watering the garden in the front of the dojo is a very important task and only assigned to the most senior of students. Of course, it is a simple task to dump water on a few plants - what is so difficult about that?
NO, in the dojo, it is quite different. It is such a hard task; it takes most students several years to master it!
In watering the plants, some take more water than others. One cannot spray the water too hard or they will damage the plants; too softly and the leaves are not properly washed. Each plant must be cared for in their own special way. One cannot hurry, but if we are too slow, we will waste too much water. If we are too fast or in too much of a hurry, the plants will not get enough water. At the same time, when we are watering the plants, we are also washing down our dojo to make it clean and pure. Many things to concentrate on at one time. We cannot let our mind wander and we cannot be rushed or in a hurry. Watering the plants in the garden takes great care, sensitivity, awareness, efficiency and speed. Not easy! Not easy at all! Later, a student will see that it is just like taking care of all of the students in class.”
- Rev. Kensho Furuya

cc: David Ito Aikido Center of Los Angeles