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Seishin Dojo Visit
Phil Baldwin • October 31, 2020
Building Friendships though Iaido
On Tuesday the 27th October I fortunate to visit the Seishin dojo which is headed by Scrivens sensei (Hanshi, hatchidan). The dojo teaches Muso Shinden Ryu and is located in East Grinstead.
I set off around 16:30hr for the approximate 1 hour 15 mins drive from my house. I was meeting up with another DNIK member, Barrington sensei (who teaches Mugai Ryu), who is a good friend of Scrivens sensei.
As this was my first meeting with Scrivens sensei and at his dojo, there was the usual apprehensions that go along with such first time meetings which includes the insecurities of will I be perceived as someone of skill?
I have had several opportunity to talk to Scrivens sensei on the telephone prior to my visit. These were good conversations and we appeared to have the same outlook on Budo and Iai in particular.
On meeting Scrivens sensei, I was not disappointed, his skill was there to see, as where his students. His knowledge had great depth and the iai in the dojo was taught from a practical perspective. It was a real privilege to have the opportunity to train there.
We arranged to cover several of Muso Shinden Ryu kata and do a comparison with the same kata from the Muso Jikkiden Eishin Ryu syllabus. It was obvious the kata come from a common root; it was really interesting to see how the interpretation of the context shapes the applications within the kata.
Exploring Iai from other Ryu ha’s helps to build a richness of understanding that enhances everyones practice of Iai.
We concluded our practice for the night with Barrington sensei demonstrating and teaching several kata from the Mugai Ryu tachi waza kata. These contrasted those we practiced from Muso Shinden Ryu and Muso Jukiden Eishin Ryu.
Scrivens sensei had graded Barrington sensei to Shodan several years ago, this was an opportunity for an assessment of Barrignton sensei, since COVID-91 has prevented a formal evaluation during the year.
Scrivens sensei and I had previously discussed this assessment by telephone before our visit all without Barrington sensei’s knowledge.
I am pleased to announce that we were in agreement of Barrington sensei’s teaching and his ability, so Barrington sensei was presented with Ni dan. Where I asked if Scrivens sensei would present Barrington sensei his Ni dan menjo, which he agreed too.
After the presentation we concluded the training session with formal closing Reiho.
There was an opportunity to talk after training before departing, all agreeing it was a good session and how good it was to train together. We agreed to arrange further training opportunities and build a lasting friendship.
I look forward to our training together in the future.
I set off around 16:30hr for the approximate 1 hour 15 mins drive from my house. I was meeting up with another DNIK member, Barrington sensei (who teaches Mugai Ryu), who is a good friend of Scrivens sensei.
As this was my first meeting with Scrivens sensei and at his dojo, there was the usual apprehensions that go along with such first time meetings which includes the insecurities of will I be perceived as someone of skill?
I have had several opportunity to talk to Scrivens sensei on the telephone prior to my visit. These were good conversations and we appeared to have the same outlook on Budo and Iai in particular.
On meeting Scrivens sensei, I was not disappointed, his skill was there to see, as where his students. His knowledge had great depth and the iai in the dojo was taught from a practical perspective. It was a real privilege to have the opportunity to train there.
We arranged to cover several of Muso Shinden Ryu kata and do a comparison with the same kata from the Muso Jikkiden Eishin Ryu syllabus. It was obvious the kata come from a common root; it was really interesting to see how the interpretation of the context shapes the applications within the kata.
Exploring Iai from other Ryu ha’s helps to build a richness of understanding that enhances everyones practice of Iai.
We concluded our practice for the night with Barrington sensei demonstrating and teaching several kata from the Mugai Ryu tachi waza kata. These contrasted those we practiced from Muso Shinden Ryu and Muso Jukiden Eishin Ryu.
Scrivens sensei had graded Barrington sensei to Shodan several years ago, this was an opportunity for an assessment of Barrignton sensei, since COVID-91 has prevented a formal evaluation during the year.
Scrivens sensei and I had previously discussed this assessment by telephone before our visit all without Barrington sensei’s knowledge.
I am pleased to announce that we were in agreement of Barrington sensei’s teaching and his ability, so Barrington sensei was presented with Ni dan. Where I asked if Scrivens sensei would present Barrington sensei his Ni dan menjo, which he agreed too.
After the presentation we concluded the training session with formal closing Reiho.
There was an opportunity to talk after training before departing, all agreeing it was a good session and how good it was to train together. We agreed to arrange further training opportunities and build a lasting friendship.
I look forward to our training together in the future.
Back in 2021 with discussions with Shimojo sensei it was decided that the organisation model of Country Directors was not optimal for personal development of dojo sensei and their students; the organisational structure model was moved to is a root and branch. All dojo sensei who train directly under Shimojo sensei are able to directly correspond with him to make arrangements for training opportunities for the dojo. Dojo sensei can co-ordinate with other sensei to extend \n open invitation for other DNIK members to attend, this helps in building a strong family feel for the DNIK, provides more training opportunities and helps in covering costs of any hosted course. The root and branch structure provides greater flexibility for the aforementioned training opportunities, the old Country Director structure proved in the past, to act as a gate keeper to access Shimojo sensei. Shimojo sensei is happy to host training opportunities in Kyoto for those who would like to visit him. The development of the DNIK in within the UK has been non-existent over the past two years. As we continue through 2023 I am available for anyone interested in joining the DNIK to contact me, I will be happy to make an introduction to Shimojo sensei. If anyone would like more information please contact me by email phil@dnik-iaido.org Take care, train hard and lets build a strong Iaido family in the UK, Phil
During the last international course in Kyoto, Japan in 2019 I was appointed as the new director for the UK branch of the Dai Nippon Iaido Kyokai. It is a great honour to be asked to help my sensei, Shimojo soke to develop the DNIK within the United Kingdom. In turn it is a real pleasure to welcome anyone with a desire to learn Iaido and other Japanese budo into our family both in the UK and world wide. If there is anything I can do to assist you within the martial arts, please contact me, my door is always open. We had planned Shimojo soke's first teaching visit to the UK this year, unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 situation we had to cancel. I hope to be able to make new arrangements in 2021 providing the situation with COVID-19 improves. This will be a great opportunity for anyone interested in who and what the DNIK is, to come and join us and meet and train with Shimojo soke. I have a feeling that 2021 is going to be a year of growth for the DNIK in the UK, I look forward to meeting new members and sharing knowledge and growing new friendships. Take care, train hard and lets build a strong Iaido family in the UK, Phil
