Clear Lake Iaido

Here at last is my missive on the seminar, or, what I did on my summer vacation in Victoria, BC.

After staying up late the night before to finish packing and construct a PVC pipe carrier for two swords, I got up early to be ready for Joe to pick me up. While waiting for our flight out we each took a leg of Joe's hakama, that had been pinned up just last night after practice, and hemmed it. We flew from Hobby to Phoenix to Seattle where we rented a car to drive the rest of the way. Between the traffic, taking a wrong turn, stopping for a bite, a delay in our flight's arrival, and under estimating the distance from Seattle to the Tsawassen ferry port we arrived too late to join the caravan to the reception for Esaka and Kaneda senseis. We called our regrets while enroute on the ferry. We were also way tired by the time we reached our room at the University of Victoria (UVic). The ferry ride from the mainland through the Southern Isles to Schwartz bay did made up for the long day with cool winds, gorgeously rugged shoreline, and about half a dozen orcas. We were later told that we were very fortunate to see the whales on the ferry trip.

After sleeping in the next morning we rose and had our complementary breakfast at the UVic cafeteria where we ran into Andrei Diamantstein. Twenty of his students were attending the seminar, and a number of them were testing on Sunday. This was the first CIA summer seminar where non-Canadians out numbered Canadians. There were a total of fifty folks attending in all. On our way about the campus I noticed these curious birds that looked like crows but didn't sound at all like the common American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) that we have in Texas, intead they sounded more like ravens. I thought they might be Northwestern Crows but no one I asked knew. Since the first session was not until the afternoon we drove to the beach and wandered about the rocky shore peering into tidal pools at sea annemones, crabs, snails, fish, and kelp. The waters there are very different from that of the gulf. Whereas the gulf is shallow near the shore and warm, the water there was deep and cold (I've had ice water that was warmer). Then it was back to the campus for a small lunch before the first session at the UVic gym. Scott Irey was at the seminar, but serving as Esaka sensei's translator left him very little time for anything else. We were divided into two groups and assigned instructors,-- mudansha to Nidan under Kaneda sensei, and Sandan & up under Esaka sensei (10dan Hanshi). Kaneda sensei we were told was something of a boy wonder being the youngest ever to achieve 7th Dan at age 36, the minimum age required for this rank. The first group was further subdivided into those testing and those not testing with the higher ranks to the rear and beginners in front. During the course of the seminar Kaneda sensei covered Reishiki, Seiza no Bu, and Batto Ho no Bu, with just a few words on Toho no Bu. After a light dinner we gave a ride to some of the other students staying at UVic to the evening session at the Common Place gym. By this time we had noticed that instead of the ubiquitous squirrel, the campus had feral domestic rabbits wandering about which we were told were descended from student pets let loose. After class it was off to get pizza and drinks for the BYO party at Greg Williams' house that evening. The pizza we brought proved to be such a big hit that we almost didn't get any ourselves. It was a fun social gathering, and we didn't leave until late.

We rose early the next morning to have breakfast with a few of the other students including Wout Vershueren who came all the way from Belgium to attend. Both the morning and the afternoon sessions were on campus so for lunch a bunch of us retired to the cafeteria to eat and visit. Some of the newer students were using a boken and a white golf tube that appeared to be of sturdier construction than the black ones we get around here. I would lke to get my hands on some of those. After the afternoon session we were really beat and went back to the room to shower and lie down before heading off to the banquet that night. The food was good and there were toasts, speeches, gift-giving, etc. Out of the blue I was invited to breakfast early the next morning at Greg Williams'. Sunday we were up early to meet Wout and Andrei in the parking lot before following them to the house. I found out why I was invited as I fielded questions about NASA and space while downing pancakes, peaches, and tea. Then it was time to go to the morning session wich was held at a middle school gym. John came with us and this was the only time we got to have a long uninterupted conversation with him. The morning session was mostly free practice during which Esaka- sensei came over to our group to watch and give comments. During his walk through he complimented Joe on his Ukenagashi. After the morning session we broke for lunch and then off to the Common Place gym for more free practice followed by the Dan Exams. All in all 20 tested for Shodan and up, and all were awarded. They did it in groups of threes and twos similar to the way we did at the Embu in April. All started to the right of the examination board, with each group performing opening reishiki before moving to face the board at which time they would be prompted to give their number and state the name of their school (MJER). Everyone did 5 waza with the first from Toho. After a group was done they would move to the left side to perform closing reishiki and wait for everyone else to finish. After the certificates were awarded, group pictures were taken, and then we had to leave to go get in line for a ferry departing that evening for Washington to ensure we made it to the airport the next morning in time to return the car and fly out at noon. Next time we'll know to allow for more time at the end to get back. Marilyn, wife of one of the hosting Canadian senseis, lead us to the ferry line then took us to see the sights of the inner harbor and down town Victoria including the museum, Empress Hotel, street vendors, and aided us in our expedition to get a t-shirt for Paul. It was in the museum gift shop that Joe looked up the crows we had seen and verified they were Northwestern Crows. I noticed that in the inner city these crows out numbered pidgeons. We took the ferry directly across to the Washington penninsula standing at the bow of the ship (less wind) watching the mountains, with Port Angeles at their base. get closer as we clutched our hand warmers (cups of hot tea) close to us. We didn't see any whales on this ferry trip, but enjoyed the beautiful evening crossing. Once in Washington we drove to Sequim, spent the night, and left early the next day to drive the final leg to the airport while passing many scenic areas along the way. On the flight back we wrote down everything we could remember from the seminar. Most of what Kaneda sensei had to teach is the same as what we already know. There were a few new points, and a few interesting differences between what the two main groups were being told. I discussed what we had learned from Kaneda sensei that was different at the June 2nd class in Denton. If you haven't been at The Dojo since the seminar please observe sensei closely when you do go because some things have changed. During the course of the seminar we got little or no direct feed back from the senseis, and we were beginning to wonder why, but were assured that this was not necessarily a bad thing, but rather an indication that we were on the right track. I regret that we didn't get to see Esaka sensei's iai, but we were given to understand that he works with the lower ranks on alternate years. I look forward to next summer's seminar in Vancouver.

The weather in Victoria, by the way, was perfect, but a little cooler at night than what we were used to. We didn't get much sleep but we had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and met new friends. One thing that we heard repeatedly from those we met who learned that John was our sensei was that we were very lucky. From all that we saw and heard our sensei is very highly respected by everyone there.

I hope you enjoyed reading this,-- I apologize for the length, but it was an interesting trip.

--Emily

These pictures were taken in Victoria BC on 2001 May 27 by Wout Vershueren.

In this picture from left to right is: Emily Egan, John Ray, Raju Thakrar, Seigen Ezaka, Hisato Kaneda, and Joe Charles.

• Seigen Ezaka - Hanshi 10dan, Vice president of the All Japan Iaido Federation (ZNIR)
• Hisato Kaneda - Kyoshi 7dan
• John Ray - 7dan
• Raju Thakrar - 6dan; Kaneda's translator
• Emily Egan & Joe Charles - unranked students of John Ray

In this picture from left to right is: Seigen Ezaka, Ted Davis, and John Ray

• Ted Davis - Renshi 6dan, President of the Canadian Iaido Association (CIA)

In this picture from left to right is: Mike ???, Andrei Diamanstein, John Ray, Scott Irey, Wout Vershueren, and Greg Williams.

• Mike ??? - ???
• Andrei Diamanstein - 5dan, Berkely, California
• Scott Irey - 5dan, Seattle, Washington
• Wout Vershueren - 4dan, Belgium
• Greg Williams - 4dan, Victoria, British Columbia

Group Photo (click to enlarge)

© 2001, 2002       Last Updated: 2001.08.27       Credits