Martial Arts Event: Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido at HUFO House

Martial Arts Event: Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido at HUFO House

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido Demonstration

December 5th, The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association and Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu Shobukan dojo organized a day of cultural exchange through martial arts between Japan and Vietnam. The exchange was between Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido. Martial arts should lead to peace and mutual understanding is one of the key elements that leads to peaceful relations. (The website of the Hochiminh Union of Friendship Organizations published an article of this event here.)

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido Students of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu performing Halberd Art in armor

Students of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu performing Halberd Art in armor

This event also marked the 3rd year of Shobukan dojo’s existence in Vietnam. The last three years the dojo has attempted to strengthen people’s understanding of Japanese culture through training sessions, demonstrations and seminars. It has many followers both young and old and counts over 50 active students officially registered in Japan. Twelve Vietnamese students have already visited Japan to train with Otake Risuke sensei.

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido The event marked 3 years of existence and development of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu in Vietnam

The event marked 3 years of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu in Vietnam

The Consul general of Japan – Mr. Nakajima Satoshi and his wife attended our Martial arts day. Other dignitaries included: Mr. Huynh Minh Thien – Vice- president of Hochiminh city Union of Friendship Organizations, Mr. Nguyen Cong Tanh – President of Japan- Vietnam Friendship Association.

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido From left to right, the Consul general's wife, Vice president of the Friendship Organizations Mr. Huynh Minh Thien, and Consul general Nakajima Satoshi and Nobutoshi Sensei.

From left to right, the Consul general’s wife, Vice president of the Friendship Organizations Mr. Huynh Minh Thien, and Consul general Nakajima Satoshi and Nobutoshi Sensei.

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido Malte Stokhof-sensei, Shidosha of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu Vietnam and Mr. Nguyen Công Tanh, President of Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association

Malte Stokhof-sensei, Shidosha of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu Vietnam and Mr. Nguyen Cong Tanh, President of Japan- Vietnam Friendship Association

Shobukan Vietnam dojo invited Kendo Karate Iaido Aikido dojos to demonstrate various Japanese fighting styles. Cống Quỳnh Aikido Club represented Aikido; Seibukan Vietnam dojo represented Shorin Ryu Karatedo, Iaido Vietnam represented Iaido and Shobukan Vietnam represented Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu.

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido A performance of Karatedo from Micheal Kloesser sensei and Seibukan Vietnam

A performance of Karatedo from Micheal Kloesser sensei and Seibukan Vietnam

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido

A performance of Aikido from Cong Quynh Aikido HCMC club

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido

A performance of Iaido from Iaido Vietnam club

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido

Students of Shobukan Dojo Katori Shinto Ryu performing kenjutsu

Otake Nobutoshi sensei, head master of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, spoke about the history of the art. Afterwards, Sensei gave a performance of tameshigiri. Spectators were especially exited when the consul general of Japan, Mr. Nakajima Satoshi accepted to cut with a katana as well.

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido

Consul general Nakajima Satoshi holding a katana with Katori Shinto Ryu

Malte Stokhof sensei, Shidosha of Shobukan Vietnam, together with Otake Nobutoshi sensei, closed the event by explaining meanings of “kata” and its applications when fighting Japanese armour.

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido

Otake Nobutoshi sensei and Malte Stokhof sensei explain kata and its application on Japanese armor

By training martial arts, Vietnamese citizens interact with Japanese culture, bringing both countries closer together, one kata at a time. Shobukan invited fellow practitioners in Japanese martial arts from Karate, Iaido, Aikido and Kendo dojos in Hochiminh City. All of us aim to preserve, through our training the cultural traditions of these arts and with those the cultural tradition of Japan.

Kenjutsu, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Aikido

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto ryu, Kendo, Karate, Aikido and Iaido at Vietnam – Japan Cultural event 2014