Amsterdam Branch, Holland / December 2009 - Contributors: Anton Eliens & Sebas Eliens

Japanese Shorinji Kempo Delegetion visits Amsterdam Dojo

In commemoration of 400 years of trade between Japan and the Netherlands, a large Japanese Budo Delegation visited the Netherlands to give demonstrations and workshops of Japanese Budo. In his opening speech, Matsunaga Hikaru, president of the Nippon Budokan Foundation, emphasized the long history of Japanese Budo and the continuous contribution of Budo training to the health and education of youth. The Japanese martial arts presented included Judo, Kendo, Kyudo, Sumo, Karatedo, Aikido, Naginata, Jukendo, and Shorinji Kempo.

Shorinji Kempo was represented by Onogi Kenzo (8th dan), Sasaki Masato (7th dan), Arai Shoji (6th dan), Uesugi Yoshiki (4th dan), Mii Chiemi (4th dan), and Oka masako (4th dan). In the public demonstration, that attracted around 400 spectators, they showed tan'en, pair-form embu, as well as goho and juho randori, which were all very well received by the audience.

The day prior to the demonstration, the Japanese Shorinji Kempo delegation visited our Amsterdam Dojo, and honored us with a guest lesson in which we practised general techniques and in which Onogi sensei taught us okuri gote and kote nage, with a special rotational twist that was new to us. After training, we all went to have a Dutch dinner, with limited beer and wine, in anticipation of the demonstration the next day.

After talking with Onogi sensei, my training partner Gil and I decided to follow the invitation to take our 3rd dan exam at Hombu, which we will do in the summer training camp of august 10-13, 2010.

Anton Eliens

[Shorinji Kempo Amsterdam]

Tojo Hiromi sensei (4th dan) introduced Shorinji Kempo in 1982 in the Netherlands. He has trained and guided many pupils. The current

Amsterdam Dojo consists of a small but dedicated group of kenshi. In the Netherlands Tojo sensei is also known as actor from TV, theatre and film.



Cycling for Climate

After participating in the International embu gathering in Bali, kenshi Nick Gloeckl and Sebas Eliens planned a new trip together. To highlight the importance of the climate negotiations in Copenhagen, to raise awareness of climate changes to encourage people and governments to take action now, they decided to cycle from Amsterdam to Copenhagen on their everyday, dutch "granny bicycles". They left Amsterdam on the 24th of November to arrive in Copenhagen on the 6th of December, the day before the the UN climate summit COP15 started.

Details of the trip, plus a report including many video's and photo's can be found on the site www.cyclingforclimate.nl

Sebas Eliens

 

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