FightUK.com

It's always interesting how one thing leads to another in life. That whole "chain of causality" thing.

In a previous dojo I trained at, we did weapons training early Saturday mornings, 9:30am (not really that early, but anything before Noon on a Saturday qualifies as "early" to me!). Oftentimes, it was just the instructor and myself and perhaps one or two others, so I got a lot of personal attention, which is always nice.

I took to aikiken with earnest, I really liked it. Dare I say that it was fun! Aikijo was ok...I enjoyed it better than the taijutsu. However, there was something about the sword that I really liked, can't explain it. It just seemed more "natural" to me. I practiced (and still practice) at home several times a week, first with a fallen tree branch that has very similar proportions to a bokken (but much heavier), then with a bokken proper.

[A brief aside: before you start jumping to conclusions and to the stereotypes of the angst-ridden, pimply-faced teenager wanting to swing a sword around (presumably because "it's cool!"...as well as making "light saber" noises while doing it) or the 20something fantasy warrior (presumably still living in his parent's basement and addicted to video games, Japanese anime and Mountain Dew)...I'm a 35 year old man with a job and a life.]

However, I wanted more. I wanted to learn more about the sword arts. Aikido and the sword arts have a very close association, and I wanted to learn more about that. Whatever it was, I just wanted to learn more...wherever it took me.

I first did some preliminary research on the internet and lurked in all the martial arts forums looking for instructors in my area...nothing. During one class I asked my instructor at the time if he knew of any sword instructors in our area. Being that he is well-connected and knows a lot of folks, his answer was in the negative, also. There just isn't anybody in our area...legitimate, that is. There's a few "my ryu" guys around, but I wanted to avoid that route. You know how we Aikidoka are about lineage!

So began my cyber-journey. After doing exhaustive research, I located some legitimate Iaido instructors, all in neighboring States. The irony is: they are all exactly 4 hour commutes, all in different directions! I have contacted them all and I have taken to visiting each one of them over these past few months to see the possibilites.

To be continued....