Yoshifumi Ishizuka

Sensei Yoshifumi Ishizuka, Kyoshi 8th Dan (Osaka Police) has been visiting dojos outside of Japan for the last 5 years to teach kendo.

Culture and traditions

Osaka kendo dojos have a long history going back to the most significant cultural development in the Tokugawa (Edo period) - the culture of the townspeople. The creative energy of the townspeople was manifested in all artistic areas - prose fiction, haiku poetry, kabuki theatre [Japan, A Short History by Mikuso Hane, Oneworld Publications, Oxford, 2000, p.54] and particularly swordsmanship. During this time of peace and prosperity, samurai wore no armor, dexterity of skills were required, which laid a foundation for the modern kendo [Kendo, Its Philosophy History and Means to Personal Growth by Minoru Kiyota. Kegan Paul International, 1995, p.61.] . During the Meiji restoration when the samurai's special status was dissolved, at local level the new police system considered themselves to be the heirs to the Tokugawa samurai. Today Osaka Police shelters several hanshi such as Kaku Toshohiko, Honorary Instructor and Shihan for the Osaka University of Dentistry and Kansai Electric Company [Hanshi Says... Kendo World 3(2), 2005, pp. 36-39.] , Okuzono Kuniyoshi, Professor of Kendo at the Police Academy (retired), Vice President of Outline of All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) [Hanshi Says... Kendo World 3(1), 2004, pp.18-21.] .

Ishizuka's Kendo Fundamentals

The many masters who have molded Kendo through its long period of growth have created a large organized body of techniques of great sophistication. These man have perfected both Kendo technical method and Kendo theory. The only way to growth and development in Kendo is to study under a good teacher and to resolve and master the basics (fundamentals) of the art [Fundamental Kendo by AJKF, Japan Publications, Inc., 1973, on the soft cover] . Below is a gallery of some Kendo fundamentals shown by Ishizuka Sensei during his visits in southern California (Los Angeles and San Diego).

See also

* Kendo
* Tsuki
* Sensei
* Eiga Naoki
* Kizeme
* Muga-mushin

References

External links

* 1986 First Place in AJKC [http://www.isenokami.com/Kendo/eng/shiai/ajkc.html All Japan Kendo Championship Former Champions]
* [http://www.kendo-fik.org/english-page/english-page2/What-is-AJKF.htm What is AJKF]