Master Unleashes the Art of
kendo in Pocatello School: Famed sensei hones local students' skills
By Dan Boyd - Journal Writer
Journal photo by Joshua Duplechian - Sensei Shinichi Koike,
who coached the U.S. national team in the 2003 world championships,
drills with Michelle Byrd Saturday afternoon in the Greenacres
Elementary School gymnasium.
POCATELLO - The sounds of combat and violent yelling emanating from
the Greenacres Elementary School gymnasium on Saturday afternoon
might have unnerved the average passer-by.
But if such a person were to stop and look a little closer,
he would have seen an interesting spectacle.
About 15 students of kendo, the most ancient of martial arts,
gathered in Pocatello to cross swords with Shinichi Koike, the
coach of the U.S. national team at the
2003 world championships.
But to hear Koike tell it, Kendo isn't a pursuit of violence.
"
Kendo is not to beat up your opponent, it is to polish yourself," he said. "A
lot of people have misunderstood that martial arts are just for fighting."
Jonathan Byrd, head instructor of the 7-year-old Pocatello
Kendo Club, said training with someone of Koike's stature
is invaluable.
"This is like having Michael Jordan come run your basketball camp," he
said.
Kendo originated centuries ago in Japan when Samurai swordsmen
were part the country.
It was banned in Japan during World War II, but allowed to
resume in the 1950s.
Today, practitioners of the art worldwide use bamboo swords
called shinai to strike one another in certain targeted areas. "(The shinai) are flexible
enough that we can strike each other full power, full speed, without a chance
for injury," Byrd said. "It's very rare you see an injury more
serious than bruises or blisters."
Although those present Saturday admitted Kendo is physically
grueling, many said it's also a mental workout.
"
Western fencing is more of a sport - there's a lot more metaphysical that goes
on with this," said Steven Roosevelt, a Boise physician.
"
Once you can get the basics down, it's all up here," Byrd added, pointing
to his temple.
At the conclusion of the day's training, Koike let the various
students take a crack at him. None were overwhelmingly successful.
With lightning-quick sword strikes and an ethereal calm, it's
no wonder Roosevelt called the experience "pretty intimidating."
But even after demonstrating his expertise, the Tokyo-born
Koike maintained a modest nature.
"
Everyone did really good today," he said. "I know things I want to
give to them."
When Koike led the U.S. team to a third-place finish in Glasgow, Scotland,
in 2003 it was the best the American team had ever done.
Currently the sensei, or master, at the Northwest Kendo Dojo
in Seattle, he left an definite impression on those who
traveled to southeast Idaho
from around the
state and even Utah.
"
This is awesome," said Tony Leischner of Pocatello while rubbing his swollen
knuckles. "We don't get this kind of exposure very often."
Leischner said he more or less ditched his family for the weekend
to participate in the training, which culminates in a mock tournament
today at Idaho State
University's Reed Gym.
Although kendo might not be exceedingly popular in Idaho, Byrd
and his wife, Michelle, will be teaching a beginning kendo
class at ISU
next
semester and
say the Pocatello club is gaining steam.
"
It usually takes about a dozen years and we've only been around for seven," he
said.
Unlike many sports, Byrd said the middle-aged Koike proves
the young aren't always the best.
"
You get old men and it looks like if you breathe on them they'd fall over and
you can't touch them," he said. "It's very difficult."
Kendo training
The three-day kendo training ends today with a mock tournament at
Idaho State University's Reed Gym. The event lasts from 8 a.m. to
12 p.m. and is open to the public.
