kagami
Summer/Fall 2019

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KAGAMIKagami: Contents
Summer/Fall 2019

Welcome!
Curating Our Karma
The Fun and Foibles of Study Group Life
User Guide to the KNBK DMS
Dojo Spotlight: Shindokan Budo New England
AROUND THE KNBKSouth American KNBK Update
Upcoming Events and Seminars
Kagami Book

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KAGAMIWelcome!

by Erik A. Johnstone, Doshi, Shindokan Budo Dojo, Kagami Editor

Welcome to the latest issue of Kagami! We hope that you have
all had a wonderful summer and that you were able to get asmuch training, travel, and vacation time in as possible! We here
at Kagami have certainly been following the many adventuresof our leaders and members through the various social media
platforms out there and it certainly looks like many of you madethe most of the season!
We began work on what was to be the Spring 2019 issue many
months ago in the first weeks of spring, and now the lifeguard
chairs at our local beaches stand empty, kids are all back inschool, and we find ourselves mere weeks away from theautumnal equinox. In a recent email I apologized for the long
delay in getting this issue out to everyone, and I do so again
here. With very little in the way of contributed material, I foundit extremely difficult to carve out the necessary time to create
content for this issue, despite the catalyst of a number of excellent
training events with Long Sensei through the course of the springand summer. Fortunately, to my great relief, a few of you steppedup this summer with additional contributions, making this issue
possible. That said, I willingly took on this role at Kagami, and the
responsibility of getting each issue produced and delivered in atimely manner lies squarely on my shoulders.
In any case, we now offer this issue to you in the hopes that itmeets with your approval. It includes some very interesting
perspectives offered by some of our KNBK members; a report
on KNBK trainings and progress in South America; the second
installment of very helpful guidance to navigating the online
KNBK Dojo Management System (DMS) by Bob Morris Doshi; andas ever, the Dojo Spotlight.
Speaking of the Dojo Spotlight, we are looking for some volunteers
for the next couple of issues of Kagami, so if you would like tohelp out, it would be greatly appreciated! That goes for any othercontent that you might wish to contribute. The further ahead we
can get content queued up for an issue, the better off we are withrespect to navigating the time crunch. We have been very proudof our role with respect to Kagami, but it is very much a group effort. So please don’t hesitate to take part in that effort; your assistancewould be warmly welcomed!
Here in New England, we’ve got a few more weeks of warm weather but summer’s going fast. Really fast, I heard that there was snow inQuebec on the Gaspee Peninsula; it won’t be long before it’s flying here and elsewhere in the Northeast. So, enjoy the waning days ofsummer and the changing of the seasons to come. And don’t forget that there are a few more training opportunities with Long Sensei
this year, including the 2019 Shidosha Koshukai at Hombu Dojo (for those who meet eligibility requirements). Hope to see you on themat this fall!

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KAGAMICurating Our KarmaBy Matthew King, Shindokan Budo New England“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.
If you think about that, you’ll do things differently”- Warren Buffet

lesson from Long Hanshi.
Traditional Japanese Swordsmanship has many lessons
that are transferable and useful when applied in othermartial arts. We train for a better understanding of distanceand timing, balance and power, a determined spirit; all ofthese can transfer into many other forms of training. The
most valuable lessons, the ones that take the most effort
to grasp, are those I learn in the dojo but carry with me
wherever I go. These lessons require no formal dress or
sword on my hip. These teachings do not require perfecttechnique or any significant rank to learn. They teachabout life, intention; and transfer into the world for the
betterment of all beings. This lesson begins with a sword
but ends with a word.
A sword cut changes the world forever. The decision to cut
can take a life, completely ending any chance for someone
to realize a future that might have been. However, we don’t
carry swords on our hips anymore, but we train to embody
this mentality and act intentionally with everyone in ourlives. Today, the way we use our words shows how wewould cut with our sword. What we say is how we change
the world forever.
Karma can be thought of as the sum of our actions that
determine our fate. If we can curate our actions, we movetowards being a better version of ourselves and are better
able to positively impact our karma, and therefore oureffects on the world. Karma is the reaping of what you sow,the “Grand Effect” of all our causes. How can we possibly
control this? How do we best influence the outcome? We
can do so by being more selective, organized, and awareof their presentation.

This article, inspired by lessons from Carl Long, Hanshi, is about
the decision to act and the awareness of the consequences of
our actions, applying samurai teachings into a modern context.
When deciding on a title for this piece, the word “curate” initiallyfelt wrong. After consideration, I realized that my feelings
towards the word implied to me that it is a bit fake or posed,
as if a curator was somehow presenting a facade, somethingthat might be staged with an intent to mislead. More time
contemplating the word made me realize that it was better
than other options because of something I hadn’t considered.
Something is curated intentionally, for some consideredpurpose or specific reason. It may not be spontaneous, but if
done with an open heart, one could not consider it less genuine
than a spontaneous act. That awareness and specific intention
towards the desired outcome was exactly how I thought of this4

We are responsible for having done everything in our
power to solve the problem before the sword leaves thesaya. Omori-ryu teaches Iai waza from seiza, in part, so thatfrom the first lessons we learn, we are shown to present
ourselves with dignity, composure, and the ability to sit
with another and seek to solve problems before resortingto violence. When faced with an escalating situation, justas at the beginning of waza right before nukitsuke, weface a life-altering decision. We must be aware that all of
the choices in our life up to this point have led us to thismoment; in the next few breaths, we are about to change
the world forever through the decision that we make.
This is the moment that we train for in waza, the moment
when we must recognize all of our decisions in life up tonow, standing with another who has to do the very same,

KAGAMIpoised to change the world. It begs the question, ‘Is this the
only way?’. Before the negotiations fail, before it comes toaction, before the sword leaves the saya and the manifest
and nonmanifest separate, splitting what is real from what
could be, we must know that we have done everything in
our power to know there was no other option. When thesword cuts, it cuts for the right reasons. The sword cuts
to preserve life, to better the world, to ensure a positive
future. These are all clean intentions for the cut. If we cut
with clean intention, we have done what we can to ensurethat we continue through life in right and just action, andcurate positive karma through our intentions in the world.
If this is the way we cut with a sword, it must also be theway we speak.
The power of words carries with it a weight of responsibility
that is too often overlooked. Escalation of conflict during
conversation can be harder to detect than the escalation
inherent in drawing and cutting with a sword. The
effectiveness of words can be represented by the idea ‘Ichigo Ichi-e’; one encounter, one chance. Speaking is like awaza where nukitsuke is also kirioroshi. The beginning is
also the end. If the sword is not drawn with compassion,
it cannot possibly express compassion and end suffering,and there is only ever one opportunity to say anything.
The right words at the right time have the potential tochange a person’s life forever and once said, the speaker
can never take them back. The cut has been made. Whatwas said, when it was said, and who said it can change
everything for someone. The smallest affirmation could
bring someone back from the edge of an abyss they
thought was their only future. A scathing insult, drippingwith vitriol and with the intention to hurt, can tear a hole insomeone as sure as any blade. Can we learn to respect the
moment we choose our words the same way we respect
the moment when hands raise to perform koiguchi kiri nokata and draw? We must have the resolve to carry out thelife sentence we forge with our words as well as deeds.
Our mission from the onset of a waza is to protect the worldfrom harm and stand as a guardian, facing what needed tohappen, what we have done and will do, and living withthe decision to act with no backward glances. Knowingthat in that moment, it is the only decision that could
have been made. When we acknowledge that our words
can cut as deeply as swords, before we use our power toact, to speak, we must ask ourselves ‘Does it need to be
said? Does it need to be said right now? Does it need tobe said by me?’. Intention, timing, and compassion when
we speak can curate our karma so that we help ensure
what we bring into our life, and the lives we touch, is not amisrepresentation of our hearts and who we are.

with the shortcomings of ourselves and others? Can we stay
our ego and hold our tongue when presented with another’slashing out? Can we train ourselves to show composure during
times of struggle when a situation is difficult and not let ourire swell and fuel hurtful reactions? If we consider each word apotential cut, we will speak with more compassion to everyone
and towards ourselves. We can ensure that what we say, when
we say it, and how it is said will change the world for the better,and better help us live with the future that we take a direct partin making. By taking an active role in the type of person wechoose to be, we begin making our environment and life a
product of our choices, instead of the other way around.
“Honesty without compassion is cruelty.” - Bruce Kasanoff

How we act is as important as being prepared to deal withthe results of those actions. If karma has brought us to thisencounter, has our training and choices prepared us to deal

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KAGAMIThe Fun and Foibles of Study GroupLife
by Ben Couch, Ryushinkan - Tuscon, AZ

A few years ago, when Walter Yturralde andI appealed to Robin Ramirez Sensei to let us
form a Tucson study group for Shindo Musoryu jojutsu, we didn’t know what we were
getting into! Although we had both studied
martial arts for over 30 years, it had always
been under the immediate guidance of ateacher. Now we had to buy plane tickets
whenever we wanted to receive correction
and instruction in an art that even seniorteachers have called the most difficult one
that they have undertaken.
In beginning our group, I have never in
my life been more aware of how little I
know about a subject. My constant refrain
to the class has been “to the best of myunderstanding…” as we try to pick our way
through our practice to a performance thatsomehow, against all odds, exceeds our
teachers’ expectations – and we all know
how likely exceeding expectations is undereven the best of circumstances. Many is thetime I’ve come back from seminars to tellstudents “we’ve been doing this all wrong.”(Sorry, gang.)

And yet, that experience of not knowing is
our special exhilaration as well. We come toour practice with shoshin – beginner’s mind
– by necessity each time we take to themats. Rather than experiencing our training
like dipping our toes in the cool stream ofknowledge a few times each week, we wadeout into the Arizona monsoons (yes, that’s
a thing!) and practically drown every time
we have a chance to learn in seminars, forexample. Rather than learning by degrees,
we learn by deluge.
In my past studies in karate, tae kwon do,
aikido, and jujutsu, my learning process hasrelied on feeling each technique, watchingcarefully as it is repeated, practicing withsomeone else who has seen the samedemonstration, receiving answers toquestions, and taking immediate corrective
action based on real-time feedback. The
long-distance study group model functions
in a similar way, but each of those steps is

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KAGAMIseparated by long gaps of time where we can’t
always be sure if we are reinforcing bad habits orgood ones. Feedback has become more rare andprecious in this situation, and my gratitude for myteachers’ work with me has increased many times
over.
In Walden, Thoreau says “that if one advances
confidently in the direction of his dreams, andendeavors to live the life which he has imagined,
he will meet with a success unexpected in common
hours.” This is an attitude that Walter and I have
had to cultivate as we’ve struck out – not on ourown – but perhaps on a lonelier path than most.
It has taught us to find confidence, take heart, andembrace our errors as stepping stones to success.
Perfectionists, both of us, we have had to learn
to be happy with doing our best and presenting
our efforts confidently. I believe we are learning
something about being students that we couldn’t
have known in other circumstances.
As with all things, there are pros and cons tostudy group training. On the downside, it’s very
hard to keep up from hundreds or thousandsof miles away. The second con is that all of thethings we might accidentally do poorly work theirway into our practice much more insidiously andwith greater longevity, even after correction. Our
training is also very much our own responsibility,
for good or ill. At the end of the day however,despite our comparative martial solitude, we havegreat teachers with great depth, and they are here
for us. They have invited us into their homes anddojo with kindness and compassion in an effort
to support our nascent program and ourselves.
We have been encouraged with compassion,
openness, and information in each dojo, and thenwe have returned our Tucson “laboratory” to workon our next presentation. The greatest benefit
however is that we have, from a great distance,
been allowed to participate in and belong to thisspecial endeavor with the Kokusai Nippon Budo
Kai. Belonging to this family is the greatest proof all, and I’m already saving for my next trip to
Wilkes-Barre. And Bakersfield. And San Diego…

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KAGAMI

User Guide to the KNBK DMS
by Bob Morris, Doshi KNBK Hombu Dojo

The Dojo Management System (DMS), created by Joe Wildeof Hombu Dojo, is a real-time system accessed through the
Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai (KNBK) website for managing
the KNBK student and dojo data. When a student’s test
is entered, a fee is paid, or data is changed (or entered),the system automatically and immediately updates that
information and displays it. As an example, on January 2nd,
I paid both the KNBK and the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (DNBK)
dues (they are separate fees) using the DMS and PayPal
as described in the Winter 2018-2019 Issue of Kagami. My
payments displayed in the DMS by the time I finished with
PayPal.
There is a hierarchy of who can see the data entered into
the system. Students can only see their own data; theycannot change or enter data. This is by design as there isno need for students to see any data but their own. By notallowing students to change their own data we eliminate
the possibility of errors creeping into the system. Should
you need to update or add data you will need to go throughyour Dojo-cho or, if necessary, by contacting Long Hanshi.
Briefly, the other access levels are those of the Member
Dojo and Hombu Dojo. Dojo-cho can see their school andstudents and add or update some of the information. Only
Hombu has access to all of the data. If there are any issues
with your information and your Dojo-cho is unable to help,
please contact Hombu.
Before we get to the explanation of what is available to8

individual students, I’d like to do a quick reminder thatyour login is the first letter of your first name plus yourlast name. Your initial password is your KNBK member
number. If you cannot access your account you are not an
active member. You can remedy this by contacting yourDojo-cho or Hombu.
In the screen-shot below you see a basic student display(mine). It consists of three main sections: the title area,
the student information display, and the toolbar. The title
area consists of the name of the dojo that the student is
assigned to, the current dojo status, and the student’s
name. The dojo status will be “Active” or “Inactive”. As longas the fees are current the dojo will retain active status. If
you have moved to another dojo and it is not reflected inyour status, please contact Hombu to update your status.
The student information display also consists of threeareas. Individual information on the left, membershipstatus in the center, and current rank(s) on the right. We’ll
start with the left and work our way across.

KAGAMI

Individual information is exactly that. It consists of justthe fields you see here. Most students have little morethan their name and birthday here. Sensei would like tohave good contact information for all students. A goodemail address is the preferred contact point. In my data I
have all of the information entered. This allows Hombu to
contact me or my designated emergency contact should
the need arise. Some of you will not want to enter thismuch information. That’s perfectly acceptable. But we
do ask that you at least give an email address. There aretimes when an individual needs to be contacted and yourThe promotion section is where all of your test results are
instructor is not available and it makes the process muchdisplayed. The ONLY person who can change the information
simpler.
displayed here is Long Sensei. Promotions are entered by the
Dojo-cho from the dojo where the tests were held. Yudansha
fees that are due will be paid at that time. Kyusha fees arepaid to the dojo. The test results will then go to Sensei. He will
review them and then approve them for posting. Dan menjo
and menkyo-sho will be issued and sent from Hombu Dojo
ONLY. Test results should be entered into the DMS within twodays. As a former Dojo-cho, I have used that part of the system.
The date displayed is the date that the test results are enteredinto the system. This may not necessarily be your exact test
date, unless the test results are entered on the day of the test.
Not the date Sensei approved them for posting. If you don’t
see the results of your test within a week, contact the Dojo-cho
who held the test. If the results have not been entered, Long
Membership status for an individual consists of two
Sensei will NOT have them.
possible entries. Your KNBK membership will always behere. If you are a DNBK member, that information will be
An example of this is my Godan test on the 5th of February.
listed as well. There are three pieces of information thatMy test results were entered into the DMS on the 5th, and theare the most important for you; your member number,date of my test was set as the entry date into the DMS (the 5th).
membership status, and your last renewal date. YourThe same example can be used for my Aikido test. I had tested
member number is your designation in the DMS. Your
earlier in the week, but my results were entered at the same
member number will not change. It is assigned by thetime as my other test. My official test date for Aikido is the date
DMS when you were entered in as a new member. Thereof entry, February 5th.
is no other significance for that number. The DNBK also
assigns your membership number. We have no control
The Toolbar located at the bottom of the screen contains up to
over that.
four icons: Home, Events, Documents, and the Store. Home isthe same as the home button that you’re used to everywhereYour membership status is either “Active” or “Inactive”. If
on the internet. It brings you back to your main screen fromyou are current with your dues and your dojo is current
anywhere in the DMS. Events is a new function that is not
you will be listed as active. This leads directly to “Lastquite there yet. It will eventually list all of the upcoming events
Renewed”. This is the date when your dues were paid
registered in the DMS. Dojo-cho will be able to enter the event
through the DMS. Some dojo prefer to collect dues for all
and students will be able to register and pay for the eventsof their students and send them in all at once. The datefrom the Events listing.
here will reflect that. As a member of the KNBK you canpay your dues directly to Hombu should you wish. This
Documents is a large listing of various documents available toprocess was described in the Winter 2018-2019 Issue ofall members. There are six sections in the documents list. All
Kagami. If you do not have that issue, you will be able toof the documents are meant to be used by our members. You
find it in the Documents section, or you can contact Erikcan print them out and hand them out as needed. Please note
Johnstone Sensei and he will send you a copy via email.
that ALL documents, logos, and graphics are proprietary to the
KNBK and are only for the use of current active members of theKNBK. Put simply, if you’re not an active member, you can’t use
it.

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Section A contains the Applications and Guidelines for the
KNBK. These are meant to be printed out and handed out
to new students. All students should be familiar with theguidelines.
Section B contains the testing requirements. The current
selections are for Batto Iai, MJER Iai, SMR Jodo, and Shitoryu Karate-do. There is also a listing of test fees and the test
form. While we are on the subject, we need to talk about
testing for a moment because there is some erroneous
information going around. Testing is done by qualified,certified instructors. All instructors are required yearly toattend Koshukai to get/retain their instructors license or
authorization. Those who have, are allowed to test up to two ranks below their current rank in that style. For example
a Shodan can test up to First Kyu. Kyusha rank certificates are purchased from Hombu and are issued by the instructor
doing the testing. Yudansha certificates are only issued from Hombu Dojo after the appropriate fee is paid to Hombu. ALL
yudansha certificates are entered into the ranking book that is kept at Hombu. This book contains all of the Shogo and
Yudansha rank of all members going back to Masayuki Shimabukuro Hanshi. If your certificate is not listed there, you are
NOT certified at that rank. Contact Hombu if you have any questions.
Section C contains the KNBK approved artwork and graphics. Current members and dojo are allowed to utilize thesegraphics. However, they are copyrighted. Hombu has set the rules so that you may use these freely as long as you meet thepreviously described criteria.
Section D is all of the forms pertaining to participation in DNBK events. Their forms are provided with permission of the
DNBK for use by our students who wish to participate in the DNBK. This is strictly voluntary on the part of students. Please
be aware that if you are not a DNBK member, you can’t participate in their events.
The last two sections contain newsletters. The mostcurrent newsletters for the DNBK and KNBK are usuallyfound here.
The cart reflects your personal cart. This is where any
pending purchases will appear. Once you have paid
for your purchase using PayPal, your cart will clear. You
need to be aware that placing an item into the cart does
not complete your purchase. You’ll need to open yourcart, go to PayPal, pay, and return to the cart to finish anytransactions. Also, please be aware that membership dues/dojo renewals sitting in a cart do not count as being current.
If the transaction for dues is not completed by the due date, your cart will be cleared and a late fee will then apply to any
renewals at that time.
I hope that this guide has been helpful. Next time I’ll cover the functions available to Dojo-cho. If you have any questions
you can contact Hombu dojo at hombu@knbk.org, ask your Dojo-cho, or contact me. My email is listed above.

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Dojo Spotlight:
Shindokan Budo New England

Editor’s Note: We have been engaged with this project called Kagami since 2006, and in that time we have shone thespotlight on many of the member dojo in our far-flung Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai family. During that time, I was reluctant topresent a profile on my own dojo… until now. So with that, this installment of the Dojo Spotlight brings us to coastal New
England and Shindokan Budo New England, located in the beautiful fishing village of Stonington, Connecticut.
Shindokan Budo New England has been in existence in one form or another,and at one location or another, since 2003. During that time, we haveexperienced cycles of growth and decline; the ebb and flow of students
as we struggled to build up a solid foundation as well as our standing andreputation in our community and our region. While we had the good fortuneof having good budo friends who were willing to share their respective
dojo with Shindokan Budo, it had always been my goal to realize my longheld dream of opening my own dojo, completely independent of the good
graces of colleagues willing to provide a home for us. It was in Novemberof 2018, following a bit of encouragement, coaching, and many hours ofmeetings, that my dream became a reality. I found a perfect space in the
Velvet Mill in the historic seaside village of Stonington (I’d had my eye on
Velvet Mill for quite some time) and after many years in existence, our dojo
finally had its own home! With our relocation came a slight change to ourname; as we were honoured to be asked to share our name with what
is now Shindokan Budo Long Island, we became Shindokan Budo New
England.
Shindokan Budo New England serves as a Shibu Dojo within the Kokusai
Nippon Budo Kai. I have the honour of serving as a direct student of Carl E.
Long, Hanshi, 22nd Generation Soshihan of Seito Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu
Iah-Heiho and Kaicho of the Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai. I began my journeyin the martial arts in 1981 in San Rafael, California, training in a local Kenpo
dojo. However, my first real exposure to true Budo came in 1983, when aftera relocation to California’s Central Coast, I was accepted into a Wado-ryu
Karate-do and Jujutsu dojo (at that time, the only student under eighteen
years of age that was permitted to join) located in the San Luis Obispo
Buddhist Temple.* The training there also marked my first exposure to
Iaido. After a move back to New England, I began training in Okinawa Gojuryu Karate-do, followed shortly thereafter by training in Aikido. I also latercross-trained in Shorin-ryu Karate-do as well as with a Danzan-ryu based Jujutsu group. For a short time in the early 1990’s,
I was given the opportunity to teach Wado-ryu Karate-do and Jujutsu, while also training in Aikido in the same dojo. It wasthen that the dream of someday establishing my own dojo really took hold. In August of 2000, I had the great fortune ofmeeting and training with Carl Long, Hanshi, which would be a pivotal event in my life and in my future in Budo. Long Sensei
was to be the teacher for whom I had been searching and I began training with him shortly thereafter. In 2002 Long Sensei
gave me permission to establish a study group, and in the Fall of 2003 Shindokan Budo was born.
At Shindokan Budo New England, we practise Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu, Shindo Muso-ryu Jojutsu, and Dentokan Aiki
Jujutsu (a derivative of Kokodo Jujutsu and Hakko-ryu Jujutsu). We currently hold training in Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu andAiki Jujutsu on Monday and Thursday evenings, and on Saturday mornings. Our training in Shindo Muso-ryu Jojutsu is heldon Thursday evenings. We also offer a class in Women’s Self-Defence on Wednesday evenings. Additionally, we hold frequent
workshops and training intensives and often have visitors from throughout New England visit for training. We have the good
fortune to have Long Sensei visit twice annually, usually in the spring and the fall, for regional multi-day intensive training
events. Additionally, in an interesting reversal of roles, we find ourselves with the ability to pay back those colleagues who

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KAGAMIhave helped and housed Shindokan Budo over the years by paying it forward, in turn housing Stonington Aikido and the
Bujinkan Gyo-Un Ryusui Dojo, whose instructors each also train as members of Shindokan Budo New England. Finally, we
also offer weekly zazen (seated meditation) sessions, held on Wednesday evenings.
Since our move in November we have seen a good degree of growth, with an influx of new students as well as the returnof students who had been away for some time. Although a relatively small dojo, we have a notable degree of experience,with a high percentage of members who have been training since the earliest days of Shindokan Budo. The training in ourdojo is serious, demanding, and rigourous; but our training environment is supportive, punctuated by camaraderie, warmth,
sincerity, and humour. Collectively, I like to think that we try to embody the Bodhisattva way in our practise, striving to realise
and actualize the highest potential that exists within the depths of each of our lives, for the benefit of our communities, oursociety, and for all beings.
Over the years, my immersion into Budo as a way of life has deepened in ways that I never thought possible. I have been afforded
the opportunity to enter into the flow of budo traditions that are centuries old and to be a part of passing those traditions on
into the future. I have been afforded the opportunity to engage in the most meaningful teacher-student relationship of my life,
and afforded the opportunity to follow a path that can unlock the best of who we can be as human beings in this wonderful,unrepeatable life. I am filled with gratitude for every cause and condition that has led to this time in my life; I am deeply

grateful to my teachers that have guided me along the way; I am grateful to my colleagues and students with whom I walk thispath; and I am profoundly grateful for the unwavering support of my beloved family. The dream that has become Shindokan
Budo New England began more than 25 years ago. I look forward to the unfolding of the next 25 years, and beyond, as we at
Shindokan Budo New England continue to walk this path with all of you.
We hope that you consider visiting us should you find yourself in our neck of the woods; our doors are always open to you andwe’d be thrilled to have you! And given our location on the shoreline of southern New England, we are blessed with beautiful

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KAGAMIscenery, beaches, historic villages, and plenty of attractions. In fact, aside from Shindokan Budo New England, there are a
few located right under the roof of our very own Velvet Mill! For more information about us, please visit our website at http://
www.shindokanbudodojo.com/ or find us on Facebook at Shindokan Budo – Classical Japanese Sword & Jujutsu. We lookforward to seeing you at Shindokan Budo New England!
With Palms Together,
Erik A. Johnstone*While this has been noted in a past installment of Kagami, I never seem to miss a chance to reflect on just how interesting it isthat the dojo in which I trained in all those years ago at the San Luis Obispo Buddhist Church is the current home of the KNBK’svery own Central Coast Iaido!

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KAGAMIAROUND THE KNBKKNBK Seminar Policy Reminder:
The KNBK Hombu has recently revised Carl Long Hanshi’s seminar and travel policy. We are publishing that policy here sothat is clear to all.
Going forward, ALL seminars with Long Sensei must be scheduled and booked with Kako Lee Renshi. This applies to all
KNBK Dojo-cho, regardless of years as a KNBK member, seniority, or previous practices with respect to making arrangements
directly with Long Sensei. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Additionally, all seminar bookings must include hotel accommodations. Again, there can be no exceptions to this policy until
such time that Long Sensei chooses to revise the policy.
Should you have any questions concerning this policy, please contact Kako Lee Renshi at Mazuru_kai@yahoo.com.

KNBK Polo Shirts are Here!
Dear KNBK Team Members,
Our KNBK Team polo shirts featuring an embroidered KNBK logo have arrived and are now available for purchase. For thoseKNBK members taking part in the trip to Japan next year, we have ordered shirts according to your requested sizes. The polo
shirts that we have selected are available in both men’s and women’s styles and are made from a light-weight fabric designed
to keep you cool in hot weather. For those not traveling to Japan or those of you who wish to purchase additional shirts, wewill be placing another order within two weeks. The shirts are $36.50 each. Please make payment for the number and sizes ofshirts you wish to purchase via PayPal to KNBKTravel@gmail.com . All shirts will be shipped to local Dojo-cho for distribution.
Should you have any questions, please contact us at KNBKTravel@gmail.com

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South American KNBK Update
The Machado Budo Kai of Argentina continues to work hard to spread the traditional forms of budo that we practise within
the Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai, including Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu, Shindo Mudo-ryu Jojutsu, and Shito-ryu Karatedo. Along with our central dojo in Buenos Aires, we also have dojo under our direction that practice Iaijutsu in Tucumán innorthern Argentina, led by Daniel Navarro, and in Ushuahia, located in the Tierra del Fuego region in southern Argentina, led
by Sergio Solano. We also have three study groups in Santiago, Chile, led by Alejandro Díaz, Daniel Leal, and Aldo Rivas. Thesestudents travel to Buenos Aires for training at Machado Budo Kai a few times a year. Additionally, I occasionally travel to theirdojo to provide instruction.

Regional Training Intensive in Tucumán, Argentina:
This past July, an intensive Iaijutsu training event was held from the18th through the 22nd at Navarro Sensei’s dojo in the City of San
Miguel de Tucumán. Navarro Sensei has been training with me formore than fifteen years and has led the group in Tucumán for six
years. Training participants included members of his dojo as well
as some invited members from the local budo community. Despite
the cold of the winter here in the Southern Hemisphere, and thefatigue from long hours of practice, everyone trained diligently
and with great enthusiasm. Navarro Sensei is committed to his
personal training as well as to the growth of his students, which
was clearly reflected in their technical skill. Testing was held uponcompletion of training on the final day, with everyone passing theirtest, including Navarro Sensei, who was promoted to Nidan in Muso
Jikiden Eishin-ryu. All participants showed great capability in theircontinuing progress in Iaijutsu, building on the strong foundation
we’ve laid for future growth. They are already planning a trip to
Machado Budo Kai in Buenos Aires towards the end of the year.

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Regional Training Intensive in Chile:
In addition to the trip to Tucumán, I was also able to travel to Santiago de Chile once again where we held another four-day
regional training intensive from July 25th through the 29th. Members from all three study groups in Chile were in attendance.
A total of nine students participated in the training intensive and all took part in testing in Iaijutsu on the final day, withsuccessful results for all. As with our group in Tucumán, we are continuing to build on the foundation we’ve established in
Chile and look forward to their future growth and progress. They are planning on a training visit to Argentina in the near future
to continue to build on the foundation we’ve built.
The Chilean groups are working very hard and are committed to correct training in Iaijutsu, Jojutsu, Karate-do, and proper
representation of the KNBK here in our corner of the world.

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KAGAMIUpcoming Events and Seminars

This is the current list of Hombuendorsed official KNBK seminars for2019. Additional seminars will beforthcoming. Should you wish to hosta seminar in 2019, please contact
KNBK Hombu at hombu@knbk.org.

Pensacola Sword Arts Seminar with
Carl Long, Hanshi October 25-27,
2019 - Big Green Drum JapaneseMartial Arts - Pensacola, Florida
Carl Long Hanshi will be returning
to Big Green Drum Japanese Martial
Arts in sunny Pensacola, Florida
to lead a weekend of training in
Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iai-Heiho.
All are welcome to join us!
Location: Big Green Drum JapaneseMartial Arts - Pensacola, Florida
Contact: Patty Heath
Phone: 850-479-1907
Email: patty@aikidowestflorida.com

KNBK Shidosha Koshukai &Testing
November 22-24, 2019 Sakura Budokan/KNBK Hombu
Dojo – Kingston, PA
The KNBK 2019 Koshukai is open to
currently certified instructors, study
group leaders, or those yudansha
interested in becoming instructors. Noncertified yudansha will only be permitted
to attend if their registration form isaccompanied by a recommendation fromtheir respective Dojo-cho, or have direct
approval from Carl Long, Hanshi. Sensei
has written that we will be covering test
procedure and curriculum changes forthe 2020 training year. All KNBK members
will be affected by the curriculum
update and test procedures. Please
note that this is the ONLY International
instructor seminar that counts towards
qualification for official teaching licenses(Menkyosho). The schedule should befamiliar by now – training on Friday
evening followed buy all day training
and discussion sessions on Saturday
and Sunday with the Koshukai ending
Sunday afternoon. Yudansha testing
will take place on Sunday morning
prior to the beginning of Koshukai.
Location: KNBK Hombu Dojo/
Sakura Budokan - Kingston, PA
Contact: Carl E. Long, Hanshi
Phone: 570-288-7865
Email: hombu@knbk.org

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KAGAMIKagami Book
The Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai is pleased to offer *Kagami* by Masayuki Shimabukuro Hanshi. This book, available in a
hardbound volume or as an eBook, is the collection of all articles by Shimabukuro Hanshi that appeared in Kagami from thefirst issue in 2006 through the summer of 2012. Now, they are all in available in one volume. The production of these books
was conceived of and spearheaded by Bob Morris Doshi of the JKI/KNBK Socal Dojo in San Diego, with the approval of Carl
E. Long, Hanshi and Soshihan of the KNBK. The forward to the book was written by Erik Johnstone Doshi, Editor of Kagami:
The Newsletter of the Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai, who collaborated on this series of articles with Shimabukuro Hanshi.
Long Hanshi recently offered the following comments regarding this collection:“ I cannot think of a better word to describe this collection of insights and prose. The word “Anthology” comes from the Medieval
Latin “anthologia”, literally: a “flower gathering.” This collection of thoughts blossomed from the minds and practice of the Samurai
Warrior traditions and have been preserved here in a collection of articles and wisdom imparted by a 21st SoShihan of the Muso
Jikiden Eishin Ryu school of swordsmanship.
Wisdom is priceless.”
On behalf of Long Hanshi, Morris Doshi, and the KNBK, we are proud to offer “Kagami” to all of our members. The following links will allow
you to preview and purchase the book:- To preview and purchase the hardcover edition, please visit:
http://blur.by/1aTtnYm- To preview and purchase the eBook, please visit:
http://store.blurb.com/ebooks/453063-kagami
We hope that you all enjoy this volume and benefit greatly from the teachings contained within its covers. Please join us in thanking Morris
Doshi for his dedicated effort in making this book possible and Long Hanshi for his support. And we thank all of you for your support in theongoing project that is Kagami.

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KAGAMICALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:As ever, we at Kagami welcome and encourage the active involvement in and contributions to Kagami by all members of
the Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai. Submissions could be in the form of articles, announcements, dojo and instructor profiles forthe Dojo Spotlight section, event announcements and reports, appropriate media reviews, or photos and images.
Please feel free to send in materials at any time; we will do our best to include them in as early as possible, but we are also
always happy to have a surplus of content, especially in the form of feature articles, photos, artwork, and Dojo Spotlight
profiles (if your dojo has not yet been featured in Kagami, please feel free to send in a profile. Don’t forget to include
photos!). Kagami is YOUR publication, so please do not hesitate to contribute material. We can’t do it without you.

Kagami: A Publication of the Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai
Advisor: Carl E. Long, Hanshi ; Kaicho & Soshihan
Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai
Editor-in-Chief: Erik A. Johnstone, Doshi
Assistant Editors: Robin McGuirl, Beau Straub
Graphic Design: Robin McGuirl

Kagami Contact Information:
KNBK Hombu Dojo
Sakura Budokan
390 Tioga Ave.
Kingston, PA 18704 USA
Phone: 570-288-7865
Email: hombu@knbk.org

Erik Johnstone
Shindokan Dojo
829 Stonington Rd.
Stonington, CT 06378 USA
Phone: 401-474-2568
Email: shindokan1@gmail.com

www.knbk.org© 2015 – All rights reserved

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KAGAMI