As we have now finished up our first month of the new year, we have had a few weeks to apply our 2021 goals in our training.  At this point we should have an idea of whether we are doing what we need to do in order to meet those goals.  How is your 2021 plan working so far? Have you made any progress?  Or are you still running into the same wall? If so, the concept of Genten-Kaiki (going back to basics) may be of use.  People use this phrase or concept when they are struggling with a challenge. To achieve a particular goal, people often try a lot of new or different thing ..read more

By Yamaoka ​ [Editor's Note: As Musashi said, "From one thing, know ten thousand things." The challenges of the Global Pandemic that we are all going through now might just be a "one thing" that Musashi was talking about. With the right mindset, the Pandemic and our efforts at dealing with it as we continue our keiko, can teach us about life and make us stronger as well. ] As we know, Kendo is "The Way of sword” and is about much more than just fencing.  We also know that our keiko experiences can teach us about the Ways of Life outside the dojo. Currently, we are trainin ..read more

On March 4th, the Omaha Kendo and Iaido Kyokai was honored by a visit from Fumiko Nakajima, sensei, of Japan.  Nakajima sensei and two of her students participated in a goodwill keiko at our Wednesday evening class at Benson Community Center. Nakajima sensei is a 6th dan in kendo and an Assistant Professor with the Department of Health and Sports at Niigata University of Health and Welfare.  Nakajima sensei is conducting research in the United States regarding attitudes of western kendo practitioners to kendo. Part of her research involved surveys of American kenshi to ascertain whether their ..read more

The following story was written by Michael Lindsay, Sensei, the head instructor at Shin Sou Fu Kan, a fellow federation dojo located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Lindsay, Sensei is one of our kendo pals and frequently honors us by making the long drive to Nebraska for a weekend of kendo with our club. We thank Lindsay, Sensei for sharing his inspiring personal story: ​ I can remember the surgeon telling my mother that I should have been in the intensive care unit. The reason he gave for my not being there was because in this particular wing of the hospital, he was completely in charge and wanted to clo ..read more